Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered, and said,
And Eliu continued his discourse, and said:
2 Hear my words, ye wise men, and give ear to me, ye who have knowledge.
Hear ye, wise men, my words, and ye learned, hearken to me:
3 For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.
For the ear trieth words, and the mouth discerneth meats by the taste.
4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
Let us choose to us judgment, and let us see among ourselves what is the best.
5 For Job has said, I am righteous, and God has taken away my right.
For Job hath said: I am just, and God hath overthrown my judgment.
6 Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
For in judging me there is a lie: my arrow is violent without any sin.
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water,
What man is there like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 saying, I have not sinned, nor committed unrighteousness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity to go with the profane.
Who goeth in company with them that work iniquity, and walketh with wicked 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 hath said: Man shall not please God, although he run 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, ye men of understanding, hear me: far from god be wickedness, and iniquity 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 render to a man his work, and according to the ways of every one he will reward them.
12 Yea, certainly God will not do wrong. Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
For in very deed God will not condemn without cause, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who has disposed the whole world?
What other hath he appointed over the earth? or whom hath he set over the world which he made?
14 If he sets his heart upon himself, if he gathers his spirit and his breath to himself,
If he turn his heart to him, he shall draw his spirit and breath unto himself.
15 all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again to dust.
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return into ashes.
16 If now thou be understanding, hear this. Hearken to the voice of words.
If then thou hast understanding, hear what is said, and hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Behold thou him who hates lawlessness, and who destroys evil men, who is forever righteousness,
Can he be healed that loveth not judgment? and how dost thou so far condemn him that is just?
18 him who says to a king, Thou are vile, to ranking men, Ye are wicked,
Who saith to the king: Thou art an apostate: who calleth rulers ungodly?
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.
Who accepteth not the persons of princes: nor hath regarded the tyrant, when he contended against the poor man: 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 shall suddenly die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and they shall pass, and take away the violent without 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 considereth all their steps.
22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
There is no darkness, and there is no shadow of death, where they may be hid who work iniquity.
23 For he needs no further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment.
For it is no longer in 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 shall break in pieces many and innumerable, and shall make others to stand in their stead.
25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
For he knoweth their works: and therefore he shall bring night on them, and they shall be destroyed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others
He hath struck them, as being wicked, in open sight.
27 because they turned aside from following him, and would not have regard in any of his ways,
Who as it were on purpose have revolted from him, and would not 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 cry of the needy to come to 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 granteth peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hideth his countenance, who is there that can behold him, whether it regard nations, or all men?
30 that the profane man not reign, that there be none to ensnare the people.
Who maketh a man that is a hypocrite to reign for the sins of the people?
31 For has any said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.
Seeing then I have spoken of God, I will not hinder thee in thy turn.
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, teach thou me: if I have spoken iniquity, 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.
Doth God require it of thee, because it hath displeased thee? for thou begannest to speak, and not I: but if thou know any thing 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 hearken to me.
35 Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.
But Job hath spoken foolishly, and his words sound not discipline.
36 But surely not. Learn thou Job not to still give an answer like the foolish,
My father, let Job be tried even to the end: cease not from the 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.
Because he addeth blasphemy upon his sins, let him be tied fast in the mean time amongst us: and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.
