| 1. | Then Elihu continued and said: |
| 2. | Hear, O wise men, my discourse, and you that have knowledge, hear me! |
| 3. | For the ear tests words, as the taste does food. |
| 4. | Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn between us what is good. |
| 5. | For Job has said, "I am innocent, but God has taken what is my due. |
| 6. | Notwithstanding my right I am set at nought; in my wound the arrow rankles, sinless though I am." |
| 7. | What man is like Job? He drinks in blasphemies like water, |
| 8. | Keeps company with evildoers and goes along with wicked men, |
| 9. | When he says, "It profits a man nought that he is pleasing to God." |
| 10. | Therefore, men of understanding, hearken to me: far be it from God to do wickedness; far from the Almighty to do wrong! |
| 11. | Rather, he requites men for their conduct, and brings home to a man his way of life. |
| 12. | Surely, God cannot act wickedly, the Almighty cannot violate justice. |
| 13. | Who gave him government over the earth, or who else set all the land in its place? |
| 14. | If he were to take back his spirit to himself, withdraw to himself his breath, |
| 15. | All flesh would perish together, and man would return to the dust. |
| 16. | Now, do you, O Job, hear this! Hearken to the words I speak! |
| 17. | Can an enemy of justice indeed be in control, or will you condemn the supreme Just One, |
| 18. | Who says to a king, "You are worthless!" and to nobles, "You are wicked!" |
| 19. | Who neither favors the person of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor? For they are all the work of his hands; |
| 20. | in a moment they die, even at midnight. He brings on nobles, and takes them away, removing the powerful without lifting a hand; |
| 21. | For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he beholds all his steps. |
| 22. | There is no darkness so dense that evildoers can hide in it. |
| 23. | For he forewarns no man of his time to come before God in judgment. |
| 24. | Without a trial he breaks the mighty, and sets others in their stead, |
| 25. | Therefore he discerns their works; he turns at night and crushes them. |
| 27. | Because they turned away from him and heeded none of his ways, |
| 28. | But caused the cries of the poor to reach him, so that he heard the plea of the afflicted. |
| 29. | If he remains tranquil, who then can condemn? If he hides his face, who then can behold him? |
| 31. | When anyone says to God, "I was misguided; I will offend no more. |
| 32. | Teach me wherein I have sinned; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more," |
| 33. | Would you then say that God must punish, since you reject what he is doing? It is you who must choose, not I; speak, therefore, what you know. |
| 34. | Men of understanding will say to me, every wise man who hears my views: |
| 35. | "Job speaks without intelligence, and his words are without sense." |
| 36. | Let Job be tried to the limit, since his answers are those of the impious; |
| 37. | For he is adding rebellion to his sin by brushing off our arguments and addressing many words to God. |
