34Then Elihu continued, saying:H453H6030H5592Hear my words, you wise men, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.H8085H4405H2450H238H30453Doesn't the ear tests words as the palate tastes food?H241H974H4405H2441H2938H3984Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good.H977H4941H3045H28965For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.H347H559H6663H410H5493H49416Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression."H3576H4941H2671H605H65887What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water.H1397H347H8354H3933H43258He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.H732H2274H6466H205H3212H7562H5829For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend."H559H5532H1397H7521H43010Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God [to do] wrong, and [for] the Almighty [to act] unjustly.H8085H582H3824H2486H410H7562H7706H576611For He repays a person [according to] his deeds, and He bring his ways on him.H6467H120H7999H376H4672H73412Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice.H551H410H7561H7706H5791H494113Who gave Him authority over the earth? Who put Him in charge of the entire world?H6485H776H7760H839814If He put His mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath He [gave],H7760H3820H622H7307H539715every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.H1320H1478H3162H120H7725H608316If you [have] understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say.H998H8085H238H6963H440517Could one who hates justice govern [the world]? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,H8130H4941H2280H7561H3524H666218who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"?H559H4428H1100H5081H756319God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of His hands.H5375H6440H8269H5234H7771H6440H1800H4639H302720They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort.H7281H4191H5971H1607H2676H3915H5674H47H5493H302721For His eyes [watch] over a man's ways, and He observes all his steps.H5869H1870H376H7200H680622There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.H2822H6757H6466H205H564123God does not [need to] examine a person further, that one should approach Him in court.H7760H376H1980H4941H41024He shatters the mighty without an investigation and sets others in their place.H7489H3524H2714H5975H31225Therefore, He recognizes their deeds and overthrows [them] by night, and they are crushed.H5234H4566H2015H3915H179226In full view of the public, He strikes them for their wickedness,H5606H8478H7563H4725H720027because they turned aside from following Him and did not understand any of His waysH5493H310H7919H187028but caused the poor to cry out to Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.H6818H1800H935H8085H6818H604129But 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,H8252H7561H5641H6440H7789H1471H120H316230so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people.H120H2611H4427H5971H417031Suppose someone says to God, "I have endured [my punishment]; I will no [longer] act wickedly.H559H410H5375H225432Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I won't do it again."H2372H1107H3384H6466H5766H325433Should God repay [you] on your terms when you have rejected [His]? You must choose, not I! So declare what you know.H7999H3588H3988H977H1696H304534Reasonable men will say to me, along with the wise men who hear me,H582H3824H559H2450H1397H808535"Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight."H347H1696H1847H1697H791936If only Job were tested to the limit, because [his] answers are [like] those of wicked men.H15H1H347H974H5331H8666H205H58237For he adds rebellion to his sin; he [scornfully] claps in our presence, while multiplying his words against God.H3254H6588H2403H5606H7235H561H410