| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then Elihu continued: | 1Then Elihu continued, saying: |
| 2“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning. | 2Hear my words, you wise men, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones. |
| 3For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food. | 3Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food? |
| 4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. | 4Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good. |
| 5For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. | 5For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. |
| 6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ | 6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression." |
| 7What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water? | 7What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water. |
| 8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. | 8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. |
| 9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’ | 9For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend." |
| 10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly. | 10Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly. |
| 11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences. | 11For He repays a person according to his deeds, and He brings his ways on him. |
| 12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice. | 12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice. |
| 13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world? | 13Who gave Him authority over the earth? Who put Him in charge of the entire world? |
| 14If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath, | 14If He put His mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath He gave, |
| 15all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. | 15every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. |
| 16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words. | 16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say. |
| 17Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One, | 17Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One, |
| 18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ | 18who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"? |
| 19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands. | 19God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of His hands. |
| 20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. | 20They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort. |
| 21For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. | 21For His eyes watch over a man's ways, and He observes all his steps. |
| 22There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide. | 22There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves. |
| 23For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment. | 23God does not need to examine a person further, that one should approach Him in court. |
| 24He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place. | 24He shatters the mighty without an investigation and sets others in their place. |
| 25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. | 25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed. |
| 26He strikes them for their wickedness in full view, | 26In full view of the public, He strikes them for their wickedness, |
| 27because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways. | 27because they turned aside from following Him and did not understand any of His ways |
| 28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted. | 28but caused the poor to cry out to Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted. |
| 29But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation, | 29But when God is silent, who can declare Him guilty? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both individuals and nations, |
| 30that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people. | 30so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people. |
| 31Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more. | 31Suppose someone says to God, "I have endured my punishment; I will no longer act wickedly. |
| 32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’ | 32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I won't do it again." |
| 33Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know. | 33Should God repay you on your terms when you have rejected His? You must choose, not I! So declare what you know. |
| 34Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say: | 34Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me, |
| 35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’ | 35"Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight." |
| 36If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man. | 36If only Job were tested to the limit, because his answers are like those of wicked men. |
| 37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” | 37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he scornfully claps in our presence, while multiplying his words against God. |
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