Elihu Confirms God’s Justice

¹ Then Elihu continued:

² “Hear my words, O wise men;

give ear to me, O men of learning.

³ For the ear tests words

as the mouth tastes food.

⁴ Let us choose for ourselves what is right;

let us learn together what is good.

⁵ For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous,

yet God has deprived me of justice.

⁶ Would I lie about my case?

My wound^* is incurable,

though I am without transgression.’

⁷ What man is like Job,

who drinks up derision like water?

⁸ He keeps company with evildoers

and walks with wicked men.

⁹ For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing

that he should delight in God.’

¹⁰ Therefore listen to me,

O men of understanding.

Far be it from God to do wrong,

and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

¹¹ For according to a man’s deeds He repays him;

according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

¹² Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly,

and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

¹³ Who gave Him charge over the earth?

Who appointed Him over the whole world?

¹⁴ If He were to set His heart to it

and withdraw His Spirit and breath,

¹⁵ all flesh would perish together

and mankind would return to the dust.

¹⁶ If you have understanding, hear this;

listen to my words.

¹⁷ Could one who hates justice govern?^*

Will you condemn the just and mighty One,

¹⁸ who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’

and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

¹⁹ who is not partial to princes

and does not favor^* rich over poor?

For they are all the work of His hands.

²⁰ They die in an instant,

in the middle of the night.

The people convulse and pass away;

the mighty are removed without human hand.

²¹ For His eyes are on the ways of a man,

and He sees his every step.

²² There is no darkness or deep shadow

where the workers of iniquity can hide.

²³ For God need not examine a man further

or have him approach for judgment.

²⁴ He shatters the mighty without inquiry

and sets up others in their place.

²⁵ Therefore, He recognizes their deeds;

He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

²⁶ He strikes them for their wickedness

in full view,

²⁷ because they turned aside from Him

and had no regard for any of His ways.

²⁸ They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him,

and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

²⁹ But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him?^*

When He hides^* His face, who can see Him?

Yet He watches over both man and nation,

³⁰ that godless men should not rule

or lay snares^* for the people.

³¹ Suppose someone says to God,

‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.

³² Teach me what I cannot see;

if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’

³³ Should God repay you on your own terms

when you have disavowed Him^*?

You must choose, not I;

so tell me what you know.

³⁴ Men of understanding will declare to me,

and the wise men who hear me will say:

³⁵ ‘Job speaks without knowledge;

his words lack insight.’

³⁶ If only Job were tried^* to the utmost^*

for answering like a wicked man.

³⁷ For he adds rebellion to his sin;

he claps his hands among us

and multiplies his words against God.”