1. Elihu continued to speak ⌊to Job and his friends⌋,
2. “Listen to my words, you wise men.Open your ears to me, you intelligent men.
3. The ear tests wordslike the tongue tastes food.
4. Let’s decide for ourselves what is rightand agree among ourselves as to what is good,
5. because Job has said,‘I’m righteous, but God has taken away my rights.
6. I’m considered a liar in spite of my rights.I’ve been wounded by a deadly arrow,though I haven’t been disobedient.’
7. What person is like Job,who drinks scorn like water,
8. who travels with troublemakersand associates with evil people?
9. He says, ‘It doesn’t do any good to try to please God.’
10. “You people who have understanding, listen to me.It is unthinkable that God would ever do evilor that the Almighty would ever do wicked things.
11. God will repay humanity for what it has doneand will give each person what he deserves.
12. Certainly, God will never do anything evil,and the Almighty will never pervert justice.
13. Who put him in charge of the earth?Who appointed him to be over the whole world?
14. If he thought only of himselfand withdrew his Spirit and his breath,
15. all living beings would die together,and humanity would return to dust.
16. “If you understand, listen to this.Open your ears to my words!
17. Should anyone who hates justice be allowed to govern?Will you condemn the one who is righteous and mighty?
18. Should anyone ⌊even⌋ say to a king,‘You good-for-nothing scoundrel!’or to nobles, ‘You wicked people!’