1Then Elihu continued,34:1 Lit answered saying:
2Hear my words, you wise ones,
and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.
3Doesn’t the ear test words
as the palate tastes food?
4Let us judge for ourselves what is right;
let us decide together what is good.
5For Job has declared, “I am righteous,
My wound34:6 Lit arrow is incurable,
though I am without transgression.”
7What man is like Job?
8He keeps company with evildoers
and walks with wicked men.
9For he has said, “A man gains nothing
10Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding.
It is impossible for God to do wrong,
and he gives him what his conduct deserves.34:11 Lit and like a path of a man, he causes him to find
12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly
13Who gave him authority over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the entire world?34:13 Jb 38:4; Ps 50:12; Is 40:12–14
14If he put his mind to it
15every living thing would perish together
16If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I have to say.
17Could one who hates justice govern the world?
18who says to a king, “Worthless man!”
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all 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.
21For his eyes watch over a man’s ways,
22There is no darkness, no deep darkness,
23God does not need to examine a person further,
that one should34:23 Some emend to God has not appointed a time for man to approach him in court.
24He shatters the mighty without an investigation
and overthrows them by night, and they are crushed.
26In full view of the public,34:26 Lit In a place of spectators
he strikes them for their wickedness,
27because they turned aside from following him
and did not understand any of his ways
28but caused the poor to cry out to him,
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 godless men should not rule
or ensnare the people.
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 wrong, I won’t 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.
34Reasonable men will say to me,
along with the wise men who hear me,
his words are without insight.”
36If only Job were tested to the limit,
because his answers are like those of wicked men.
37For he adds rebellion to his sin;
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