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 Is there anyone like Job,

who drinks scorn like water?

8 He keeps company with evildoers;

he associates with the wicked.

9 For he says, ‘There is no profit

in trying to please God.’

1 Then Elihu answered and said:

2 “Hear my words, you wise men,

and give ear to me, you who know;

3 for the ear tests words

as the palate tastes food.

4 Let us choose what is right;

let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 For Job has said, ‘I am in the right,

and God has taken away my right;

6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar;

my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

7 What man is like Job,

who drinks up scoffing like water,

8 who travels in company with evildoers

and walks with wicked men?

9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing

that he should take delight in God.’

1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

2 Hear my words, O ye wise men;

And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3 For the ear trieth words,

As the mouth tasteth meat.

4 Let us choose to us judgment:

Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 For Job hath said, I am righteous:

And God hath taken away my judgment.

6 Should I lie against my right?

My wound is incurable without transgression.

7 What man is like Job,

Who drinketh up scorning like water?

8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity,

And walketh with wicked men.

9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing

That he should delight himself with God.

1 Then Elihu said:

2 “Listen to me, you wise men.

Pay attention, you who have knowledge.

3 Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears

just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’

4 So let us discern for ourselves what is right;

let us learn together what is good.

5 For Job also said, ‘I am innocent,

but God has taken away my rights.

6 I am innocent, but they call me a liar.

My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’

7 “Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job,

with his thirst for irreverent talk?

8 He chooses evil people as companions.

He spends his time with wicked men.

9 He has even said, ‘Why waste time

trying to please God?’

1 Elihu further answered and said:

2 “Hear my words, you wise men;

Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

3 For the ear tests words

As the palate tastes food.

4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;

Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,

But God has taken away my justice;

6 Should I lie concerning my right?

My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

7 What man is like Job,

Who drinks scorn like water,

8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,

And walks with wicked men?

9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing

That he should delight in God.’

1 Then Elihu said:

2 “Hear my words, you wise men;

listen to me, you who know a lot.

3 The ear tests words

as the tongue tastes food.

4 Let’s decide for ourselves what is right,

and let’s learn together what is good.

5 “Job says, ‘I am not guilty,

and God has refused me a fair trial.

6 Instead of getting a fair trial,

I am called a liar.

I have been seriously hurt,

even though I have not sinned.’

7 There is no other man like Job;

he takes insults as if he were drinking water.

8 He keeps company with those who do evil

and spends time with wicked men,

9 because he says, ‘It is no use

to try to please God.’

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,

2 Hear my words, ye wise men;

And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3 For the ear trieth words,

As the palate tasteth food.

4 Let us choose for us that which is right:

Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 For Job hath said, I am righteous,

And God hath taken away my right:

6 Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar;

My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

7 What man is like Job,

Who drinketh up scoffing like water,

8 Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity,

And walketh with wicked men?

9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing

That he should delight himself with God.

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said, 2 Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 3 For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food. 4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good! 5 For Job hath said, I am righteous, and •God hath taken away my judgment: 6 Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression. 7 What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water, 8 And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. 9 For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.

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 words 

like the tongue tastes food. 

4 Let’s decide for ourselves what is right 

and 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 troublemakers 

and associates with evil people? 

9 He says, ‘It doesn’t do any good to try to please God.’ 

1 Then Elihu continued, saying:

2 Hear my words, you wise men,

and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.

3 Doesn’t the ear test words

as the palate tastes food?

4 Let us judge for ourselves what is right;

let us decide together what is good.

5 For Job has declared, “I am righteous,

yet God has deprived me of justice.

6 Would I lie about my case?

My wound is incurable,

though I am without transgression.”

7 What man is like Job?

He drinks derision like water.

8 He keeps company with evildoers

and walks with wicked men.

9 For he has said, “A man gains nothing

when he becomes God’s friend.”

1 Then Elihu continued and said:

2 “Hear my words, you wise men,

and give ear to me, you who know;

3 for the ear tests words

as the palate tastes food.

4 Let us choose what is right;

let us determine among ourselves what is good.

5 For Job has said, ‘I am innocent,

and God has taken away my right;

6 in spite of being right I am counted a liar;

my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

7 Who is there like Job,

who drinks up scoffing like water,

8 who goes in company with evildoers

and walks with the wicked?

9 For he has said, ‘It profits one nothing

to take delight in God.’

1 Thus Elihu spoke up and said,

2 “Hear my words, you wise men,

and listen to me, you who know,

3 for the ear tests words,

and the palate tastes food.

4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;

let us determine among ourselves what is good—

5 for Job has said, ‘I am righteous,

but God has taken away my justice.

6 Should I lie concerning my justice?

Though I am without transgression, my wound caused by an arrow is incurable.’

7 What man is like Job,

who drinks scorn like water?

8 And he goes on the road in company with instigators of mischief,

and walks with men of wickedness.

9 Indeed, he says, ‘A man does not profit

when he takes delight in God.’

1 Elihu continued,

2 “Hear what I’m saying, you wise men.

Listen to me, you who have learned so much.

3 Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn’t.

And our ears tell us what’s true and what isn’t.

4 So let’s choose for ourselves what is right.

Let’s learn together what is good.

5 “Job says, ‘I’m not guilty of doing anything wrong.

But God doesn’t treat me fairly.

6 Even though I’m right,

he thinks I’m a liar.

Even though I’m not guilty,

his arrows give me wounds that can’t be healed.’

7 Is there any other man like Job?

He laughs at God and makes fun of him.

8 He’s a companion of those who do evil.

He spends his time with sinful people.

9 He asks, ‘What good is it

to try to please God?’