NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Elihu answered:

1Then Elihu continued and said,

2"Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you learned men.

2"Hear my words, you wise men, And listen to me, you who know.

3For the ear assesses words as the mouth tastes food.

3"For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.

4Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right; let us come to know among ourselves what is good.

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

5For Job says, 'I am innocent, but God turns away my right.

5"For Job has said, 'I am righteous, But God has taken away my right;

6Concerning my right, should I lie? My wound is incurable, although I am without transgression.'

6Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

7What man is like Job, who drinks derision like water!

7"What man is like Job, Who drinks up derision like water,

8He goes about in company with evildoers, he goes along with wicked men.

8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?

9For he says, 'It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.'

9"For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing When he is pleased with God.'

10"Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil.

10"Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.

11For he repays a person for his work, and according to the conduct of a person, he causes the consequences to find him.

11"For He pays a man according to his work, And makes him find it according to his way.

12Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

12"Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice.

13Who entrusted to him the earth? And who put him over the whole world?

13"Who gave Him authority over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world?

14If God were to set his heart on it, and gather in his spirit and his breath,

14"If He should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,

15all flesh would perish together and human beings would return to dust.

15All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.

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

16"But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words.

17Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely righteous One,

17"Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,

18who says to a king, 'Worthless man' and to nobles, 'Wicked men,'

18Who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' To nobles, 'Wicked ones';

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?

19Who shows no partiality to princes Nor regards the rich above the poor, For they all are 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.

20"In a moment they die, and at midnight People are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without a hand.

21For his eyes are on the ways of an individual, he observes all a person's steps.

21"For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.

22There is no darkness, and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.

22"There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23For he does not still consider a person, that he should come before God in judgment.

23"For He does not need to consider a man further, That he should go before God in judgment.

24He shatters the great without inquiry, and sets up others in their place.

24"He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.

25Therefore, he knows their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

25"Therefore He knows their works, And He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.

26He strikes them for their wickedness, in a place where people can see,

26"He strikes them like the wicked In a public place,

27because they have turned away from following him, and have not understood any of his ways,

27Because they turned aside from following Him, And had no regard for 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.

28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, And that He might hear the cry 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,

29When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn? And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him, That is, in regard to both nation and man?--

30so that the godless man should not rule, and not lay snares for the people.

30So that godless men would not rule Nor be snares of the people.

31"Has anyone said to God, 'I have endured chastisement, but I will not act wrongly any more.

31"For has anyone said to God, 'I have borne chastisement; I will not offend anymore;

32Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will do so no more.'

32Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will not 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.

33"Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it? For you must choose, and not I; Therefore declare what you know.

34Men of understanding say to me--any wise man listening to me says--

34"Men of understanding will say to me, And a wise man who hears me,

35that Job speaks without knowledge and his words are without understanding.

35'Job speaks without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.

36But Job will be tested to the end, because his answers are like those of wicked men.

36'Job ought to be tried to the limit, Because he answers like wicked men.

37For he adds transgression to his sin; in our midst he claps his hands, and multiplies his words against God."

37'For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.'"

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