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1 FURTHERMORE Elihu answered and said, | |
2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. | |
3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. | |
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. | |
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. | |
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. | |
7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? | |
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. | |
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. | |
10 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. | |
11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. | |
12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. | |
13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? | |
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; | |
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. | |
16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. | |
17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? | |
18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? | |
19 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. | |
20 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. | |
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. | |
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. | |
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. | |
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. | |
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed. | |
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; | |
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: | |
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. | |
29 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: | |
30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. | |
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: | |
32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. | |
33 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. | |
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. | |
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. | |
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. | |
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God. | |