Furthermore, Elihu answered and said,

Then Elihu raised his voice and said:

Hear my words, O wise men; and give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

Listen, you wise ones, to my words; you knowing ones, give ear to me,

For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.

as the ear discriminates words, and as the palate tastes food.

Let us choose what is right: let us know among ourselves what is good.

Let us choose a criterion for ourselves. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

For Iyyov has said, I am righteous: and God has taken away my right:

For Iyyov has said: "I am just, and G d has removed my plea.

notwithstanding my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

As to my judgment, I must belie [my Judge (for He has not judged me truly)]. My wound is grievous, without offense."

What man is like Iyyov, who drinks up scorning like water?

Is there another man like Iyyov, who drinks mockery as [one would drink] water?

who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men.

Who walks the path to join with workers of iniquity and to go with men of evil?

For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should be in accord with God.

Who says it profits not a man to desire [to go] with G d?

Therefore hearken to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

Therefore, men of wisdom, listen to me. Far be it from G d to do evil, and for the Almighty to do wrong.

For the work of a man shall he pay back to him, and according to his ways will he cause to befall every man.

For [according to] a man's work He will pay him, and according to a man's way He will provide for him.

Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.

Much more so will G d do no evil and the Almighty not pervert judgment.

Who has given him a charge over the earth? or who has disposed the whole world?

Who made Him his deputy over the earth [(and responsible to him for an accounting)]? Who [but He] made the entire world?

If he set his heart upon man, if he gather to himself his spirit and his breath;

If He set His heart against him [(man) to destroy him], He could gather back his spirit and his soul [(just as He gave it to him)].

all flesh shall perish together, and man shall return to dust.

Then all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.

If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

Now, if [you wish], understand; hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

Shall even one that hates right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

Will He heal even the hater of [His] justice? [(And if you say that what He has done is not justice)], would you [thus] egregiously incriminate the Righteous One?

Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art base? and to princes, You are wicked?

Would one call the king "worthless," or the nobles "wicked"?

How much less to him who does not respect the persons of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

[(Would you thus speak of the King of the world)] who does not favor the face of princes, and [before whom] the lord is not recognized above the pauper, all of them being His handiwork?

In a moment they die, at midnight the people are shaken, and pass away; for they are removed and spirited away without hands.

[If He so wishes,] in an instant they die, and at midnight a nation [Egypt] quakes and passes on, their strength departed, gone from [their] hand.

For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he sees all his goings.

For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all of his steps.

There is no darkness, nor deep gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

There is no darkness, no shadow of death, in which the workers of iniquity can be concealed.

For he will not lay upon man anything more, that he should enter into judgment with God.

For it is not for a man to constantly set [his heart] to contend with G d in judgment [(for it is not His way to dispute with His creations) but]

He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

He breaks the mighty beyond a trace, and establishes others in their place.

Surely he knows their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

For He knows their deeds [(and He requires no disputation)]. And He turns night [i.e., affliction (upon them)], and they are crushed.

He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

In the place of the wicked He smites them [(the men of Sodom)], in a place of onlookers [i.e., in view of all].

because they turned back from following him, and would not have regard to any of his ways:

Because they strayed from Him and did not know all [i.e., any one] of His ways.

so that they cause the cry of the poor to come to him, and he hears the cry of the afflicted.

[the men of Sodom, in their cruelty,] bringing before Him the outcry of the poor man and [causing Him] to hear the outcry of the afflicted ones.

When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? and when he hides his face, who then can behold him? Whether against a nation, or against a man alike:

And when He quiets [(i.e., relieves) the poor from those who oppress them)], who will wrong [them further]? And when He conceals [His face], who will see Him? [And this "quieting" and "concealing" holds for] nation and individual alike.

that the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

[And He quiets the poor] from [there further] ruling [over them] a flatterer, [(who had previously ruled over them)] because of the snares [i.e., the sins] of the people. [And you should not have aspersed such a G d.]

For surely it is fitting to say to God, I suffer, I will no more offend:

For to [such] a G d [it is fitting] to be said: "I have borne [and accept Your punishment and] I shall not do harm [to myself."]

that which I do not see teach me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

[And it further befits him to say:] "Aside from what I see [and understand of Your ways], You teach me [and] if I have done wrong, I will do so no more."

Shall he recompense it according to thy mind, when thou refusest his judgment? shall he say, Thou shalt choose, and not I; and speak what thou knowst.

[(Elihu speaking for G d:)] Should [I have consulted] with you as to the exaction of payment [for your sins] that you have despised [your life (viz. 7:16 and 6:9)]? Should you choose [your punishment] and not I? Speak what you know.

Men of understanding will tell me, and the wise man who hears me will say,

[Elihu continues:] Men of heart will say to me and the wise man will concur with me [that]

Iyyov has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

Iyyov does not speak with knowledge, and his words are not wise.

Would that Iyyov may be tried to the end because he answers like wicked men.

My Father, would that Iyyov were tried eternally, so that men of iniquity would repent!

For he adds rebellion to his sin; he strikes his fist among us, and multiplies his words against God.

For he compounds his sin with offense. In our presence he rants and he multiplies his words against G d.