Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered, and said,
After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say:
2 Hear my words, ye wise men, and give ear to me, ye who have knowledge.
May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me.
3 For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.
For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste.
4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best.
5 For Job has said, I am righteous, and God has taken away my right.
For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment.
6 Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.”
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water,
What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water,
8 saying, I have not sinned, nor committed unrighteousness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity to go with the profane.
who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men?
9 For thou should not say, There shall be no visitation to a man, whereas visitation is to him from the Lord.
For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.”
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, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.
11 For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them.
12 Yea, certainly God will not do wrong. Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment.
13 Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who has disposed the whole world?
What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made?
14 If he sets his heart upon himself, if he gathers his spirit and his breath to himself,
But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself.
15 all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again to dust.
All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes.
16 If now thou be understanding, hear this. Hearken to the voice of words.
Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence.
17 Behold thou him who hates lawlessness, and who destroys evil men, who is forever righteousness,
Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just?
18 him who says to a king, Thou are vile, to ranking men, Ye are wicked,
He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious.
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.
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.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.
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.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his goings.
For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps.
22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden.
23 For he needs no further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment.
For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God.
24 He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their stead.
He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place.
25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others
Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen.
27 because they turned aside from following him, and would not have regard in any of his ways,
They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways,
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted.
so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice 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,
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?
30 that the profane man not reign, that there be none to ensnare the people.
He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people.
31 For has any said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.
Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same.
32 Teach thou me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no 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.
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.
34 Men of understanding will say to me, yes, every wise man who hears me,
Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me.
35 Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.
But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching.
36 But surely not. Learn thou Job not to still give an answer like the foolish,
My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity.
37 so that we may not add to our sins, and lawlessness will be reckoned against us, speaking many words before the Lord.
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.
