34 Then Elihu said:

2 “Hear my words, you wise men;

listen to me,n you men of learning.

3 For the ear tests words

as the tongue tastes food.o

4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;p

let us learn together what is good.q

5 “Job says, ‘I am innocent,r

but God denies me justice.s

6 Although I am right,

I am considered a liar;t

although I am guiltless,u

his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’v

7 Is there anyone like Job,

who drinks scorn like water?w

8 He keeps company with evildoers;

he associates with the wicked.x

9 For he says, ‘There is no profit

in trying to please God.’y

10 “So listen to me,z you men of understanding.a

Far be it from God to do evil,b

from the Almighty to do wrong.c

11 He repays everyone for what they have done;d

he brings on them what their conduct deserves.e

12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,f

that the Almighty would pervert justice.g

13 Who appointedh him over the earth?

Who put him in charge of the whole world?i

14 If it were his intention

and he withdrew his spirita j and breath,k

15 all humanity would perishl together

and mankind would return to the dust.m

16 “If you have understanding,n hear this;

listen to what I say.o

17 Can someone who hates justice govern?p

Will you condemn the just and mighty One?q

18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’

and to nobles,r ‘You are wicked,’s

19 who shows no partialityt to princes

and does not favor the rich over the poor,u

for they are all the work of his hands?v

20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;w

the people are shaken and they pass away;

the mighty are removed without human hand.x

21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;y

he sees their every step.z

22 There is no deep shadow,a no utter darkness,b

where evildoers can hide.c

23 God has no need to examine people further,d

that they should come before him for judgment.e

24 Without inquiry he shattersf the mightyg

and sets up others in their place.h

25 Because he takes note of their deeds,i

he overthrows them in the nightj and they are crushed.k

26 He punishes them for their wickednessl

where everyone can see them,

27 because they turned from following himm

and had no regard for any of his ways.n

28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,

so that he heard the cry of the needy.o

29 But if he remains silent,p who can condemn him?q

If he hides his face,r who can see him?

Yet he is over individual and nation alike,s

30 to keep the godlesst from ruling,u

from laying snares for the people.v

31 “Suppose someone says to God,

‘I am guiltyw but will offend no more.

32 Teach me what I cannot see;x

if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’y

33 Should God then reward you on your terms,

when you refuse to repent?z

You must decide, not I;

so tell me what you know.

34 “Men of understanding declare,

wise men who hear me say to me,

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;a

his words lack insight.’b

36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost

for answering like a wicked man!c

37 To his sin he adds rebellion;

scornfully he claps his handsd among us

and multiplies his wordse against God.”f

35 Then Elihu said:

2 “Do you think this is just?

You say, ‘I am in the right,g not God.’h

3 Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,a

and what do I gain by not sinning?’i

4 “I would like to reply to you

and to your friends with you.

5 Look up at the heavensj and see;

gaze at the clouds so high above you.k

6 If you sin, how does that affect him?

If your sins are many, what does that do to him?l

7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,m

or what does he receiven from your hand?o

8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,p

and your righteousness only other people.q

9 “People cry outr under a load of oppression;s

they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.t

10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,u

who gives songsv in the night,w

11 who teachesx usy more than he teachesb the beasts of the earth

and makes us wiser thanc the birds in the sky?’

12 He does not answerz when people cry out

because of the arrogancea of the wicked.b

13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;

the Almighty pays no attention to it.c

14 How much less, then, will he listen

when you say that you do not see him,d

that your casee is before him

and you must wait for him,f

15 and further, that his anger never punishesg

and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.d h

16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;i

without knowledge he multiplies words.”j