Job

Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

1Elihu kept on speaking. He said:

2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

2"Listen to my words, you wise men. Pay attention to me, you men who have learned much.

3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

3The ear tests words the same way the mouth tastes food.

Note"Meat" in the King James Version means food of any kind, not just meat from an animal.

4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

4Let us decide together what is right. Let us learn together what is good.

5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

5Job has said, 'I have done nothing wrong, but God has denied me justice.

6Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

6Would I lie about my own case? My wound will not heal, and I did nothing wrong.'

7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

7Is there any man like Job? He drinks in insults as easily as a man drinks water.

8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

8He keeps company with people who do evil. He walks with wicked men.

9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

9For he has said, 'A man gains nothing at all by trying to please God.'

10Therefore 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.

10So listen to me, you men who understand. God would never do wrong. The Almighty would never act unfairly.

11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

11He pays a man back for what that man has done. He gives each person what his ways deserve.

12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

12It is certain that God does not do evil. The Almighty does not twist what is fair.

13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

13Who put God in charge of the earth? Who placed him over the whole world?

14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

14If God decided to pull back his spirit and his breath from people,

15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

15every living thing would die at once, and human beings would go back to dust.

16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

16If you have any understanding, hear this. Pay attention to what I am saying.

17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

17Could someone who hates justice be a ruler? Will you say the just and mighty One is guilty?

18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

18Is it right to tell a king, 'You are wicked'? Or to tell rulers, 'You are evil'?

19How 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.

19It is far worse to say it to God. He does not favor princes or treat the rich better than the poor. He made them all.

20In 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.

20They die in a moment. In the middle of the night people are shaken and pass away. Even the powerful are swept off by no human hand.

Note"Without hand" means no human power did it.

21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

21God's eyes are on the ways of every person. He sees every step a man takes.

22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

22There is no darkness, and no shadow deep enough, for people who do evil to hide in.

23For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

23God never puts more on a person than is fair. No one has any cause to take God to court.

24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

24He shatters powerful men, more than anyone can count, and sets up others in their place.

25Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

25He knows what they have done. He overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.

26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

26He strikes them down for their wickedness, right where everyone can see it.

27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

27They did this because they turned away from him and paid no attention to any of his ways.

28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

28Because of them, the cry of the poor came up to God, and he heard the cry of those who suffer.

29When 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:

29When God stays quiet, who can accuse him? When he hides his face, who can see him? He does this with a whole nation or with one person alone.

30That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

30He acts so that godless men do not rule and set traps for the people.

31Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

31Surely a person should say to God, 'I have taken my punishment. I will not do wrong again.

Note"It is meet" is old English for "it is fitting" or "it is the right thing."

32That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

32Teach me what I cannot see for myself. If I have done wrong, I will not do it again.'

33Should 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.

33Should God pay you back on your terms, when you turn down his? You must choose, not me. So say what you know.

34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

34Men who understand will speak to me, and any wise man who hears me will say:

35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

35'Job has spoken without knowing what he is talking about. His words show no wisdom.'

36My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

36I wish Job would be tested to the very end, because he answers the way a wicked man answers.

37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

37He piles rebellion on top of his sin. He claps his hands to mock us and keeps piling up words against God."