New Century Version NCV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Then Elihu said:
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Elihu continued speaking:
2 "Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you who know a lot.
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"Hear my words, you sages! Listen to me, you who know so much!
3 The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.
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For the ear tests words, just as the palate tastes food.
4 Let's decide for ourselves what is right, and let's learn together what is good.
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Let's choose for ourselves what is just; let's decide among ourselves what is good.
5 "Job says, 'I am not guilty, and God has refused me a fair trial.
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For Iyov says, 'I am in the right, but God is denying me justice.
6 Instead of getting a fair trial, I am called a liar. I have been seriously hurt, even though I have not sinned.'
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Against justice, I am considered a liar; my wound is mortal, though I committed no crime.'
7 There is no other man like Job; he takes insults as if he were drinking water.
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"Is there a man like Iyov, who drinks in scoffing like water,
8 He keeps company with those who do evil and spends time with wicked men,
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who keeps company with evildoers and goes with wicked men,
9 because he says, 'It is no use to try to please God.'
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since he thinks, 'It profits a person nothing to be in accord with God'?
10 "So listen to me, you who can understand. God can never do wrong! It is impossible for the Almighty to do evil.
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"So listen to me, you men with sense! Far be it from God to do anything wicked!
11 God pays a person back for what he has done and gives him what his actions deserve.
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For he pays people back for what they do and sees that each gets what his conduct deserves.
12 Truly God will never do wrong; the Almighty will never twist what is right.
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It is certain that God does nothing wicked; Shaddai will not pervert justice.
13 No one chose God to rule over the earth or put him in charge of 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 God should decide to take away life and 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 then everyone would die together and turn back into dust.
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all flesh would instantly perish, everyone would return to dust.
16 "If you can understand, hear this; listen to what I have to say.
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"If you have any sense, [Iyov,] hear this; listen to what I am saying.
17 Can anyone govern who hates what is right? and powerful?
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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 God is the one who says to kings, 'You are worthless,' or to important people, 'You are evil.'
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19 He is not nicer to princes than other people, nor kinder to rich people than poor people, because he made them all with his own 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 They can die in a moment, in the middle of the night. They are struck down, and then they pass away; powerful people die without help.
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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 "God watches where people go; he sees every step they take.
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For he keeps watch on a person's ways; he sees his every step.
22 There is no dark place or deep shadow where those who do evil can hide from him.
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There is no darkness, no death-like gloom, where wrongdoers can hide;
23 He does not set a time for people to come before him for judging.
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for he doesn't give warning to people when they must appear before God in judgment.
24 Without asking questions, God breaks powerful people into pieces and puts others in their place.
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He shatters the mighty without needing to investigate and sets up others in their place.
25 Because God knows what people do, he defeats them in the night, and they are crushed.
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Therefore, aware of what they are doing, he overturns them by night, and they are crushed.
26 He punishes them for the evil they do so that everyone else can watch,
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He strikes them as if they were common criminals in the open sight of others,
27 because they stopped following God and did not care about 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 The cry of the poor comes to God; he hears the cry of the needy.
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thereby bringing before him the cries of the poor; and he hears the cries of the oppressed.
29 But if God keeps quiet, who can blame him? If he hides his face, who can see him? God still rules over both nations and persons alike.
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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 He keeps the wicked from ruling and from trapping others.
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so that godless men will not become kings, and the people will not be lured into traps.
31 "But suppose someone says to God, 'I am guilty, but I will not sin anymore.
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"For has anyone said to God, 'I have been chastised without having offended;
32 Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I will not do it again.'
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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 So, Job, should God reward you as you want when you refuse to change? You must decide, not I, so tell me what you know.
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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 "Those who understand speak, and the wise who hear me say,
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Intelligent people will tell me, every wise man who hears me will say,
35 'Job speaks without knowing what is true; his words show he does not understand.'
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'Iyov is speaking without thinking; his words lack discernment.'
36 I wish Job would be tested completely, because he answered like an evil man!
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"I wish Iyov would be kept on trial forever, because he answers like wicked men.
37 Job now adds to his sin by turning against God. He claps his hands in protest, speaking more and more 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."
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.