Elihu Confirms God’s Justice 1 UDB Then Elihu continued by saying this: BSB BSB: Then Elihu continued:
2 UDB "You men who think that you are very wise, listen to me; listen to what I am saying, you men who say that you know so much. BSB BSB: “Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
3 UDB When we hear people talk, we think carefully about what they say to know what is good and what is bad, as we taste food to know what is good to eat. BSB BSB: For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
4 UDB We must decide who is saying what is right, and we must find out together for ourselves what is good. BSB BSB: Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5 UDB Job has said, 'I am innocent, but God has refused to judge me fairly. BSB BSB: For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
6 UDB Even though I have always done what is right, he is lying about me. Even though I have not done what is wrong, he has caused me to suffer, and I will certainly die because of this.' BSB BSB: Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 UDB Is there any person like Job, who insults others as easily as people accept a drink of water? BSB BSB: What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
8 UDB He habitually associates with people who do what is evil and spends time with wicked people. BSB BSB: He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
9 UDB He certainly does these things, because he has said, 'It is useless for people to try to please God.' BSB BSB: For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
10 UDB So, you men who claim that you understand everything, listen to me! Almighty God would never consider doing anything that is wicked or wrong! 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 UDB He pays back people for what they have done; he gives them what they deserve for the way that they have conducted their lives. BSB BSB: For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
12 UDB Truly, Almighty God never does what is wicked; he never calls wrongdoing right. BSB BSB: Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13 UDB No one gave him the authority to rule everything on the earth; no one put him in control of the whole world. He has always had that authority. BSB BSB: Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 UDB If he ever thought only about himself and not about us also, and if he ever stopped making us live, BSB BSB: If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
15 UDB everyone would die immediately, and their corpses would soon become soil again. BSB BSB: all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16 UDB So, Job, if you say that you understand everything, listen to what I am saying. BSB BSB: If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
17 UDB God could certainly never hate was is right and still rule the world. So you really cannot criticize God, who is righteous and powerful, and you cannot say that what he has done is wrong, can you? BSB BSB: Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
18 UDB He tells some kings that they are worthless, and he says to some officials that they are wicked. BSB BSB: who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 UDB He does not favor rulers more than he favors others; he does not favor rich people more than poor people because he created all of them. 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 UDB They often die suddenly; he strikes them at midnight and they die; he gets rid of important people without the help of any humans. 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 UDB He sees everything that people do; when we walk, he watches every step that we take. BSB BSB: For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
22 UDB There is no gloom or darkness in which wicked people can hide from God. BSB BSB: There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
23 UDB God does not need to set a time when we will stand in front of him in order that he may judge us. He already knows everything about us. BSB BSB: For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
24 UDB He destroys important people without needing to investigate what they have done, and he appoints others to take their places. BSB BSB: He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
25 UDB Because he already knows what they have done, he removes them at night and gets rid of them. BSB BSB: Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 UDB He strikes them because of the wicked things that they have done; many people see him do it. BSB BSB: He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
27 UDB He strikes them down because they turned away from doing what he wanted them to do and did not pay attention to any of his commands. BSB BSB: because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
28 UDB They mistreated poor people; those poor people cried out to God for help, and he heard them. BSB BSB: They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
29 UDB Yet even if God decides to do nothing to punish wicked people, no one can criticize him. God controls all nations and all people. 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 UDB He does this so that those who rule over us may honor him, so that our rulers do not oppress us. BSB BSB: that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
31 UDB Job, have you or anyone else ever said to God, 'I have certainly committed sin, but I will not sin anymore; BSB BSB: Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
32 UDB so teach me what sins I have committed; if I have done anything that is evil, I will not do it anymore'? BSB BSB: Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
33 UDB Job, you object to what God has done to you, but do you think that he will do what you want him to do? It is you who must choose what you should say to God, not I; tell me what you are thinking about this. 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 UDB People who have good sense, those who are wise and who listen to what I say, will say to me, BSB BSB: Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
35 UDB 'Job is speaking ignorantly; what he says is nonsense.' BSB BSB: ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
36 UDB To you friends of Job, I say this: I think that a court should thoroughly try Job, because he answers us, his friends, as wicked men would answer. BSB BSB: If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
37 UDB To add to the other sins that he has committed, he is rebelling against God; he shows us that he does not honor God; he makes long speeches saying that God has punished him unjustly." BSB BSB: For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
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