Job 34
1 And Elius continued, and said,
And Elihu commenced, and said,
2 Hear me, you wise men; listen, you that have knowledge.
Hear, O ye wise men, my words; and ye that have knowledge, give ear unto me.
3 For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat.
For the ear proveth words, as the palate tasteth the food.
4 Let us choose judgement to ourselves: let us know amount ourselves what is right.
Let us choose for ourselves what is just: let us acknowledge between ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, I am righteous: the Lord has removed my judgement.
For Job hath said, “I am righteous; and God hath taken away justice from me.
6 And he has erred in my judgement: my wound is severe without unrighteousness [of mine].
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 as Job, drinking scorning like water?
What man is there like Job, who drinketh scorning like water,
8 [saying], I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly.
And is on the road to keep company with the wrong-doers, and to walk with men of wickedness?
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 hath said, “It profiteth a man nothing when he acteth according to the pleasure of 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 ye men of sense hearken unto me: far is it from God to practise wickedness; and from the Almighty to do wrong!
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 son of earth doth he recompense unto him, and according to the path of man doth he permit things to occur to him.
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 condemn unjustly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 And who is he that made [the whole world] under heaven, and all things therein?
Who hath given him a charge concerning the earth? or who hath intrusted [him] the whole world?
14 For if he would confine, and restrain his spirit with himself;
If he were to set his heart upon man, he would 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 would perish together, and the son of earth would return again unto dust.
16 Take heed lest he rebuke [you]: hear this, listen to the voice of words.
If then thou wishest to understand, hear this: give ear to the sound of my words.
17 Behold then the one that hates iniquities, and that destroys the wicked, who is for ever just.
Is it possible that he who hateth justice should govern? or wilt thou condemn the righteous mighty One?
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, Thou art worthless? and to princes, Ye are wicked?
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.
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 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 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 he surveys the works of men, and nothing of what they do has escaped him.
For big eyes are upon the ways of man, and all his steps doth he see.
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 evil-doers can hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay upon a man more [than right].
For he need not direct [his attention] a long time upon man, that he should enter into judgment before God.
24 For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.
He breaketh down mighty men without [long] searching, and placeth others in their stead.
25 Who discovers their works, and will bring night about [upon them], and they shall be brought low.
For the reason that he knoweth their deeds: therefore he overturneth them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him.
Among wicked men doth he strike them, in the place where [many] see them:
27 Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances,
Because they have departed from following him, and have not considered all his ways.
28 so as to bring before him the cry of the needy; for he will hear the cry of the poor.
Bringing before them the cry of the indigent, and the cry of the afflicted which he had to hear.
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 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 causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people.
That no hypocritical man may reign, that such shall not be a mare to the people.
31 For [there is] one that says to the Mighty One, I have received [blessings]; I will not take a pledge:
For truly it is only fitting to say unto God, “I bear [cheerfully], I will not do any wrong;
32 I will see apart from myself: do you show me if I have done unrighteousness; I will not do [so] any more.
What I cannot see myself, do thou truly teach me; if I have done what is unjust, I will do so 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 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 Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word.
Men of sense will say unto me, and every wise man who heareth me,
35 But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not [uttered] with knowledge.
That Job hath not spoken with knowledge, and that his words are without intelligence.
36 Howbeit do you learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish:
Oh that Job may therefore be probed continually, in order to give answers against sinful 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 addeth unto his sin transgression: among us he uttereth too many loud words, and multiplieth his speeches against God.
