| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Elihu further answered and said: | 1Then Elihu said: |
| 2“Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge. | 2"Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning. |
| 3For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food. | 3For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. |
| 4Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good. | 4Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. |
| 5“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice; | 5"Job says, 'I am innocent, but God denies me justice. |
| 6Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ | 6Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.' |
| 7What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water, | 7Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water? |
| 8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men? | 8He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked. |
| 9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.’ | 9For he says, 'There is no profit in trying to please God.' |
| 10“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to commit iniquity. | 10"So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. |
| 11For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way. | 11He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. |
| 12Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice. | 12It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. |
| 13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world? | 13Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? |
| 14If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, | 14If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, |
| 15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust. | 15all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. |
| 16“If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words: | 16"If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say. |
| 17Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just? | 17Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? |
| 18Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’? | 18Is he not the One who says to kings, 'You are worthless,' and to nobles, 'You are wicked,' |
| 19Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands. | 19who shows no partiality 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; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a hand. | 20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. |
| 21“For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps. | 21"His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step. |
| 22There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. | 22There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide. |
| 23For He need not further consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment. | 23God has no need to examine people further, that they should come before him for judgment. |
| 24He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place. | 24Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place. |
| 25Therefore He knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed. | 25Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. |
| 26He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others, | 26He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them, |
| 27Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways, | 27because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways. |
| 28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears the cry of the afflicted. | 28They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy. |
| 29When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him, Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?— | 29But if he remains silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he is over individual and nation alike, |
| 30That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared. | 30to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people. |
| 31“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more; | 31"Suppose someone says to God, 'I am guilty but will offend no more. |
| 32Teach me what I do not see; 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 so again.' |
| 33Should He repay it according to your terms, Just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know. | 33Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know. |
| 34“Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me: | 34"Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me, |
| 35‘Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.’ | 35Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.' |
| 36Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men! | 36Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man! |
| 37For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.” | 37To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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