1. |
And Elihu answereth and saith: |
2. |
Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me. |
3. |
For the ear doth try words, And the palate tasteth to eat. |
4. |
Judgment let us choose for ourselves, Let us know among ourselves what `is' good. |
5. |
For Job hath said, `I have been righteous, And God hath turned aside my right, |
6. |
Against my right do I lie? Mortal `is' mine arrow -- without transgression.' |
7. |
Who `is' a man like Job? He drinketh scoffing like water, |
8. |
And he hath travelled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness. |
9. |
For he hath said, `It doth not profit a man, When he delighteth himself with God.' |
10. |
Therefore, O men of heart, hearken to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And `from' the Mighty to do perverseness: |
11. |
For the work of man he repayeth to him, And according to the path of each He doth cause him to find. |
12. |
Yea, truly, God doth not do wickedly, And the Mighty doth not pervert judgment. |
13. |
Who hath inspected for Himself the earth? And who hath placed all the habitable world? |
14. |
If He doth set on him His heart, His spirit and his breath unto Him He gathereth. |
15. |
Expire doth all flesh together, And man to dust returneth. |
16. |
And if `there is' understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words. |
17. |
Yea, doth one hating justice govern? Or the Most Just dost thou condemn? |
18. |
Who hath said to a king -- `Worthless,' Unto princes -- `Wicked?' |
19. |
That hath not accepted the person of princes, Nor hath known the rich before the poor, For a work of His hands `are' all of them. |
20. |
`In' a moment they die, and at midnight Shake do people, and they pass away, And they remove the mighty without hand. |
21. |
For His eyes `are' on the ways of each, And all his steps He doth see. |
22. |
There is no darkness nor death-shade, For workers of iniquity to be hidden there; |
23. |
For He doth not suffer man any more, To go unto God in judgment, |
24. |
He breaketh the mighty -- no searching! And He appointeth others in their stead. |
25. |
Therefore He knoweth their works, And He hath overturned by night, And they are bruised. |
26. |
As wicked He hath stricken them, In the place of beholders. |
27. |
Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And none of His ways have considered wisely, |
28. |
To cause to come in unto Him The cry of the poor, And the cry of the afflicted He heareth. |
29. |
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. |
30. |
From the reigning of a profane man, From the snares of a people; |
31. |
For unto God hath any said: `I have taken away, I do not corruptly, |
32. |
Besides `that which' I see, shew Thou me, If iniquity I have done -- I do not add?' |
33. |
By thee doth He recompense, That thou hast refused -- That thou dost choose, and not I? And what thou hast known, speak. |
34. |
Let men of heart say to me, And a wise man is hearkening to me. |
35. |
Job -- not with knowledge doth he speak, And his words `are' not with wisdom. |
36. |
My Father! let Job be tried -- unto victory, Because of answers for men of iniquity, |
37. |
For he doth add to his sin, Transgression among us he vomiteth, And multiplieth his sayings to God. |