[1] And Elihu made answer and said, [2] Give ear, you wise, to my words;
and you who have knowledge, give attention to me; [3] For words are tested
by the ear, as food is tasted by the mouth. [4] Let us make the decision
for ourselves as to what is right; let us have the knowledge among
ourselves of what is good. [5] For Job has said, I am upright, and it is
God who has taken away my right; [6] Though I am right, still I am in pain;
my wound may not be made well, though I have done no wrong. [7] What man is
like Job, a man who freely makes sport of God, [8] And goes in the company
of evil-doers, walking in the way of sinners? [9] For he has said, It is no
profit to a man to take delight in God. [10] Now then, you wise, take note;
you men of knowledge, give ear to me. Let it be far from God to do evil,
and from the Ruler of all to do wrong. [11] For he gives to every man the
reward of his work, and sees that he gets the fruit of his ways. [12]
Truly, God does not do evil, and the Ruler of all is not a false judge.
[13] Who put the earth into his care, or made him responsible for the
world? [14] If he made his spirit come back to him, taking his breath into
himself again, [15] All flesh would come to an end together, and man would
go back to the dust. [16] If you are wise, take note of this; give ear to
the voice of my words. [17] How may a hater of right be a ruler? and will
you say that the upright Ruler of all is evil? [18] He who says to a king,
You are an evil-doer; and to rulers, You are sinners; [19] Who has no
respect for rulers, and who gives no more attention to those who have
wealth than to the poor, for they are all the work of his hands. [20]
Suddenly they come to an end, even in the middle of the night: the blow
comes on the men of wealth, and they are gone, and the strong are taken
away without the hand of man. [21] For his eyes are on the ways of a man,
and he sees all his steps. [22] There is no dark place, and no thick cloud,
in which the workers of evil may take cover. [23] For he does not give man
a fixed time to come before him to be judged. [24] He sends the strong to
destruction without searching out their cause, and puts others in their
place. [25] For he has knowledge of their works, overturning them in the
night, so that they are crushed. [26] The evil-doers are broken by his
wrath, he puts his hand on them with force before the eyes of all
onlookers. [27] Because they did not go after him, and took no note of his
ways, [28] So that the cry of the poor might come up to him, and the prayer
of those in need come to his ears. [29] ... [30] ... [31] ... [32] ... [33]
... [34] Men of knowledge, and all wise men, hearing me, will say, [35]
Job's words do not come from knowledge; they are not the fruit of wisdom.
[36] May Job be tested to the end, because his answers have been like those
of evil men. [37] For in addition to his sin, he is uncontrolled in heart;
before our eyes he makes sport of God, increasing his words against him.