Elihu Confirms God’s Justice 1 CPDV After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say: BSB BSB: Then Elihu continued:
2 CPDV May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me. BSB BSB: “Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
3 CPDV For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste. BSB BSB: For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
4 CPDV Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best. BSB BSB: Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5 CPDV For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment. BSB BSB: For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
6 CPDV For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.” BSB BSB: Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 CPDV What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water, BSB BSB: What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
8 CPDV who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men? BSB BSB: He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
9 CPDV For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.” BSB BSB: For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
10 CPDV Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty. BSB BSB: Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
11 CPDV For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them. BSB BSB: For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
12 CPDV For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment. BSB BSB: Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13 CPDV What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made? BSB BSB: Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 CPDV But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself. BSB BSB: If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
15 CPDV All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes. BSB BSB: all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16 CPDV Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence. BSB BSB: If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
17 CPDV Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just? BSB BSB: Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
18 CPDV He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious. BSB BSB: who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 CPDV He does not accept the reputation of leaders; nor does he recognize the tyrant as he contends against the poor. For all are the work of his hands. BSB BSB: who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
20 CPDV They will die suddenly, and the people will be troubled in the middle of the night, but they will pass through it, and the violent will be taken away without a hand. BSB BSB: 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 CPDV For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps. BSB BSB: For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
22 CPDV There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden. BSB BSB: There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
23 CPDV For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God. BSB BSB: For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
24 CPDV He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place. BSB BSB: He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
25 CPDV For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed. BSB BSB: Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 CPDV Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen. BSB BSB: He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
27 CPDV They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways, BSB BSB: because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
28 CPDV so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor. BSB BSB: They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
29 CPDV For, when he grants peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hides his face, who is there that can contemplate him, either among the nations, or among all men? BSB BSB: 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 CPDV He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people. BSB BSB: that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
31 CPDV Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same. BSB BSB: Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
32 CPDV If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more. BSB BSB: Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
33 CPDV Does God require this of you because it is displeasing to you? For you were the first to speak, and not I. But if you know something better, speak. BSB BSB: Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed Him? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
34 CPDV Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me. BSB BSB: Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
35 CPDV But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching. BSB BSB: ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
36 CPDV My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity. BSB BSB: If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
37 CPDV For he adds blasphemy on top of his sins; nevertheless, let him be constrained to be among us, and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches. BSB BSB: For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.