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Moreover Elihu answered and said,
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Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
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| 3 |
For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.
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Let us choose for us that which is right: Let us know among ourselves what is good.
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For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:
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Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
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What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scoffing like water,
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Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?
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| 9 |
For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.
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| 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.
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| 11 |
For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.
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| 12 |
Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
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Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?
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If he set his heart upon himself, If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
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All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.
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If now thou hast understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.
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| 17 |
Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty?—
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Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile, Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;
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That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.
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In a moment they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without hand.
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For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.
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There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
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For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.
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He breaketh in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.
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Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
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He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;
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Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:
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So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.
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When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:
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That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.
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| 31 |
For hath any said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
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| 32 |
That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
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Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.
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| 34 |
Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:
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Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.
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| 36 |
Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.
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| 37 |
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.
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