34Then Elihu said.H453H6030H5592"Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.H8085H4405H2450H238H30453Job said, 'The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.'H241H974H4405H2441H2938H3984So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.H977H4941H3045H28965For Job also said, 'I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.H347H559H6663H410H5493H49416I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.'H3576H4941H2671H605H65887"Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk?H1397H347H8354H3933H43258He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men.H732H2274H6466H205H3212H7562H5829He has even said, 'Why waste time trying to please God?'H559H5532H1397H7521H43010"Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn't sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.H8085H582H3824H2486H410H7562H7706H576611He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.H6467H120H7999H376H4672H73412Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.H551H410H7561H7706H5791H494113Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?H6485H776H7760H839814If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,H7760H3820H622H7307H539715all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.H1320H1478H3162H120H7725H608316"Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.H998H8085H238H6963H440517Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?H8130H4941H2280H7561H3524H666218For he says to kings, 'You are wicked,' and to nobles, 'You are unjust.'H559H4428H1100H5081H756319He doesn't care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.H5375H6440H8269H5234H7771H6440H1800H4639H302720In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.H7281H4191H5971H1607H2676H3915H5674H47H5493H302721"For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do.H5869H1870H376H7200H680622No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes.H2822H6757H6466H205H564123We don't set the time when we will come before God in judgment.H7760H376H1980H4941H41024He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place.H7489H3524H2714H5975H31225He knows what they do, and in the night he overturns and destroys them.H5234H4566H2015H3915H179226He strikes them down because they are wicked, doing it openly for all to see.H5606H8478H7563H4725H720027For they turned away from following him. They have no respect for any of his ways.H5493H310H7919H187028They cause the poor to cry out, catching God's attention. He hears the cries of the needy.H6818H1800H935H8085H6818H604129But if he chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him, whether an individual or a nation.H8252H7561H5641H6440H7789H1471H120H316230He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.H120H2611H4427H5971H417031"Why don't people say to God, 'I have sinned, but I will sin no more'?H559H410H5375H225432Or 'I don't know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once'?H2372H1107H3384H6466H5766H325433"Must God tailor his justice to your demands? But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine. Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.H7999H3588H3988H977H1696H304534After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say,H582H3824H559H2450H1397H808535'Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.'H347H1696H1847H1697H791936Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked.H15H1H347H974H5331H8666H205H58237For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God."H3254H6588H2403H5606H7235H561H410
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