Job 34
1 Then Elihu continued:
Moreover Elihu answered, and said,
2 “Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
Hear my words, ye wise men, and give ear to me, ye who have knowledge.
3 For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
For Job has said, I am righteous, and God has taken away my right.
6 Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water,
8 He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
saying, I have not sinned, nor committed unrighteousness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity to go with the profane.
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
For thou should not say, There shall be no visitation to a man, whereas visitation is to him from the Lord.
10 Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
Therefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding. Far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and pervert righteousness before the Almighty.
11 For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
Yea, certainly God will not do wrong. Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who has disposed the whole world?
14 If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
If he sets his heart upon himself, if he gathers his spirit and his breath to himself,
15 all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again to dust.
16 If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
If now thou be understanding, hear this. Hearken to the voice of words.
17 Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
Behold thou him who hates lawlessness, and who destroys evil men, who is forever righteousness,
18 who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
him who says to a king, Thou are vile, to ranking men, Ye are wicked,
19 who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
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.
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.
21 For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his goings.
22 There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
There is no darkness, nor thick gloom where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
For he needs no further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their stead.
25 Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
Therefore he takes knowledge of their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others
27 because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
because they turned aside from following him, and would not have regard in any of his ways,
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,
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,
30 that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
that the profane man not reign, that there be none to ensnare the people.
31 Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
For has any said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
Teach thou me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
33 Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
Shall his recompense be as thou desire, that thou refuse it? For thou must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what thou know.
34 Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
Men of understanding will say to me, yes, every wise man who hears me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.
36 If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
But surely not. Learn thou Job not to still give an answer like the foolish,
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
so that we may not add to our sins, and lawlessness will be reckoned against us, speaking many words before the Lord.
