English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Then Elihu answered and said:
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Then Elihu continued and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;
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"Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;
3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.
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for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.
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Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;
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For Job has said, "I am innocent, and God has taken away my right;
6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression. ’
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in spite of being right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,
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Who is there like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,
8 who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?
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who goes in company with evildoers and walks with the wicked?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God. ’
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For he has said, "It profits one nothing to take delight in God.'
10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
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"Therefore, hear me, you who have sense, far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
11 For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
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For according to their deeds he will repay them, and according to their ways he will make it befall them.
12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
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Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him the whole world?
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Who gave him charge over the earth and who laid on him the whole world?
14 If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,
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If he should take back his spirit to himself, and gather to himself his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.
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all flesh would perish together, and all mortals return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.
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"If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.
17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
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Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn one who is righteous and mighty,
18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one, ’and to nobles, ‘Wicked man, ’
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who says to a king, "You scoundrel!' and to princes, "You wicked men!';
19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
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who shows no partiality to nobles, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
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In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.
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"For his eyes are upon the ways of mortals, and he sees all their steps.
22 There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.
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There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.
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For he has not appointed a time for anyone to go before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.
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He shatters the mighty without investigation, and sets others in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
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Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,
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He strikes them for their wickedness while others look on,
27 because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,
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because they turned aside from following him, and had no regard for any of his ways,
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—
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so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted—
29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man? —
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When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or an individual?—
30 that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people.
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so that the godless should not reign, or those who ensnare the people.
31 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;
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"For has anyone said to God, "I have endured punishment; I will not offend any more;
32 teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
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teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?
33 Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.
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Will he then pay back to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.
34 Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:
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Those who have sense will say to me, and the wise who hear me will say,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight. ’
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"Job speaks without knowledge, his words are without insight.'
36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.
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Would that Job were tried to the limit, because his answers are those of the wicked.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God. ”
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For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God."
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.