1 FURTHERMORE Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
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.
11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
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.
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.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth 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:
30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
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.
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

1Furthermore Elihu answered, and said,

2Heare my wordes, O yee wise men, and giue eare vnto me, ye that haue knowledge.

3For the eare trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meate.

4Let vs chuse to vs iudgement: let vs know among our selues what is good.

5For Iob hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my iudgement.

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

7What man is like Iob, who drinketh vp scorning like water?

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

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

10Therefore hearken vnto me, ye men of vnderstanding: farre bee it from God, that he should doe wickednes, and from the Almighty, that hee should commit iniquitie.

11For the worke of a man shall he render vnto him, and cause euery man to finde according to his wayes.

12Yea surely God will not doe wickedly, neither will the Almighty peruert iudgement.

13Who hath giuen him a charge ouer the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

14If he set his heart vpon man, if he gather vnto himselfe his spirit and his breath;

15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turne againe vnto dust.

16If now thou hast vnderstanding, heare this: hearken to the voyce of my words.

17Shall euen he that hateth right, gouerne? and wilt thou condemne him that is most iust?

18Is it fit to say to a King, Thou art wicked? and to Princes, Ye are vngodly?

19How much lesse to him that accepteth not the persons of Princes, nor regardeth the rich more then the poore? for they all are the woorke of his hands.

20In a moment shall they die, and the people shalbe troubled at midnight, and passe away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

21For his eyes are vpon the wayes of man, and he seeth all his goings.

22There is no darkenes, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquitie may hide themselues.

23For hee will not lay vpon man more then right; that he should enter into iudgement with God.

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

25Therefore hee knoweth their workes, and he ouerturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

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

27Because they turned backe from him, and would not consider any of his wayes.

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

29When he giueth quietnesse, who then can make trouble? and when hee hideth his face, who then can beholde him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man onely:

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

31Surely it is meete to be said vnto God, I haue borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.

32That which I see not, teach thou me; If I haue done iniquitie, I will doe no more.

33Should it bee according to thy minde? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou chuse, and not I: therefore speake what thou knowest.

34Let men of vnderstanding tell mee, and let a wise man hearken vnto mee.

35Iob hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdome.

36My desire is that Iob may bee tried vnto the ende, because of his answeres for wicked men.

37For he addeth rebellion vnto his sinne, hee clappeth his handes amongst vs, and multiplieth his words against God.

 

 

III == Job 6:30 ; 12:11

 

V == Job 27:2 ; 33:9

VI == Job 6:4 ; 9:17 ; 16:13

 

VII == Job 15:16

 

 

 

IX == Job 9:22-23 , 30 ; 35:3 ; Mal 3:14

X == Gen 18:25 ; Deut 32:4 ; 2nd Chr 19:7 ; Job 8:3 ; 36:23 ; Ps 92:15 ; Rom 9:14

XI == Ps 62:12 ; Prov 24:12 ; Jer 32:19 ; Ezek 33:20 ; Matt 16:27 ; Rom 2:6 ; 2nd Cor 5:10 ; 1st Peter 1:17 ; Rev 22:12

XII == Job 8:3

XIV == Ps 104:29

XV == Gen 3:19 ; Eccl 12:7

 

XVII == Gen 18:25 ; 2nd Sam 23:3

 

XVIII == Ex 22:28

XIX == Deut 10:17 ; 2nd Chr 19:7 ; Job 31:15 ; Col 3:25 ; 1st Peter 1:17

XX == Ex 12:29-30

XXI == 2nd Chr 16:9 ; Job 31:4 ; Ps 34:15 ; Prov 5:21 ; 15:3 ; Jer 16:17 ; 32:19

XXII == Ps 139:12 ; Amos 9:2-3

XXIV == Dan 2:21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVIII == Ex 22:23

 

 

 

 

XXX == 1st Kings 12:28 , 30 ; 2nd Kings 21:9

XXXI == Dan 9:7-14

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXV == Job 35:16

 

1 Then Elihu continued and said:

2 Hear, O wise men, my discourse, and you that have knowledge, hear me!

3 For the ear tests words, as the taste does food.

4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn between us what is good.

5 For Job has said, "I am innocent, but God has taken what is my due.

6 Notwithstanding my right I am set at nought; in my wound the arrow rankles, sinless though I am."

7 What man is like Job? He drinks in blasphemies like water,

8 Keeps company with evildoers and goes along with wicked men,

9 When he says, "It profits a man nought that he is pleasing to God."

10 Therefore, men of understanding, hearken to me: far be it from God to do wickedness; far from the Almighty to do wrong!

11 Rather, he requites men for their conduct, and brings home to a man his way of life.

12 Surely, God cannot act wickedly, the Almighty cannot violate justice.

13 Who gave him government over the earth, or who else set all the land in its place?

14 If he were to take back his spirit to himself, withdraw to himself his breath,

15 All flesh would perish together, and man would return to the dust.

16 Now, do you, O Job, hear this! Hearken to the words I speak!

17 Can an enemy of justice indeed be in control, or will you condemn the supreme Just One,

18 Who says to a king, "You are worthless!" and to nobles, "You are wicked!"

19 Who neither favors the person of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor? For they are all the work of his hands;

20 in a moment they die, even at midnight. He brings on nobles, and takes them away, removing the powerful without lifting a hand;

21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he beholds all his steps.

22 There is no darkness so dense that evildoers can hide in it.

25 Therefore he discerns their works; he turns at night and crushes them.

23 For he forewarns no man of his time to come before God in judgment.

24 Without a trial he breaks the mighty, and sets others in their stead,

27 Because they turned away from him and heeded none of his ways,

28 But caused the cries of the poor to reach him, so that he heard the plea of the afflicted.

29 If he remains tranquil, who then can condemn? If he hides his face, who then can behold him?

31 When anyone says to God, "I was misguided; I will offend no more.

32 Teach me wherein I have sinned; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more,"

33 Would you then say that God must punish, since you reject what he is doing? It is you who must choose, not I; speak, therefore, what you know.

34 Men of understanding will say to me, every wise man who hears my views:

35 "Job speaks without intelligence, and his words are without sense."

36 Let Job be tried to the limit, since his answers are those of the impious;

37 For he is adding rebellion to his sin by brushing off our arguments and addressing many words to God.

v 1-4. All four are addressed respectfully as “wise men”, and are urged to discern his words as though they were tasting food, to see what was right in Job’s case.

 

 

 

v 5-9. Elihu  quoted Job’s words of despair, claiming his righteousness and God’s injustice in treating him like a liar. Then he quoted him again that it profited a man nothing to delight himself in God. That statement needed to be refuted, but he was as bad as the other three in suggesting that Job sat in the seat of the scornful and kept company with wicked men. In Elihu’s zeal to do right, he did wrong.

 

v 10-15. Elihu defends God’s justice, firmly proclaiming that God can not commit iniquity. God is sovereign over the earth, and if He withdrew His Spirit, all flesh would instantly perish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 16-20. Elihu calls attention to listen and know that God cannot be unjust. God is impartial, and regardless of position, all wicked will die and be punished.

 

 

 

 

 

v 21-30. God has all the facts in every case, and though the wicked may prosper now, as Job lamented, God will eventually crush them. He should not criticize God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 31-33. Job should not have challenged God to show him where he had sinned and he wouldn’t do it anymore. Job should think about it and decide if God should reward him when he was unrepentant.

 

 

 

v 34,35. He declared that any wise person (especially those present) could see that Job had spoken without wisdom and insight.

 

v 36,37. In his zeal to show where Job has gone wrong in his contempt and much speaking against God, Elihu became cruel and heartless like the other three. It was vicious to pray that Job be tested unto the end.