Job 34
1 And Elius continued, and said,
Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear me, you wise men; listen, you that have knowledge.
Hear my words, O all of you wise men; and give ear unto me, all of you that have knowledge.
3 For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat.
For the ear tries words, as the mouth tastes food.
4 Let us choose judgement to ourselves: let us know amount ourselves what is right.
Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, I am righteous: the Lord has removed my judgement.
For Job has said, I am righteous: and God has taken away my judgment.
6 And he has erred in my judgement: my wound is severe without unrighteousness [of mine].
Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
7 What man is as Job, drinking scorning like water?
What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water?
8 [saying], I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly.
Which goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men.
9 For you should not say, There shall be no visitation of a man, whereas [there is] a visitation on him from the Lord.
For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10 Therefore hear me, you that are wise in heart: far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and to pervert righteousness before the almighty.
Therefore hearken unto me all of you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 Yes, he renders to a man accordingly as each of them does, and in a man's path he will find him.
For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 And think you that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth wrest judgement?
Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 And who is he that made [the whole world] under heaven, and all things therein?
Who has given him a charge over the earth? or who has disposed the whole world?
14 For if he would confine, and restrain his spirit with himself;
If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 all flesh would die together, and every mortal would return to the earth, whence also he was formed.
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.
16 Take heed lest he rebuke [you]: hear this, listen to the voice of words.
If now you have understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Behold then the one that hates iniquities, and that destroys the wicked, who is for ever just.
Shall even he that hates right govern? and will you condemn him that is most just?
18 [He is] ungodly that says to a king, You are a transgressor, [that says] to princes, O most ungodly one.
Is it fit to say to a king, You are wicked? and to princes, All of you are ungodly?
19 [Such a one] as would not reverence the face of an honourable man, neither knows how to give honour to the great, so as that their persons should be respected.
How much less to him that accepts not the persons of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
20 But it shall turn out vanity to them, to cry and beseech a man; for they dealt unlawfully, the poor being turned aside [from their right].
In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
21 For he surveys the works of men, and nothing of what they do has escaped him.
For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he sees all his activities.
22 Neither shall there be a place for the workers of iniquity to hide themselves.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay upon a man more [than right].
For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
24 For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.
He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their position.
25 Who discovers their works, and will bring night about [upon them], and they shall be brought low.
Therefore he knows their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him.
He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances,
Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
28 so as to bring before him the cry of the needy; for he will hear the cry of the poor.
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 And he will give quiet, and who will condemn? and he will hide his face, and who shall see him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man also:
When he gives quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hides his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
30 causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people.
That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31 For [there is] one that says to the Mighty One, I have received [blessings]; I will not take a pledge:
Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
32 I will see apart from myself: do you show me if I have done unrighteousness; I will not do [so] any more.
That which I see not teach you me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
33 Will he take vengeance for it on you, whereas you will put [it] far [from you]? for you shall choose, and not I; and what you know, speak you.
Should it be according to your mind? he will recompense it, whether you refuse, or whether you choose; and not I: therefore speak what you know.
34 Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word.
Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35 But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not [uttered] with knowledge.
Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36 Howbeit do you learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish:
My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
37 that we add not to our sins: for iniquity will be reckoned against us, if [we] speak many words before the Lord.
For he adds rebellion unto his sin, he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.
