1 Elihu went on and said:
2 "Hear my words, you wise ones; give ear to me, you who know.
3 For the ear tries words just as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us select for ourselves what is just; let us determine among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job says, 'I am in the right, and God has denied me justice.
6 Despite my right I am made a liar; my arrow wound cannot be healed, though I have not transgressed.'
7 What man is there like Job, who drinks mockery like water,
8 who keeps company with those who do iniquity and goes about with men of wickedness?
9 For he has said, 'A man gains nothing by being on good terms with God.'
10 So hear me, you men of sense: far be it from God to act wickedly, and from the Almighty to do wrong!
11 For he pays a man back for his work, and brings upon each one what his conduct merits.
12 Truly God does no wrong, and the Almighty does not twist justice.
13 Who gave him charge over the earth? Who placed the whole world in his care?
14 If he set his heart on it, and drew back to himself his spirit and his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.
16 If you have understanding, hear this; give ear to what I say.
17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Or will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18 who says to a king, 'You worthless one!' and to princes, 'You wicked!'
19 who does not take the side of rulers or favor the rich over the poor, for all of them are the work of his hands?
20 In an instant they die; in the middle of the night the people are shaken and pass on, and the mighty are taken away, though not by human hand.
21 For his eyes are on the ways of man, and he sees all his steps.
22 There is no darkness and no deep darkness where those who do iniquity can conceal themselves.
23 For he does not need to consider a man further, that he should go before God for judgment.
24 He smashes the mighty without investigation and puts others in their place.
25 So he takes note of their deeds; he overthrows them by night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men where others can see,
27 because they turned away from following him and paid no attention to any of his ways,
28 causing the cry of the poor to reach him, so that he hears the cry of the oppressed.
29 If he stays silent, who can condemn? If he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a single man,
30 so that the godless may not rule, and there may be none to ensnare the people?
31 For has anyone said to God, 'I have suffered for it; I will not sin again;
32 show me what I cannot see; if I have done iniquity, I will not do it again'?
33 Should he repay you as you please, because you reject it? You must choose, not I; so tell what you know.
34 Men of understanding will say to me, and so will any wise man who hears me:
35 'Job talks without knowledge, and his words are without insight.'
36 Would that Job were tested to the limit, for answering like men of iniquity!
37 For he adds rebellion on top of his sin; he claps his hands among us and piles up his words against God."