Job 34
1 And Elihu made answer and said,
And Elihu proceeded, and said:
2 Give ear, you wise, to my words; and you who have knowledge, give attention to me;
Hear my words, ye wise men! Give ear to me, ye that have knowledge!
3 For words are tested by the ear, as food is tasted by the mouth.
For the ear trieth words, As the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us make the decision for ourselves as to what is right; let us have the knowledge among ourselves of 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 upright, and it is God who has taken away my right;
Job hath said, “I am righteous, And God refuseth me justice.
6 Though I am right, still I am in pain; my wound may not be made well, though I have done no wrong.
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, a man who freely makes sport of God,
Where is the man like Job, Who drinketh impiety like water;
8 And goes in the company of evil-doers, walking in the way of sinners?
Who goeth in company with evil-doers, And walketh with wicked men?
9 For he has said, It is no profit to a man to take delight in God.
For he hath said, “A man hath no advantage, When he delighteth himself in God.”
10 Now then, you wise, take note; you men of knowledge, give ear to me. Let it be far from God to do evil, and from the Ruler of all to do wrong.
Wherefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding! Far be iniquity from God; Yea, far be injustice from the Almighty!
11 For he gives to every man the reward of his work, and sees that he gets the fruit of his ways.
For what a man hath done he will requite him, And render to every one according to his deeds.
12 Truly, God does not do evil, and the Ruler of all is not a false judge.
Surely God will not do iniquity, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who put the earth into his care, or made him responsible for the world?
Who hath given him the charge of the earth? Or who hath created the whole world?
14 If he made his spirit come back to him, taking his breath into himself again,
Should he set his heart against man, Should he take back his spirit and his breath,
15 All flesh would come to an end together, and man would go back to the dust.
Then would all flesh expire together; Yea, man would return to the dust.
16 If you are wise, take note of this; give ear to the voice of my words.
If thou hast understanding, hear this! Give ear to the voice of my words!
17 How may a hater of right be a ruler? and will you say that the upright Ruler of all is evil?
Shall he, that hateth justice, govern? Wilt thou then condemn the just and mighty One?
18 He who says to a king, You are an evil-doer; and to rulers, You are sinners;
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked; Or to princes, Ye are unrighteous?
19 Who has no respect for rulers, and who gives no more attention to those who have wealth than to the poor, for they are all 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 Suddenly they come to an end, even in the middle of the night: the blow comes on the men of wealth, and they are gone, and the strong are taken away without the hand of man.
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, and he sees all his steps.
For his eyes are upon the ways of man; He seeth all his steps.
22 There is no dark place, and no thick cloud, in which the workers of evil may take cover.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, Where evil-doers may hide themselves.
23 For he does not give man a fixed time to come before him to be judged.
He needeth not attend long to a man, That he may go into judgment before God;
24 He sends the strong to destruction without searching out their cause, and puts others in their place.
He dasheth in pieces the mighty without inquiry, And setteth up others in their stead.
25 For he has knowledge of their works, overturning them in the night, so that they are crushed.
Therefore he knoweth their works, And in a night he overthroweth them, so that they are destroyed.
26 The evil-doers are broken by his wrath, he puts his hand on them with force before the eyes of all onlookers.
On account of their wickedness he smiteth them, In the presence of many beholders;
27 Because they did not go after him, and took no note of his ways,
Because they turned away from him, And had no regard to his ways,
28 So that the cry of the poor might come up to him, and the prayer of those in need come to his ears.
And caused the cry of the poor to come before him; For he heareth the cry of the oppressed.
When he giveth rest, who can cause trouble? And when he hideth his face, Who can behold him?
So is it with nations and individuals alike! That the wicked may no more rule, And may not be snares to the people.
Surely thou shouldst say unto God, “I have received chastisement; I will no more offend;
What I see not, teach thou me! If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more.”
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 knowledge, and all wise men, hearing me, will say,
Men of understanding, Wise men, who hear me, will say,
35 Job's words do not come from knowledge; they are not the fruit of wisdom.
“Job hath spoken without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.”
36 May Job be tested to the end, because his answers have been like those of evil men.
I desire that Job may be tried to the last, For answering like wicked men.
37 For in addition to his sin, he is uncontrolled in heart; before our eyes he makes sport of God, increasing his words against him.
For he addeth impiety to his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth words against God.
