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¹ MOREOVER Elihu continued and said.² Hear my words, O you wise men, and give ear to me, you that have knowledge.³ For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes food.⁴ Let us choose for us a judge; let him know among ourselves what is good.⁵ For Job has said, I am righteous; and God has turned aside my judgment.⁶ Who is the man who has perished without transgression?⁷ What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water?⁸ Who is a companion and friend of the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?⁹ For he has said that a man is not justified because he fears God.

¹⁰ Therefore hearken to me, O you men of understanding; far be it from God that he should do wickedness; and far be it from him that he should commit iniquity.¹¹ For he compensates a man according to his works, and causes every man to be rewarded according to his ways.¹² Truly, God does not commit iniquity, neither does God pervert justice.¹³ Who has control over the earth? Or who has made all the world?¹⁴ If he should turn his heart against man, mans spirit and his breath will be gathered to him.¹⁵ Then all flesh would perish together, and man would return again to dust.

¹⁶ If now you have understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.¹⁷ He who hates justice cannot be declared innocent, and he who is innocent will not be condemned justly;¹⁸ He who says concerning the king that he is wicked, and yet he is a good ruler over princes and governors;¹⁹ And not partial to princes, and does not discriminate against the poor (for they are all the work of his hands);²⁰ In a moment shall he die, and he shall be consumed at midnight, and pass away; he will be rendered powerless by the Almighty.²¹ For his eyes are upon all the ways of man, and he sees all his goings.²² There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.²³ For he has not set a time for a man that he should enter into judgment with God.²⁴ For he has brought misfortune to many men without number, and sets others in their places.²⁵ Therefore he knows them by their works, and he overturns them in the night.²⁶ Their works shall be crushed under the weight of their wickedness in a land of terror;²⁷ Because they turned aside from following him, and did not consider any of his ways.²⁸ The prayer of the poor comes to him, and he hears the cry of the afflicted.²⁹ When he forgives, who then can condemn? And when he turns his face away, who can forgive the people, or mankind altogether?³⁰ He sees to it that an impious and wicked man shall not reign over the people.

³¹ For God has said, I have forgiven, I will not destroy men who are without sin.³² Inform me now, teach me, if you have committed iniquity;³³ I will not answer you any more, because you have sinned, for you have been examined, and not I; therefore speak out what you know.³⁴ Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken to me.³⁵ Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words are without understanding.³⁶ Truly, Job has been tested to the end, and yet he is not counted among the wicked.³⁷ And if Job should add to his sins, then his transgression will affect us all, and he still will bring his complaint before God.