Job 34

1 Moreover Elihu answered,

Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

2 “Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and 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 food.

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, 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 considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’

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

7 What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,

What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh up scorning like water?

8 who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?

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

Therefore hearken to 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 he shall render to him, and cause every man to find according to [his] ways.

12 Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

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

13 Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?

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

14 If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,

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

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

All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

16 “If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

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

17 Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,

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

18 who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?

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

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 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. The mighty are taken away without a hand.

In a moment they shall 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 on the ways of a man. 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 does not need to consider a man further, 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 mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set 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 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 away from following him, and would not pay attention to 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. He heard the cry of the afflicted.

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

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 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 godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

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

31 “For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

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

32 Teach 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 you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

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

34 Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:

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

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’

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

36 I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

My desire [is that] Job may be tried to the end, because of [his] answers for 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 rebellion to his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.