Elihu Asserts God's Justice
2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
2 “Hear my words, you wise men,And listen to me, you who know.
2 Hear my words, you wise men,and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.
2 "Listen to what I have to say, you wise men! Pay attention to me, you educated people!
2 “Hear my words, you wise men,And listen to me, you who have [so much] knowledge.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
4 “Let us choose for ourselves what is right;Let us know among ourselves what is good.
4 Let us judge for ourselves what is right;let us decide together what is good.
4 let's choose what's right for us. Let's consider among ourselves what is good."
4 “Let us choose for ourselves that which is right;Let us know among ourselves what is good.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
6 (a)Should I lie concerning my right?My (b)(D)wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
6 Have I lied concerning the justice that I deserve? My wound is incurable, though transgression cannot be attributed to me.'
6 Although I am right, I am accounted a liar.My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.Far be it from God to (H)do wickedness,And from the Almighty to do wrong.
10 Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding.It is impossible for God to do wrong,and for the Almighty to act unjustly.(E)
10 "Therefore you men of understanding, listen to me! Far be it for God to practice wickedness, or the Almighty to do what is wrong,
10 “Therefore hear me, you men of understanding.Far be it from God that He would do wickedness,And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
11 because he repays a person for his behavior; and according to a person's conduct, he lets it happen to him.
11 “For God pays a man according to his work,And He will make every man find [appropriate] compensation according to his way.
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
14 If he were to decide to do so, that is, to take back to himself his spirit and breath of life,
14 “If God should determine to do so,If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,
God Is Fair
16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;Listen to the sound of my words.
16 If you have understanding, hear this;listen to what I have to say.
16 If you have understanding, listen to this! Pay attention to what I have to say:
16 “If you now have understanding, hear this;Listen to the sound of my words.
17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
17 Can one who hates justice really govern? And if God is righteous and mighty, can you condemn him?
17 “Shall one who hates justice [and is an enemy of right] govern?And will you condemn Him who is just and mighty?
18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
18 Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;
18 Can one say to a king, "You're vile!' or to nobles, "You're wicked!'?
18 “God who says to a king, ‘You are worthless and vile,’Or to princes and nobles, ‘You are wicked and evil’?
19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
19 Who shows no (R)partiality to princesNor regards the rich above the poor,For they all are the (S)work of His hands?
19 God is not partial(M) to princesand does not favor the rich over the poor,for they are all the work of His hands.
19 Who isn't partial to princes? Who doesn't give preference to the nobles over the poor? Nevertheless, all of them are his handiwork.
19 “Who is not partial to princes,Nor does He regard the rich above the poor,For they all are the work of His hands.
20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
20 “In a moment they die, and (T)at midnightPeople are shaken and pass away,And (U)the mighty are taken away without a hand.
20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night;people shudder, then pass away.Even the mighty are removed without effort.
20 "They die suddenly, in the middle of the night; people suffer seizures and pass away; even valiant men can be taken away and not by human hands.
20 “In a moment they die, even at midnightThe people are shaken and pass away,And the powerful are taken away without a [human] hand.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
25 Thus he acknowledges their behavior, and overcomes them; when night time comes, they are crushed.
25 “Therefore He knows of their works,And He overthrows them in the night,So that they are crushed and destroyed.
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
28 So that they caused (AE)the cry of the poor to come to Him,And that He might (AF)hear the cry of the afflicted—
28 As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him and he has heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
29 When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him,That is, in regard to both nation and man?—
29 But when God is silent, who can declare Him guilty?When He hides His face, who can see Him?Yet He watches over both individuals and nations,
29 "If he remains silent, who will condemn him? If he conceals his face, who can see him? He watches over both nation and individual alike,
29 “When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make supplication to Him],Whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
31 “For has anyone said to God,‘I have borne chastisement;I will not offend anymore;
31 Suppose someone says to God,“I have endured my punishment;I will no longer act wickedly.
31 "Has anyone ever really told God, "I've endured, and I won't act corruptly anymore.
31 “For has anyone said to God,‘I have endured my chastisement;I will not offend anymore;
32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;if I have done wrong, I won’t do it again.”
32 What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!'
32 Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned];If I have done wrong (injustice, unrighteousness),I will not do it again’?
33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
33 “Shall He (AI)recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it?For you must choose, and not I;Therefore declare what you know.
33 Should God repay you on your termswhen you have rejected His?You must choose, not I!So declare what you know.
33 "Should you not be paid back, since you have rejected him? You do the choosing! I won't! Tell us what you know!
33 “Shall God’s retribution [for your sins] be on your terms, because you refuse to accept it?For you must do the choosing, and not I;Therefore say what you [truthfully] know.
Elihu Makes An Appeal To God
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
34 “Men of understanding will say to me,And a wise man who hears me,
34 Reasonable men will say to me,along with the wise men who hear me,
34 "Men of understanding, speak to me! Are any of you men wise? Then listen to me!
34 “Men of understanding will tell me,Indeed, every wise man who hears me [will agree],
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
37 ‘For he adds (AL)rebellion to his sin;He (AM)claps his hands among us,And multiplies his words against God.’”
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;he scornfully claps(T) in our presence,while multiplying(U) his words against God.
37 because he has been adding rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and keeps on ranting against God."
37 ‘For he adds rebellion [in his unsubmissive, defiant attitude toward God] to his [unacknowledged] sin;He claps his hands among us [in open mockery and contempt of God],And he multiplies his words [of accusation] against God.’”