New King James Version

King James Bible

1Elihu further answered and said:

1Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

2“Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

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

3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

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

4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

5“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;

5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

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

6Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

7What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water,

7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

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

8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

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

9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with 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.

10Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

11For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.

11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.

12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?

13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

14If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,

14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

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

15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

16“If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words:

16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

17Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?

17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

18Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?

18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

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.

19How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are 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.

20In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

21“For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps.

21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

22There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

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

23For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

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

24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

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

25Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others,

26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27Because they turned back from Him, And would not consider any of His ways,

27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider 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.

28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

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?—

29When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

30That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.

30That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

31“For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastening; I will offend no more;

31Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

32Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?

32That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

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 it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

34“Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me:

34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

35‘Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.’

35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

36Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because his answers are like those of wicked men!

36My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

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

37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.