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Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice

34Then Elihu continued and said:
² ‘Hear my words, you wise men,
   and give ear to me, you who know;
³ for the ear tests words
   as the palate tastes food.
⁴ Let us choose what is right;
   let us determine among ourselves what is good.
⁵ For Job has said, “I am innocent,
   and God has taken away my right;
⁶ in spite of being right I am counted a liar;
   my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.”
⁷ Who is there like Job,
   who drinks up scoffing like water,
⁸ who goes in company with evildoers
   and walks with the wicked?
⁹ For he has said, “It profits one nothing
   to take delight in God.”

¹⁰ ‘Therefore, hear me, you who have sense,
   far be it from God that he should do wickedness,
   and from the Almighty^* that he should do wrong.
¹¹ For according to their deeds he will repay them,
   and according to their ways he will make it befall them.
¹² Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
   and the Almighty^* will not pervert justice.
¹³ Who gave him charge over the earth
   and who laid on him^* the whole world?
¹⁴ If he should take back his spirit^* to himself,
   and gather to himself his breath,
¹⁵ all flesh would perish together,
   and all mortals return to dust.

¹⁶ ‘If you have understanding, hear this;
   listen to what I say.