After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say
May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me
For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste
Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best
For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment
For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.
What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water
who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men
For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.
Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty
For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them
For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment
What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made
But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself
All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes
Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence
Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just
He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious
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
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
For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps
There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden
For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God
He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place
For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed
Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen
They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways
so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor
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
He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people
Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same
If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more
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
Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me
But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching
My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity
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