Furthermore Elihu answered
and said
,
Hear my words
, O ye wise
men ; and give ear
unto me, ye that have knowledge
.
For the ear trieth
words
, as the mouth
tasteth
meat
.
Let us choose to us judgment
: let us know
among ourselves what is good
.
For Job hath said
, I am righteous
: and God
hath taken away
my judgment
.
Should I lie against my right
? my wound
is incurable
without transgression
.
What man is like Job
, who drinketh up
scorning
like water
?
Which goeth in company
with the workers
of iniquity
, and walketh
with wicked
men
.
For he hath said, It profiteth
a man
nothing that he should delight
himself with God
.
Therefore 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
.
For the work of a man
shall he render
unto him, and cause every man
to find
according to his ways
.
Yea, surely God
will not do wickedly
, neither will the Almighty
pervert
judgment
.
Who hath given him a charge over the earth
? or who hath disposed
the whole world
?
If he set his heart
upon man, if he gather
unto himself his spirit
and his breath
;
All flesh shall perish
together
, and man
shall turn again
unto dust
.
If now thou hast understanding, hear
this: hearken
to the voice
of my words
.
Shall even he that hateth right
govern
? and wilt thou condemn
him that is most
just
?
Is it fit to say to a king
, Thou art wicked
? and to princes
, Ye are ungodly
?
How 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
.
In 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
.
For his eyes are upon the ways
of man
, and he seeth
all his goings
.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death
, where the workers
of iniquity
may hide
themselves.
For he will not lay upon man
more than right ; that he should enter
into judgment
with God
.
He shall break in pieces mighty men
without number
, and set
others
in their stead.
Therefore he knoweth their works
, and he overturneth
them in the night
, so that they are destroyed
.
He striketh them as
wicked men
in the open
sight
of others;
Because they turned back from him
, and would not consider
any of his ways
:
So that they cause the cry of the poor
to come
unto him, and he heareth
the cry
of the afflicted
.
When 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
:
That the hypocrite reign
not, lest the people
be ensnared
.
Surely it is meet to be said unto God
, I have borne
chastisement , I will not offend
any more :
That which I see not
teach
thou me: if I have done
iniquity
, I will do
no more.
Should 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
.
Let men of understanding
tell
me, and let a wise
man
hearken
unto me.
Job hath spoken
without knowledge
, and his words
were without wisdom
.
My desire is that Job
may be tried
unto the end
because of his answers
for wicked
men
.
For he addeth rebellion
unto his sin
, he clappeth
his hands among us, and multiplieth
his words
against God
.