Job 34
1 Then Elihu continued:
And Elihu commenced, and said,
2 “Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
Hear, O ye wise men, my words; and ye that have knowledge, give ear unto me.
3 For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
For the ear proveth words, as the palate tasteth the food.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
Let us choose for ourselves what is just: let us acknowledge between ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
For Job hath said, “I am righteous; and God hath taken away justice from me.
6 Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
Should I lie concerning the justice due me? incurable is [my wound from] the arrow I bear in me without any transgression.”
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
What man is there like Job, who drinketh scorning like water,
8 He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
And is on the road to keep company with the wrong-doers, and to walk with men of wickedness?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
For he hath said, “It profiteth a man nothing when he acteth according to the pleasure of God.”
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 ye men of sense hearken unto me: far is it from God to practise wickedness; and from the Almighty to do wrong!
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 son of earth doth he recompense unto him, and according to the path of man doth he permit things to occur to him.
12 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
Yea, surely God will not condemn unjustly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
Who hath given him a charge concerning the earth? or who hath intrusted [him] the whole world?
14 If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
If he were to set his heart upon man, he would gather unto himself his spirit and his breath:
15 all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
All flesh would perish together, and the son of earth would return again unto dust.
16 If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
If then thou wishest to understand, hear this: give ear to the sound of my words.
17 Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
Is it possible that he who hateth justice should govern? or wilt thou condemn the righteous mighty One?
18 who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
[Is it fit] to say to a king, Thou art worthless? and to princes, 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.
Whereas he is one that showeth no favor to chieftains, and distinguisheth not the rich before the indigent; for all of them 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 will they die, and in the midst of the night; people are moved, and pass away: and the mighty will be removed without a human hand.
21 For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
For big eyes are upon the ways of man, and all his steps doth he see.
22 There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the evil-doers can hide themselves.
23 For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
For he need not direct [his attention] a long time upon man, that he should enter into judgment before God.
24 He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
He breaketh down mighty men without [long] searching, and placeth others in their stead.
25 Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
For the reason that he knoweth their deeds: therefore he overturneth them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
Among wicked men doth he strike them, in the place where [many] see them:
27 because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
Because they have departed from following him, and have not considered all his ways.
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
Bringing before them the cry of the indigent, and the cry of the afflicted which he had to hear.
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 now granteth rest, who will condemn [him]! and when he hideth his face, who can behold him? whether it be against a nation, or against one man, it is the same:
30 that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
That no hypocritical man may reign, that such shall not be a mare to the people.
31 Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
For truly it is only fitting to say unto God, “I bear [cheerfully], I will not do any wrong;
32 Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
What I cannot see myself, do thou truly teach me; if I have done what is unjust, I will do so 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.
Should he then according to thy view send a recompense, because thou hast rejected him? “Because thou must choose, and not I?” and what thou knowest, do speak.
34 Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
Men of sense will say unto me, and every wise man who heareth me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
That Job hath not spoken with knowledge, and that his words are without intelligence.
36 If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
Oh that Job may therefore be probed continually, in order to give answers against sinful men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
For he addeth unto his sin transgression: among us he uttereth too many loud words, and multiplieth his speeches against God.
