1Elihu continued,
2“Listen to my words, you wise men. Pay attention to me, you who have knowledge.
3For just as the ear tests words, the tongue tastes food.
4Let us choose what is right for ourselves. Let us decide together what is good.
5For Job has said, ‘I am innocent, and God has denied me justice.
6Even though I am innocent, I am called a liar. My wound cannot be healed, even though I have not disobeyed.
7What man is like Job, who drinks scorn as easily as water?
8He spends time with evil people and walks with wicked men.
9For he has said, ‘It doesn’t help a person at all to find joy in God.’
10Therefore, listen to me, you men who understand: it is impossible for God to do evil, and for the Almighty to commit wrongdoing.
11For he will pay back each person for what they have done and make everyone get what their actions deserve.
12Indeed, God will not act wickedly, nor will the Almighty twist justice.
13Who put him in charge of the earth? Who appointed him over the whole world?
14If he focused his attention only on himself, if he took back his spirit and his breath,
15then all living things would die together, and humans would return to dust.
16If you have understanding now, hear this. Listen to my words.
17Can someone who hates justice really govern? Will you condemn the One who is righteous and mighty?
18He is the one who can say ‘Worthless!’ to a king, or ‘Wicked!’ to nobles.
19He doesn’t show favoritism to princes or respect the rich more than the poor, because he made them all.
20They die in an instant, even at midnight. People are shaken and pass away. Powerful men are taken away without human intervention.
21For his eyes are on the ways of people. He sees everything they do.
22There is no darkness or deep gloom where evildoers can hide themselves.
23For he doesn’t need to examine a person further for them to go before God for judgment.
24He shatters powerful men in unexpected ways and puts others in their place.
25Therefore, he knows what they do. He overthrows them in the night, so they are destroyed.
26He strikes them down as wicked men where others can see.
27This is because they turned away from following him and refused to pay attention to any of his ways.
28As a result, they caused the cry of the poor to reach him. He heard the cry of those who were suffering.
29When he gives peace, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can see him? This applies to both a nation and an individual.
30He does this so that godless people won’t rule, and so that no one can trap the people.
31“Has anyone ever said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I won’t sin anymore.
32Teach me what I don’t see. If I have done wrong, I will not do it again’?
33Should God’s reward be as you wish, that you reject it? For you must choose, not I. So say what you know.
34Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me will say:
35‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words lack wisdom.’
36I wish Job would be tested to the very end, because he answers like wicked men.
37For he adds defiance to his sin. He claps his hands among us and speaks many words against God.”