Elihu: far be it from God to do wrong
1And Elihu spoke up and said: 2Hear my words, you wise ones; you who know so much, listen to me. 3For the ear tests words the way the palate tastes food. 4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us find out among us what is good. 5For Job has said, “I am in the right, and God has taken my justice away. 6Am I to lie about my own case? My wound will not heal, and I did no wrong.” 7What valiant man is like Job, who drinks down mockery like water, 8who keeps company with those who work iniquity and walks with the wicked? 9For he has said, “A valiant man gains nothing by taking his delight in God.” 10So listen to me, you people of sense. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. 11He pays a man back for what he does and makes each one meet what his own road brings. 12The truth is that God does no evil, and the Almighty does not bend justice. 13Who put the earth in his charge? Who laid the whole world on him? 14If he turned his heart in on himself and gathered back his spirit and his breath, 15all flesh would perish together, and man would go back to the dust.
Can one who hates justice govern?
16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to the sound of my words. 17Can one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the Mighty and Just One? 18He says to a king, “You are worthless,” and to nobles, “You are wicked.” 19He shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands. 20In a moment they die, at midnight; the people are shaken and pass away, and the strong are removed by no human hand. 21For his eyes are on a person’s ways, and every step he takes, he sees. 22There is no darkness, no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity can hide. 23He need not keep taking a person’s measure for him to come before God in judgment. 24He shatters the strong without an inquiry and sets up others in their place. 25So he knows what they have done; he overturns them in a night, and they are crushed. 26He strikes them down for their wickedness where everyone can watch, 27because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways, 28so that the cry of the poor came to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted. 29If he keeps quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can find him? — and it is the same for a nation and for a man, 30so that a godless man may not reign and set traps for the people.
Is he to pay out on your terms?
31Has anyone ever said to God, “I have taken my punishment; I will offend no more; 32teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again”? 33Is he to repay on your terms, because you refuse? You are the one who must choose, not I; so say what you know. 34People of sense will tell me, and every valiant man of wisdom who hears me: 35“Job speaks without knowledge; there is no sense in his words.” 36If only Job were tested to the very end, for answering like men of iniquity. 37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and piles up his words against God.
