| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Elihu answered: | 1Then Elihu continued, saying: |
| 2"Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you learned men. | 2Hear my words, you wise men, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones. |
| 3For the ear assesses words as the mouth tastes food. | 3Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food? |
| 4Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right; let us come to know among ourselves what is good. | 4Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good. |
| 5For Job says, 'I am innocent, but God turns away my right. | 5For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. |
| 6Concerning my right, should I lie? My wound is incurable, although 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 derision like water! | 7What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water. |
| 8He goes about in company with evildoers, he goes along with wicked men. | 8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. |
| 9For he says, 'It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.' | 9For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend." |
| 10"Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil. | 10Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly. |
| 11For he repays a person for his work, and according to the conduct of a person, he causes the consequences to find him. | 11For He repays a person according to his deeds, and He brings his ways on him. |
| 12Indeed, in truth, 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 entrusted to him the earth? And who put him over the whole world? | 13Who gave Him authority over the earth? Who put Him in charge of the entire world? |
| 14If God were to set his heart on it, and gather in his spirit and his breath, | 14If He put His mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath He gave, |
| 15all flesh would perish together and human beings would return to dust. | 15every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. |
| 16"If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say. | 16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say. |
| 17Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely righteous One, | 17Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One, |
| 18who says to a king, 'Worthless man' and to nobles, 'Wicked men,' | 18who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"? |
| 19who shows no partiality to princes, and does not take note of the rich more than the poor, because all of them are 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. |
| 20In a moment they die, in the middle of the night, people are shaken and they pass away. The mighty are removed effortlessly. | 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 an individual, he observes all a person's steps. | 21For His eyes watch over a man's ways, and He observes all his steps. |
| 22There is no darkness, and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves. | 22There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves. |
| 23For he does not still consider a person, that he should come before God in judgment. | 23God does not need to examine a person further, that one should approach Him in court. |
| 24He shatters the great without inquiry, and sets up others in their place. | 24He shatters the mighty without an investigation and sets others in their place. |
| 25Therefore, he knows 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 a place where people can see, | 26In full view of the public, He strikes them for their wickedness, |
| 27because they have turned away from following him, and have not understood any of his ways, | 27because they turned aside from following Him and did not understand any of His ways |
| 28so that they caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he hears the cry of the needy. | 28but caused the poor to cry out to Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted. |
| 29But if God is quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, then who can see him? Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike, | 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, |
| 30so that the godless man should not rule, and not lay snares for the people. | 30so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people. |
| 31"Has anyone said to God, 'I have endured chastisement, but I will not act wrongly any 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 evil, I will do so no more.' | 32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I won't do it again." |
| 33Is it your opinion that God should recompense it, because you reject this? But you must choose, and not I, so tell us 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 say to me--any wise man listening to me says-- | 34Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me, |
| 35that Job speaks without knowledge and his words are without understanding. | 35"Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight." |
| 36But Job will be tested to the end, because his answers are like those of wicked men. | 36If only Job were tested to the limit, because his answers are like those of wicked men. |
| 37For he adds transgression to his sin; in our midst he claps his hands, 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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