New International Version NIV
American Standard Version ASV
1 Then Elihu said:
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Moreover Elihu answered and said,
2 “Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.
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Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.
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For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
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Let us choose for us that which is right: Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God denies me justice.
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For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:
6 Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’
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Notwithstanding my right I am [accounted] a liar; My wound is incurable, [though I am] without transgression.
7 Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water?
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What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scoffing like water,
8 He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked.
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Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit in trying to please God.’
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For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.
10 “So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
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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 He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
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For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.
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Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world?
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Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath,
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If he set his heart upon himself, [If] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
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All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.
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If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
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Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous [and] mighty?--
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
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[Him] that saith to a king, [Thou art] vile, [Or] to nobles, [Ye are] wicked;
19 who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
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That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
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In a moment they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without hand.
21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step.
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For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.
22 There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide.
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There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 God has no need to examine people further, that they should come before him for judgment.
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For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.
24 Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place.
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He breaketh in pieces mighty men [in ways] past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.
25 Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
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Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them,
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He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;
27 because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways.
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Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy.
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So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 But if he remains silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he is over individual and nation alike,
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When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether [it be done] unto a nation, or unto a man:
30 to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people.
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That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.
31 “Suppose someone says to God, ‘I am guilty but will offend no more.
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For hath any said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:
32 Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
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That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
33 Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.
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Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 “Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me,
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Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
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Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man!
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Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.
37 To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
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For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.