Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered, and said,
And Elius continued, and said,
2 Hear my words, ye wise men, and give ear to me, ye who have knowledge.
Hear me, you wise men; listen, you that have knowledge.
3 For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.
For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat.
4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
Let us choose judgement to ourselves: let us know amount ourselves what is right.
5 For Job has said, I am righteous, and God has taken away my right.
For Job has said, I am righteous: the Lord has removed my judgement.
6 Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
And he has erred in my judgement: my wound is severe without unrighteousness [of mine].
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water,
What man is as Job, drinking scorning like water?
8 saying, I have not sinned, nor committed unrighteousness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity to go with the profane.
[saying], I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly.
9 For thou should not say, There shall be no visitation to a man, whereas visitation is to him from the Lord.
For you should not say, There shall be no visitation of a man, whereas [there is] a visitation on him from the Lord.
10 Therefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding. Far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and pervert righteousness before the Almighty.
Therefore hear me, you that are wise in heart: far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and to pervert righteousness before the almighty.
11 For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
Yes, he renders to a man accordingly as each of them does, and in a man's path he will find him.
12 Yea, certainly God will not do wrong. Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
And think you that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth wrest judgement?
13 Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who has disposed the whole world?
And who is he that made [the whole world] under heaven, and all things therein?
14 If he sets his heart upon himself, if he gathers his spirit and his breath to himself,
For if he would confine, and restrain his spirit with himself;
15 all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again to dust.
all flesh would die together, and every mortal would return to the earth, whence also he was formed.
16 If now thou be understanding, hear this. Hearken to the voice of words.
Take heed lest he rebuke [you]: hear this, listen to the voice of words.
17 Behold thou him who hates lawlessness, and who destroys evil men, who is forever righteousness,
Behold then the one that hates iniquities, and that destroys the wicked, who is for ever just.
18 him who says to a king, Thou are vile, to ranking men, Ye are wicked,
[He is] ungodly that says to a king, You are a transgressor, [that says] to princes, O most ungodly one.
19 who does not respect the persons of rulers, nor regards the rich more than the poor. For they all are the work of his hands.
[Such a one] as would not reverence the face of an honourable man, neither knows how to give honour to the great, so as that their persons should be respected.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.
But it shall turn out vanity to them, to cry and beseech a man; for they dealt unlawfully, the poor being turned aside [from their right].
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his goings.
For he surveys the works of men, and nothing of what they do has escaped him.
22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
Neither shall there be a place for the workers of iniquity to hide themselves.
23 For he needs no further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment.
For he will not lay upon a man more [than right].
24 He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their stead.
For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.
25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
Who discovers their works, and will bring night about [upon them], and they shall be brought low.
26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others
And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him.
27 because they turned aside from following him, and would not have regard in any of his ways,
Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances,
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted.
so as to bring before him the cry of the needy; for he will hear the cry of the poor.
29 When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hides his face, who then can behold him? It is the same whether to a nation, or to a man,
And he will give quiet, and who will condemn? and he will hide his face, and who shall see him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man also:
30 that the profane man not reign, that there be none to ensnare the people.
causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people.
31 For has any said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.
For [there is] one that says to the Mighty One, I have received [blessings]; I will not take a pledge:
32 Teach thou me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
I will see apart from myself: do you show me if I have done unrighteousness; I will not do [so] any more.
33 Shall his recompense be as thou desire, that thou refuse it? For thou must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what thou know.
Will he take vengeance for it on you, whereas you will put [it] far [from you]? for you shall choose, and not I; and what you know, speak you.
34 Men of understanding will say to me, yes, every wise man who hears me,
Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word.
35 Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.
But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not [uttered] with knowledge.
36 But surely not. Learn thou Job not to still give an answer like the foolish,
Howbeit do you learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish:
37 so that we may not add to our sins, and lawlessness will be reckoned against us, speaking many words before the Lord.
that we add not to our sins: for iniquity will be reckoned against us, if [we] speak many words before the Lord.
