Tried To The End

¹ Then Elihu said:

² "Hear my words, you wise men;
listen to me, you men of learning.

³ For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.

⁴ Let us discern for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.

⁵ "Job says, 'I am innocent,
but God denies me justice.

⁶ Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;
although I am guiltless,
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.'

⁷ What man is like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?

⁸ He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with wicked men.

⁹ For he says, 'It profits a man nothing
when he tries to please God.'

¹⁰ "So listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil,
from the Almighty to do wrong.

¹¹ He repays a man for what he has done;
he brings upon him what his conduct deserves.

¹² It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.

¹³ Who appointed him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?

¹⁴ If it were his intention
and he withdrew his spirit and breath,

¹⁵ all mankind would perish together
and man would return to the dust.

¹⁶ "If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.

¹⁷ Can he who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?

¹⁸ Is he not the One who says to kings, 'You are worthless,'
and to nobles, 'You are wicked,'

¹⁹ who shows no partiality to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?

²⁰ They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;
the people are shaken and they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.

²¹ "His eyes are on the ways of men;
he sees their every step.

²² There is no dark place, no deep shadow,
where evildoers can hide.

²³ God has no need to examine men further,
that they should come before him for judgment.

²⁴ Without inquiry he shatters the mighty
and sets up others in their place.

²⁵ Because he takes note of their deeds,
he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

²⁶ He punishes them for their wickedness
where everyone can see them,

²⁷ because they turned from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways.

²⁸ They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.

²⁹ But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?
If he hides his face, who can see him?
Yet he is over man and nation alike,

³⁰ to keep a godless man from ruling,
from laying snares for the people.

³¹ "Suppose a man says to God,
'I am guilty but will offend no more.

³² Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.'

³³ Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?
You must decide, not I;
so tell me what you know.

³⁴ "Men of understanding declare,
wise men who hear me say to me,

³⁵ 'Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.'

³⁶ Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!

³⁷ To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God."

¹ Then Elihu said:

² "Do you think this is just?
You say, 'I will be cleared by God. '

³ Yet you ask him, 'What profit is it to me,
and what do I gain by not sinning?'

⁴ "I would like to reply to you
and to your friends with you.

⁵ Look up at the heavens and see;
gaze at the clouds so high above you.

⁶ If you sin, how does that affect him?
If your sins are many, what does that do to him?

⁷ If you are righteous, what do you give to him,
or what does he receive from your hand?

⁸ Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself,
and your righteousness only the sons of men.

⁹ "Men cry out under a load of oppression;
they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.

¹⁰ But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker,
who gives songs in the night,

¹¹ who teaches more to us than to the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?'

¹² He does not answer when men cry out
because of the arrogance of the wicked.

¹³ Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
the Almighty pays no attention to it.

¹⁴ How much less, then, will he listen
when you say that you do not see him,
that your case is before him
and you must wait for him,

¹⁵ and further, that his anger never punishes
and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.

¹⁶ So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;
without knowledge he multiplies words."

New International Version