1. Elihu answered:
2. “Listen to my words, you wise men;hear me, you learned men.
3. For the ear assesses wordsas the mouth tastes food.
4. Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right;let us come to know among ourselves what is good.
5. For Job says, ‘I am innocent,but God turns away my right.
6. Concerning my right, should I lie?My wound is incurable,although I am without transgression.’
7. What man is like Job,who drinks derision like water!
8. He goes about in company with evildoers,he goes along with wicked men.
9. For he says, ‘It does not profit a manwhen he makes his delight with God.’
10. “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.Far be it from God to do wickedness,from the Almighty to do evil.
11. For he repays a person for his work,and according to the conduct of a person,he causes the consequences to find him.
12. Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly,and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13. Who entrusted to him the earth?And who put him over the whole world?
14. If God were to set his heart on it,and gather in his spirit and his breath,
15. all flesh would perish togetherand human beings would return to dust.
16. “If you have understanding, listen to this,hear what I have to say.