¶ Furthermore Elihu answered¹ and said,

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

For the ear³ trieth words, as the mouth⁴ tasteth meat.

Let us choose⁵ to us judgment: let us know⁶ among ourselves what is good.

For Job hath said, I⁷ am righteous: and God⁸ hath taken away my judgment.

Should I⁹ lie against my right? my wound¹⁰ is incurable without transgression.

¹¹What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

¹²Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

For he hath said, It¹³ profiteth a man nothing that he should delight¹⁴ himself with God.

¶ Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding¹⁵: far¹⁶ be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

For the work¹⁷ of a man shall he render unto him, and cause¹⁸ every man to find according to his ways.

Yea, surely¹⁹ God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert²⁰ judgment.

Who hath given²¹ him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world²²?

If he set²³ his heart upon man,²⁴ if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

²⁵All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

¶²⁶If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

Shall even²⁷ he that hateth right govern²⁸? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

²⁹Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

How much less to him that accepteth³⁰ not the persons of princes³¹, nor regardeth³² the rich more than the poor? for they³³ all are the work of his hands.

¶ In a moment³⁴ shall they die, and the people shall be troubled³⁵ at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away³⁶ without hand.

³⁷For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

There is no³⁸ darkness, nor³⁹ shadow of death, where the⁴⁰ workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

For he will⁴¹ not lay upon man more than right; that he⁴² should enter⁴³ into judgment with God.

He shall break⁴⁴ in pieces mighty men without number⁴⁵, and set others in their stead.

Therefore he knoweth⁴⁶ their works, and he overturneth them in the⁴⁷ night, so that they are destroyed⁴⁸.

He striketh them as wicked men in⁴⁹ the open sight of others⁵⁰;

Because they turned⁵¹ back from him⁵², and would not consider any of his ways:

So that they⁵³ cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he⁵⁴ heareth the cry of the afflicted.

When he giveth⁵⁵ quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth⁵⁶ his face, who then can behold⁵⁷ him? whether⁵⁸ it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

¶⁵⁹That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

¶⁶⁰Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

That which⁶¹ I see not teach thou me: if⁶² I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

Should⁶³ it be according to thy mind?⁶⁴ he will recompense it, whether thou refuse⁶⁵, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what⁶⁶ thou knowest.

Let men of understanding⁶⁷ tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

⁶⁸Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

My desire is that Job may be tried⁶⁹ unto the end because of his answers⁷⁰ for wicked men.

For he addeth rebellion⁷¹ unto his sin, he clappeth⁷² his hands among us, and multiplieth⁷³ his words against God.