English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Then Elihu answered and said:

1Then Elihu said:

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

2“Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.

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

3Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’

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

4So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

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

5For Job also said, ‘I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.

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

6I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’

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

7“Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk?

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

8He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men.

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

9He has even said, ‘Why waste time trying to please 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.

10“Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.

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

11He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.

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

12Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.

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

13Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?

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

14If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,

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

15all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.

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

16“Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.

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

17Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?

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

18For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’ and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’

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

19He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.

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 they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

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

21“For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do.

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

22No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes.

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

23We don’t set the time when we will come before God in judgment.

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

24He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place.

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

25He knows what they do, and in the night he overturns and destroys them.

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

26He strikes them down because they are wicked, doing it openly for all to see.

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

27For they turned away from following him. They have no respect for 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—

28They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention. He hears the cries of the needy.

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

29But if he chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him, whether an individual or a nation.

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

30He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.

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

31“Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I will sin no more’?

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

32Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’?

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

33“Must God tailor his justice to your demands? But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine. Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.

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

34After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say,

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

35‘Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.’

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

36Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked.

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

37For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry 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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.