Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered,
And Elihu proceeded, and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
Hear my words, ye wise men! Give ear to 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 examine for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is true.
5 For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right.
Job hath said, “I am righteous, And God refuseth me justice.
6 Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’
Though I am innocent, I am made a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am free from transgression.”
7 What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
Where is the man like Job, Who drinketh impiety like water;
8 who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?
Who goeth in company with evil-doers, And walketh with wicked men?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’
For he hath said, “A man hath no advantage, When he delighteth himself in God.”
10 “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
Wherefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding! Far be iniquity from God; Yea, far be injustice 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 what a man hath done he will requite him, And render to every one according to his deeds.
12 Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
Surely God will not do iniquity, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?
Who hath given him the charge of the earth? Or who hath created the whole world?
14 If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
Should he set his heart against man, Should he take back his spirit and his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
Then would all flesh expire together; Yea, man would return to the dust.
16 “If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
If thou hast understanding, hear this! Give ear to the voice of my words!
17 Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
Shall he, that hateth justice, govern? Wilt thou then condemn the just and mighty One?
18 who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked; Or to princes, Ye are unrighteous?
19 He does not respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of his hands.
How much less to him that is not partial to princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they are all the work of his hands.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
In a moment they die; yea, at midnight Do the people stagger and pass away, And the mighty are destroyed without hand.
21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.
For his eyes are upon the ways of man; He seeth all his steps.
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 evil-doers may hide themselves.
23 For he does not need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.
He needeth not attend long to a man, That he may go into judgment before God;
24 He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
He dasheth in pieces the mighty without inquiry, And setteth up others in their stead.
25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
Therefore he knoweth their works, And in a night he overthroweth them, so that they are destroyed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
On account of their wickedness he smiteth them, In the presence of many beholders;
27 because they turned away from following him, and would not pay attention to any of his ways,
Because they turned away from him, And had no regard to his ways,
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.
And caused the cry of the poor to come before him; For he heareth the cry of the oppressed.
29 When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,
When he giveth rest, who can cause trouble? And when he hideth his face, Who can behold him?
30 that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
So is it with nations and individuals alike! That the wicked may no more rule, And may not be snares to the people.
31 “For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
Surely thou shouldst say unto God, “I have received chastisement; I will no more offend;
32 Teach me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
What I see not, teach thou me! If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more.”
33 Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
Shall he recompense according to thy mind, Because thou refusest, or because thou choosest, and not he? Speak, if thou hast knowledge!
34 Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:
Men of understanding, Wise men, who hear me, will say,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’
“Job hath spoken without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.”
36 I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
I desire that Job may be tried to the last, For answering like wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”
For he addeth impiety to his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth words against God.
