English Standard Version

King James Bible

1Then Elihu answered and said:

1Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

2“Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;

2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.

3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

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

4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

5For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;

5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

6in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

6Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

7What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,

7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

8who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?

8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.’

9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

10“Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.

10Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

11For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.

11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.

12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him the whole world?

13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

14If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,

14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.

15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

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

16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

17Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,

17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

18who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’

18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

19who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?

19How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

20In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

20In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

21“For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.

21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

22There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.

22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

23For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

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

24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

25Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.

25Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,

26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,

27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

28so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—

28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

29When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—

29When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

30that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people.

30That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

31“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;

31Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

32teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

32That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

33Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.

33Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

34Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:

34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.’

35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

36Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.

36My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.