King James Version KJV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
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Elihu continued speaking:
2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
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"Hear my words, you sages! Listen to me, you who know so much!
3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
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For the ear tests words, just as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
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Let's choose for ourselves what is just; let's decide among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
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For Iyov says, 'I am in the right, but God is denying me justice.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
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Against justice, I am considered a liar; my wound is mortal, though I committed no crime.'
7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
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"Is there a man like Iyov, who drinks in scoffing like water,
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
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who keeps company with evildoers and goes with wicked men,
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
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since he thinks, 'It profits a person nothing to be in accord 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.
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"So listen to me, you men with sense! Far be it from God to do anything wicked!
11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
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For he pays people back for what they do and sees that each gets what his conduct deserves.
12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
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It is certain that God does nothing wicked; Shaddai will not pervert justice.
13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
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Did someone else put him in charge of the earth? Who else established the entire world?
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
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If he were to take back man's heart to himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and breath;
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
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all flesh would instantly perish, everyone would return to dust.
16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
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"If you have any sense, [Iyov,] hear this; listen to what I am saying.
17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
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Should a hater of justice be in control? If you wouldn't tell a king, 'You're a scoundrel!'or nobles, 'You are wicked men!'then you shouldn't condemn the Just and Mighty One,
18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
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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.
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who is neither partial toward princes nor favors the rich over the poor, since 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.
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They may die in a moment, in the middle of the night -the people are shaken and pass away, the mighty are removed without human hands.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
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For he keeps watch on a person's ways; he sees his every step.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
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There is no darkness, no death-like gloom, where wrongdoers can hide;
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
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for he doesn't give warning to people when they must appear before God in judgment.
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
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He shatters the mighty without needing to investigate and sets up others in their place.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
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Therefore, aware of what they are doing, he overturns them by night, and they are crushed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
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He strikes them as if they were common criminals in the open sight of others,
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
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because they turned away from following him and gave no thought to 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.
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thereby bringing before him the cries of the poor; and he hears the cries of the oppressed.
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:
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"But if God is silent, who can accuse him; if he hides his face, who can see him? He may do this to nations and persons alike,
30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
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so that godless men will not become kings, and the people will not be lured into traps.
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
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"For has anyone said to God, 'I have been chastised without having offended;
32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
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teach me what I have failed to see; and if I have done wrong, I will do it 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.
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Must his rewards meet your approval? Well, you are the one who doesn't like them, so you, not I, should pick the alternative; come on, say what you think!
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
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Intelligent people will tell me, every wise man who hears me will say,
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
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'Iyov is speaking without thinking; his words lack discernment.'
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
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"I wish Iyov would be kept on trial forever, because he answers like wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
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For now to his sin he adds rebellion; he [mockingly] claps his hands among us and keeps adding to his words against God."