What then will I do when God comes as my judge? and what answer may I give to his questions?

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)

If I see any perishing without clothing, And there is no covering to the needy,

whose heart did not bless me as he warmed himself with the fleece of my sheep,

For calamity from God is a terror to me, And by reason of his majesty I can do nothing.

If I rejoice because great is my wealth, And because abundance hath my hand found,

If I beheld the sun [as an object of worship] when it shone
Or the moon going in its splendor,

And my heart is enticed in secret, And my hand doth kiss my mouth,

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

I never suffered my mouth to do such a sin, as to wish him evil.

Haven’t the members of my household said,
“Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job’s table?”

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

"If my land were to cry out against me or if all its furrows wept as one,

may thorns spring up instead of wheat, and obnoxious weeds instead of barley." With this, Job's discourse with his friends is completed.

And these three men cease from answering Job, for he is righteous in his own eyes,

And Elihu seeth that there is no answer in the mouth of the three men, and his anger burneth.

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: "I am young, but you are elderly; that is why I was fearful, and afraid to explain to you what I know.

I said to myself, It is right for the old to say what is in their minds, and for those who are far on in years to give out wisdom.

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

Therefore will I speak also, insofar as I may be heard, and will show you mine opinion.

“You see, I waited for your words,
I listened to your [wise] reasons,
While you pondered and searched out what to say.

And unto you I attend, And lo, there is no reasoner for Job, Or answerer of his sayings among you.

“Beware if you say,
‘We have found wisdom;
God thrusts Job down [justly], not man [for God alone is dealing with him].’

I will not put forward words like these, or make use of your sayings in answer to him.

"But insomuch as ye will not speak, standing still like dumb men, and making no answer:

"I will contribute my arguments as an answer; I'll declare what I know,

For I am full of words, and the spirit that is within me, compelleth me.

Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

I speak, and there is refreshment to me, I open my lips and answer.

since I don't know the first thing about how to flatter; and the one who made me would sweep me away as if I were nothing."

“However, Job, please listen to my words,
And pay attention to everything I say.

“Behold, I have opened my mouth [to begin my speech];
My tongue in my mouth is going to speak.

My heart is overflowing with knowledge, my lips say what is true.

“The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life [which inspires me].

Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay.

Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy.

I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

‘Behold, God finds pretexts against me;
He counts me as His enemy.

He puts chains on my feet; he is watching all my ways.

Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

“Why do you complain against Him?
That He does not answer [you with] all His doings.

For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:

In a dream, a vision in the night,
when deep sleep falls on people
as they slumber on their beds,

that it is he, which withdraweth man from evil, delivereth him from pride,

He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

He has no desire for food, and his soul is turned away from delicate meat;

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

His soul is getting close to the Pit; his life is approaching its executioner."

If there be with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show unto man what is right for him;

Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

Fresher is his flesh than a child's, He returneth to the days of his youth.

He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him, So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.

"He will sing to men, and he will say, 'I have sinned and have perverted [what is] right, and it was not paid back to me.

Take note O Job, give ear to me; keep quiet, while I say what is in my mind.

If you have anything to say, give me an answer; for it is my desire that you may be judged free from sin.

Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

For Job has said, I am upright, and it is God who has taken away my right;

Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

And he hath travelled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness.

For he has said, It is no profit to a man to take delight in God.

Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding.
It is impossible for God to do wrong,
and for the Almighty to act unjustly.

Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly
and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

Who has given the earth as a deposit with Him? Or who has set the whole world in order?

If he were to decide to do so, that is, to take back to himself his spirit and breath of life,

And if there is understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words.

Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

“Who is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich above the poor,
For they all are the work of His hands.

In a moment, they die, even in the middle of the night, - A people are convulsed when they pass away, A mighty one is removed, without hand;

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

For he will not lay upon man more than what is right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

Forasmuch, as they turned from following him, and, none of his ways, did they teach;

As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him and he has heard the cry of the afflicted.

And He giveth rest, and who maketh wrong? And hideth the face, and who beholdeth it? And in reference to a nation and to a man, It is the same.

Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.

Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

As for Job he hath neither spoken to the purpose nor wisely.

My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?

For thou hast asked of what profit it is unto thee: what do I gain more than if I had sinned?

If you have done wrong, is he any the worse for it? and if your sins are great in number, what is it to him?

Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

Because the hand of the cruel is hard on them, men are making sounds of grief; they are crying out for help because of the arm of the strong.

But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

“Surely God will not listen to an empty cry [which lacks trust],
Nor will the Almighty regard it.

Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:

And Job's mouth is open wide to give out what is of no profit, increasing words without knowledge.