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Elihu Confirms God’s Justice

¹ Then Elihu continued:² “Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.³ For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.⁴ Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.⁵ For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.⁶ Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’⁷ What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?⁸ He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.⁹ For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’

¹⁰ Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.¹¹ For according to a man's deeds, He repays him; according to a man's ways, He brings consequences.¹² Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice.¹³ Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?¹⁴ If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,¹⁵ all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

¹⁶ If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.¹⁷ Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,¹⁸ who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’¹⁹ who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.²⁰ They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.²¹ For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees his every step.²² There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.²³ For God need not examine a man further, for one to approach Him in judgment.²⁴ He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.²⁵ Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.²⁶ He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,²⁷ because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.²⁸ They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.²⁹ But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,³⁰ that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.

³¹ Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.³² Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’³³ Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.³⁴ Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:³⁵ ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’³⁶ If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.³⁷ For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.