1 And Elihu responded and said,
2 “Hear my words, you wise men; give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose what is right for us; let us know among us what is good.
5 For lyoḇ has said, ‘I am righteous, but Ĕl has taken away my right.
6 Would I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable – without transgression.’
7 What man is like lyoḇ, who drinks mocking like water,
8 who goes in company with the workers of wickedness, and walks with men of wickedness?
9 For he has said, ‘It does not profit a man that he takes delight in Elohim.’
10 Therefore, listen to me, you men of heart: far be it from Ĕl to do wickedly, and from Ĕl Shaddai to commit unrighteousness.
11 For He repays man’s work to him, and makes man to find a reward according to his path.
12 The truth is, Ĕl does not do wickedly, and Ĕl Shaddai does not twist right-ruling.
13 Who has assigned to Him the earth? And who has laid out all the world?
14 If He applies His heart to him, should He gather to Himself his spirit and his breath,
15 all flesh would expire together and man return to dust.
16 If you understand, hear this! Give ear to the sound of my words:
17 Should the one who hates right-ruling govern? Or would you declare a most righteous one wicked?
18 Who shall say to a sovereign: ‘Beliya’al,’ to nobles: ‘Wicked one’? –
19 who is not partial to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and pass away; and the mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his steps.
22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of wickedness hide themselves.
23 For He appoints a man no stated time to appear before Ĕl in right-ruling.
24 He breaks in pieces the mighty, without inquiry, and stands others in their place.
25 Truly, He knows their works, and He shall overthrow in the night, and they are crushed.
26 As wicked ones He slaps them in the presence of onlookers,
27 because they turned from following Him, and they regarded not all His Ways,
28 so as to cause the cry of the poor to come to Him; for He hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 And when He is silent, who would then cause trouble? And when He hides His face, who then sees Him, whether it is against a nation or a man alone?
30 So that a defiled one should not reign, lest the people be ensnared.
31 For has anyone said to Ĕl, ‘I have taken away, I do not act corruptly.
32 ‘Teach me what I do not see. If I have done unrighteousness, I shall not do so again’?
33 Should He repay you because you have refused? For you choose, and not I, therefore speak what you know.
34 Let men of heart say to me, and a wise man who listens to me:
35 ‘lyoḇ does not speak with knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.’
36 Would that lyoḇ be tried to the end, since his answers are like those of wicked men!
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin – he claps among us, and multiplies his words against Ĕl.”