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[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 God 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 God.'
[10]Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, 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, God 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 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 God 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 God: '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 God.
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