Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Elihu continued, saying:

1Then Elihu continued and said,

2Hear my words, you wise ones, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.

2"Hear my words, you wise men, And listen to me, you who know.

3Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

3"For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.

4Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good.

4"Let us choose for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

5"For Job has said, 'I am righteous, But God has taken away my right;

6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression."

6Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

7What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water.

7"What man is like Job, Who drinks up derision like water,

8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.

8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?

9For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend."

9"For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing When he is pleased with God.'

10Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly.

10"Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.

11For he repays a person according to his deeds, and he gives him what his conduct deserves.

11"For He pays a man according to his work, And makes him find it according to his way.

12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

12"Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice.

13Who gave him authority over the earth? Who put him in charge of the entire world?

13"Who gave Him authority over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world?

14If he put his mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath he gave,

14"If He should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,

15every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say.

16"But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words.

17Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,

17"Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,

18who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"?

18Who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' To nobles, 'Wicked ones';

19God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.

19Who shows no partiality to princes Nor regards the rich above the poor, For they all are the work of His hands?

20They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort.

20"In a moment they die, and at midnight People are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without a hand.

21For his eyes watch over a man's ways, and he observes all his steps.

21"For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.

22There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide.

22"There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23God does not need to examine a person further, that one should approach him in court.

23"For He does not need to consider a man further, That he should go before God in judgment.

24He shatters the mighty without an investigation and sets others in their place.

24"He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.

25Therefore, he recognizes their deeds and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed.

25"Therefore He knows their works, And He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.

26In full view of the public, he strikes them for their wickedness,

26"He strikes them like the wicked In a public place,

27because they turned aside from following him and did not understand any of his ways

27Because they turned aside from following Him, And had no regard for any of His ways;

28but caused the poor to cry out to him, and he heard the outcry of the needy.

28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted--

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,

29When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn? And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him, That is, in regard to both nation and man?--

30so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people.

30So that godless men would not rule Nor be snares of the people.

31Suppose someone says to God, "I have endured my punishment; I will no longer act wickedly.

31"For has anyone said to God, 'I have borne chastisement; I will not offend anymore;

32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I won't do it again."

32Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will not do it again '?

33Should God repay you on your terms when you have rejected his? You must choose, not I! So declare what you know.

33"Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it? For you must choose, and not I; Therefore declare what you know.

34Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me,

34"Men of understanding will say to me, And a wise man who hears me,

35"Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight."

35'Job speaks without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.

36If only Job were tested to the limit, because his answers are like those of wicked men.

36'Job ought to be tried to the limit, Because he answers like wicked men.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he scornfully claps in our presence, while multiplying his words against God.

37'For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.'"

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org