1<\/sup>After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say:<\/span> <\/p>\n 2<\/sup>May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me.<\/span> <\/p>\n 3<\/sup>For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste.<\/span> <\/p>\n 4<\/sup>Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best.<\/span> <\/p>\n 5<\/sup>For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment.<\/span> <\/p>\n 6<\/sup>For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.”<\/span> <\/p>\n 7<\/sup>What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water,<\/span> <\/p>\n 8<\/sup>who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men?<\/span> <\/p>\n 9<\/sup>For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.”<\/span> <\/p>\n 10<\/sup>Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.<\/span> <\/p>\n 11<\/sup>For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them.<\/span> <\/p>\n 12<\/sup>For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment.<\/span> <\/p>\n 13<\/sup>What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made?<\/span> <\/p>\n 14<\/sup>But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself.<\/span> <\/p>\n 15<\/sup>All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes.<\/span> <\/p>\n 16<\/sup>Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence.<\/span> <\/p>\n 17<\/sup>Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just?<\/span> <\/p>\n 18<\/sup>He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious.<\/span> <\/p>\n 19<\/sup>He does not accept the reputation of leaders; nor does he recognize the tyrant as he contends against the poor. For all are the work of his hands.<\/span> <\/p>\n 20<\/sup>They will die suddenly, and the people will be troubled in the middle of the night, but they will pass through it, and the violent will be taken away without a hand.<\/span> <\/p>\n 21<\/sup>For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps.<\/span> <\/p>\n 22<\/sup>There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden.<\/span> <\/p>\n 23<\/sup>For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God.<\/span> <\/p>\n 24<\/sup>He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place.<\/span> <\/p>\n 25<\/sup>For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed.<\/span> <\/p>\n 26<\/sup>Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen.<\/span> <\/p>\n 27<\/sup>They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways,<\/span> <\/p>\n 28<\/sup>so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor.<\/span> <\/p>\n 29<\/sup>For, when he grants peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hides his face, who is there that can contemplate him, either among the nations, or among all men?<\/span> <\/p>\n 30<\/sup>He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people.<\/span> <\/p>\n 31<\/sup>Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same.<\/span> <\/p>\n 32<\/sup>If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more.<\/span> <\/p>\n 33<\/sup>Does God require this of you because it is displeasing to you? For you were the first to speak, and not I. But if you know something better, speak.<\/span> <\/p>\n 34<\/sup>Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me.<\/span> <\/p>\n 35<\/sup>But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching.<\/span> <\/p>\n 36<\/sup>My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity.<\/span> <\/p>\n 37<\/sup>For he adds blasphemy on top of his sins; nevertheless, let him be constrained to be among us, and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.<\/span> <\/p>\n