Job 34
1 After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say:
Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
2 May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me.
Hear my words, O ye wise [men; ] and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste.
For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best.
Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what [is] good.
5 For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment.
For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
6 For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.”
Should I lie against my right? my wound [is] incurable without transgression.
7 What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water,
What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh up scorning like water?
8 who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men?
Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.”
For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10 Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, [that he should do] wickedness; and [from] the Almighty, [that he should commit] iniquity.
11 For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them.
For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to [his] ways.
12 For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment.
Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made?
Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself.
If he set his heart upon man, [if] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes.
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16 Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence.
If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just?
Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
18 He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious.
[Is it fit] to say to a king, [Thou art] wicked? [and] to princes, [Ye are] ungodly?
19 He does not accept the reputation of leaders; nor does he recognize the tyrant as he contends against the poor. For all are the work of his hands.
[How much less to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all [are] the work of his hands.
20 They will die suddenly, and the people will be troubled in the middle of the night, but they will pass through it, and the violent will be taken away without a hand.
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 his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps.
For his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
22 There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden.
[There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God.
For he will not lay upon man more [than right; ] that he should enter into judgment with God.
24 He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place.
He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
25 For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed.
Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth [them] in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen.
He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways,
Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
28 so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor.
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29 For, when he grants peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hides his face, who is there that can contemplate him, either among the nations, or among all men?
When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth [his] face, who then can behold him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man only:
30 He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people.
That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31 Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same.
Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more: ]
32 If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more.
[That which] I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
33 Does God require this of you because it is displeasing to you? For you were the first to speak, and not I. But if you know something better, speak.
[Should it be] according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me.
Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35 But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching.
Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words [were] without wisdom.
36 My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity.
My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men.
37 For he adds blasphemy on top of his sins; nevertheless, let him be constrained to be among us, and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
