Job 34

1 Moreover Elihu answered, and said,

Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

2 Hear my words, ye wise men, and give ear to me, ye who have knowledge.

Hear my words, O ye wise [men; ] and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3 For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.

For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what [is] good.

5 For Job has said, I am righteous, and God has taken away my right.

For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

6 Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

Should I lie against my right? my wound [is] incurable without transgression.

7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water,

What man [is] 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.

Which goeth in company with the workers of 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, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

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 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.

11 For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to [his] ways.

12 Yea, certainly God will not do wrong. Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13 Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who has disposed the whole world?

Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

14 If he sets his heart upon himself, if he gathers his spirit and his breath to himself,

If he set his heart upon man, [if] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15 all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again to dust.

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

16 If now thou be understanding, hear this. Hearken to the voice of words.

If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

17 Behold thou him who hates lawlessness, and who destroys evil men, who is forever righteousness,

Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

18 him who says to a king, Thou are vile, to ranking men, Ye are wicked,

[Is it fit] to say to a king, [Thou art] wicked? [and] to princes, [Ye are] 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.

[How much less to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they 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.

In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away 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 man, and he seeth all his goings.

22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

[There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may 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 man more [than right; ] that he should 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 mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth [them] in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others

He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27 because they turned aside from following him, and would not have regard in any of his ways,

Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of 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 cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

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,

When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth [his] face, who then can behold him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man only:

30 that the profane man not reign, that there be none to ensnare the people.

That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

31 For has any said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.

Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more: ]

32 Teach thou me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

[That which] I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do 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.

[Should it be] according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

34 Men of understanding will say to me, yes, every wise man who hears me,

Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

35 Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.

Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words [were] without wisdom.

36 But surely not. Learn thou Job not to still give an answer like the foolish,

My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men.

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 addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.