Job 34

1 And Elius continued, and said,

Moreover, Elihu continued to speak:

2 Hear me, you wise men; listen, you that have knowledge.

“Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you who have knowledge.

3 For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat.

For the ear tries words as the palate tastes 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 discover 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, but God has taken away my rights.

6 And he has erred in my judgement: my wound is severe without unrighteousness [of mine].

Regardless of my rights, I am considered to be a liar. My wound is incurable, although I am without sin.'

7 What man is as Job, drinking scorning like water?

What man is like Job, who drinks up mockery like water,

8 [saying], I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly.

who goes around in the company of those who do evil, and who 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 is no use to a person to take pleasure in doing what God wants.'

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.

So listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness; far be it from the Almighty that he should commit sin.

11 Yes, he renders to a man accordingly as each of them does, and in a man's path he will find him.

For he pays back a person's work; he makes every man come upon the reward of his own ways.

12 And think you that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth wrest judgement?

Indeed, God does nothing wicked, nor does the Almighty ever pervert justice.

13 And who is he that made [the whole world] under heaven, and all things therein?

Who put him in charge over the earth? Who put the whole world under him?

14 For if he would confine, and restrain his spirit with himself;

If he ever set his intentions only on himself, and if he ever gathered back to 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.

then all flesh would perish together; mankind would return to dust again.

16 Take heed lest he rebuke [you]: hear this, listen to the voice of words.

If now you have understanding, listen to this; listen to the sound of my words.

17 Behold then the one that hates iniquities, and that destroys the wicked, who is for ever just.

Can one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn God, who is righteous and mighty?

18 [He is] ungodly that says to a king, You are a transgressor, [that says] to princes, O most ungodly one.

God, who says to a king, 'You are vile,' or says to nobles, 'You 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.

God, who does not show favoritism to leaders and does not acknowledge rich people more than 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 they will die; at midnight people will be shaken and will pass away; mighty people will be taken away, but not by human hands.

21 For he surveys the works of men, and nothing of what they do has escaped him.

For God's eyes are upon a person's ways; he sees all his steps.

22 Neither shall there be a place for the workers of iniquity to hide themselves.

There is no darkness, no thick gloom where the doers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 For he will not lay upon a man more [than right].

For God does not need to examine a person further; there is no need for any person to go before him in judgment.

24 For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.

He breaks mighty men into pieces for their ways that need no further investigation; he puts others in their places.

25 Who discovers their works, and will bring night about [upon them], and they shall be brought low.

In this way he has knowledge of their deeds; he overthrows these people in the night; they are destroyed.

26 And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him.

In the open sight of others, he kills them for their wicked deeds like criminals

27 Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances,

because they turned away from following him and refused to acknowledge 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.

In this way, they made the cry of poor people come to him; he heard the cry of afflicted people.

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 stays silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can perceive him? He rules over nation and individual alike,

30 causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people.

so that a godless man may not rule, so that there may be no one to entrap people.

31 For [there is] one that says to the Mighty One, I have received [blessings]; I will not take a pledge:

Suppose someone says to God, 'I am certainly guilty, but I will not sin any longer;

32 I will see apart from myself: do you show me if I have done unrighteousness; I will not do [so] any more.

teach me what I cannot see; I have committed sin, but I will do it no longer.'

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.

Do you think that God will punish that person's sin, since you dislike what God does? You must choose, not I. So say what it is that you know.

34 Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word.

Men of understanding will say to me— indeed, every wise man who hears me will say,

35 But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not [uttered] with knowledge.

'Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without wisdom.'

36 Howbeit do you learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish:

If only Job were put on trial in the smallest details of his case because of his talking like 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 to his sin; he claps his hands in mockery in our midst; he piles up words against God.”