King James Bible | Berean Study Bible |
1Furthermore Elihu answered and said, | 1Then Elihu continued: |
2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. | 2“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning. |
3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. | 3For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food. |
4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. | 4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. |
5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. | 5For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. |
6Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. | 6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ |
7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? | 7What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water? |
8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. | 8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. |
9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. | 9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’ |
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. | 10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly. |
11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. | 11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences. |
12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. | 12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice. |
13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? | 13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world? |
14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; | 14If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath, |
15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. | 15all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. |
16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. | 16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words. |
17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? | 17Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One, |
18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? | 18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ |
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. | 19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands. |
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. | 20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. |
21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. | 21For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. |
22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. | 22There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide. |
23For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. | 23For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment. |
24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. | 24He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place. |
25Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed. | 25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. |
26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; | 26He strikes them for their wickedness in full view, |
27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: | 27because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways. |
28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. | 28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted. |
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: | 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, |
30That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. | 30that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people. |
31Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: | 31Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more. |
32That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. | 32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’ |
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. | 33Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know. |
34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. | 34Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say: |
35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. | 35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’ |
36My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. | 36If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man. |
37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God. | 37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” |
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