Elihu: God cannot do wrong
Then Elihu said: Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning. For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. Job says, I am innocent, but God denies me justice. Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound. Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water? He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked. For he says, There is no profit in trying to please God. So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say. Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? Is he not the One who says to kings, You are worthless, and to nobles, You are wicked, who shows no partiality to princes and does not favour the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? 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. His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step. There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide. God has no need to examine people further, that they should come before him for judgment. Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place. Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them, because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways. They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy. 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, to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people. Suppose someone says to God, I am guilty but will offend no more. Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again. Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know. Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me, Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight. Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man. To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.
Then Elihu said:
Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
Hear my words, you wise men;
listen to me, you men of learning.
Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.
For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
Let us discern for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.
Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
Job says, I am innocent,
but God denies me justice.
For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;
although I am guiltless,
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.
Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
Is there anyone like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?
What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with the wicked.
Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
For he says, There is no profit
in trying to please God.
For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
So listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil,
from the Almighty to do wrong.
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.
He repays everyone for what they have done;
he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.
Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Who appointed him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?
Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
If it were his intention
and he withdrew his spirit and breath,
If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
all humanity would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
Can someone who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
Is he not the One who says to kings, You are worthless,
and to nobles, You are wicked,
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
who shows no partiality to princes
and does not favour the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
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.
In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
His eyes are on the ways of mortals;
he sees their every step.
For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness,
where evildoers can hide.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
God has no need to examine people further,
that they should come before him for judgment.
For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
Without inquiry he shatters the mighty
and sets up others in their place.
He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
Because he takes note of their deeds,
he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
He punishes them for their wickedness
where everyone can see them,
He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
because they turned from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways.
Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
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,
When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
to keep the godless from ruling,
from laying snares for the people.
That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
Suppose someone says to God,
I am guilty but will offend no more.
Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.
That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?
You must decide, not I;
so tell me what you know.
Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
Men of understanding declare,
wise men who hear me say to me,
Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.
Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man.
My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.