New Living Translation

King James Bible

1Then Elihu said:

1Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9He has even said, ‘Why waste time trying to please God?’

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 they pass away; the mighty are removed without human 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 God watches how people live; he sees everything they do.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

27For they turned away from following him. They have no respect for any of his ways.

27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

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

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

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.

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.