Dual Panel1Then Elihu went on to say:
2Mark my words, you master-minds! You that know so much, listen to me!
3For the ear tests words as the palate savours food.
4Let us then examine for ourselves what is right; let us together establish the true good.
5Job has said, “I am innocent, but God has denied me justice,
6he has falsified my case; my state is desperate, yet I have done no wrong.”
7Was there ever a man like Job with his thirst for irreverent talk,
8choosing bad company to share his journeys, a fellow-traveller with wicked men?
9For he says that it brings no profit to anyone to find favour with God.
10But listen to me, you men of good sense. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to play false!
11For he requites everyone according to his actions and sees that each gets the reward his conduct deserves.
12The truth is, God would never do wrong, the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13Who committed the earth to his keeping? Who but he established the whole world?
14If he were to turn his thoughts inwards and withdraw his life-giving spirit,
15all flesh would perish on the instant, all mortals would turn again to dust.
16Now Job, if you have the wit, consider this; listen to what I am saying:
17Can it be that a hater of justice is in control? Do you disparage a sovereign whose rule is so fair,
18who says to a prince, “You scoundrel,” and calls the nobles blackguards to their faces;
19who shows no special respect to those in office and favours the rich no more than the poor? All alike are God's creatures,
20who may die in a moment, in the middle of the night; at his touch the rich are no more, and he removes the mighty without lifting a finger!
21His eyes are on the ways of everyone, and he watches each step they take;
22there is nowhere so dark, so deep in shadow, that wrongdoers may hide themselves.
23There are no appointed days for people to appear before God for judgement.
24Without holding an enquiry, he breaks the powerful and sets others in their place.
25Therefore he repudiates all that they do; he turns on them in the night, and they are crushed.
26For their crimes he strikes them down as a public spectacle,
27because they have ceased to obey him, and pay no heed to any of his ways,
28but have caused the cry of the poor to reach his ears, so that he hears the distressed when they cry.
29Even if he is silent, who can condemn him? If he looks away, who can find fault? What though he makes a godless man king over a stubborn nation and all its people?
30(34:29)
31But suppose you were to say to God, “I have overstepped the mark, but shall do no more mischief.
32I am contemptible; grant me guidance; whatever wrong I have done, I shall do no more.”
33Will he, at these words, condone your rejection of him? It is for you, Job, to decide, not me: but what can you answer?
34Men of good sense will say, any intelligent hearer will tell me,
35“Job is talking without knowledge, and there is no sense in his words.
36If only Job could be put to the test once and for all for answering like a mischief-maker!
37He is a sinner and a rebel as well with his endless ranting against God.”