¹ Moreover Elihu answered and said:

² Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

³ For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.

⁴ Let us choose for us that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

⁵ For Job hath said: 'I am righteous, and G-d hath taken away my right;

⁶ Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

⁷ What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

⁸ Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

⁹ For he hath said: 'It profiteth a man nothing that he should be in accord with G-d.'

¹⁰ Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from G-d, that He should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that He should commit iniquity.

¹¹ For the work of a man will He requite unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

¹² Yea, of a surety, G-d will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

¹³ Who gave Him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?

¹⁴ If He set His heart upon man, if He gather unto Himself his spirit and his breath;

¹⁵ All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.

¹⁶ If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.

¹⁷ Shall even one that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty--

¹⁸ Is it fit to say to a king: 'Thou art base'? Or to nobles: 'Ye are wicked'?--

¹⁹ That respecteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they all are the work of His hands.

²⁰ In a moment they die, even at midnight; the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.

²¹ For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He seeth all his goings.

²² There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

²³ For He doth not appoint a time unto any man, when he should go before G-d in judgment.

²⁴ He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, and setteth others in their stead.

²⁵ Therefore He taketh knowledge of their works; and He overturneth them in the night, so that they are crushed.

²⁶ He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

²⁷ Because they turned aside from following Him, and would not have regard to any of His ways;

²⁸ So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry of the afflicted.

²⁹ When He giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when He hideth His face, who then can behold Him? whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man, alike;

³⁰ That the godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people.

³¹ For hath any said unto G-d: 'I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;

³² That which I see not teach Thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

³³ Shall His recompense be as thou wilt? For thou loathest it, so that thou must choose, and not I; therefore speak what thou knowest.

³⁴ Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me:

³⁵ 'Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without discernment.'

³⁶ Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

³⁷ For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against G-d.