1Moreover Elihu answered,
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2“Hear my words, you wise men.
- Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
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3For the ear tries words,
- as the palate tastes food.
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4Let us choose for us that which is right.
- Let us know among ourselves what is good.
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5For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,
- God has taken away my right:
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6Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar.
- My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’
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7What man is like Job,
- who drinks scorn like water,
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8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
- and walks with wicked men?
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9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
- that he should delight himself with God.’
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10“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:
- far be it from God, that he should do wickedness,
- from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
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11For the work of a man he will render to him,
- and cause every man to find according to his ways.
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12Yes surely, God will not do wickedly,
- neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
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13Who put him in charge of the earth?
- or who has appointed him over the whole world?
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14If he set his heart on himself,
- If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
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15all flesh would perish together,
- and man would turn again to dust.
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16“If now you have understanding, hear this.
- Listen to the voice of my words.
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17Shall even one who hates justice govern?
- Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?—
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18Who says to a king, ‘Vile!’
- or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
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19Who doesn’t respect the persons of princes,
- nor respects the rich more than the poor;
- for they all are the work of his hands.
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20In a moment they die, even at midnight.
- The people are shaken and pass away.
- The mighty are taken away without a hand.
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21“For his eyes are on the ways of a man.
- He sees all his goings.
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22There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,
- where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
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23For he doesn’t need to consider a man further,
- that he should go before God in judgment.
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24He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out,
- and sets others in their place.
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25Therefore he takes knowledge of their works.
- He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
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26He strikes them as wicked men
- in the open sight of others;
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27because they turned aside from following him,
- and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
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28so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him.
- He heard the cry of the afflicted.
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29When he gives quietness, who then can condemn?
- When he hides his face, who then can see him?
- Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,
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30that the godless man may not reign,
- that there be no one to ensnare the people.
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31“For has any said to God,
- ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
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32Teach me that which I don’t see.
- If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
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33Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it?
- For you must choose, and not I.
- Therefore speak what you know.
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34Men of understanding will tell me,
- yes, every wise man who hears me:
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35‘Job speaks without knowledge.
- His words are without wisdom.’
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36I wish that Job were tried to the end,
- because of his answering like wicked men.
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37For he adds rebellion to his sin.
- He claps his hands among us,
- and multiplies his words against God.”