Job 34
1 After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say:
And Elius continued, and said,
2 May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me.
Hear me, you wise men; listen, you that have knowledge.
3 For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste.
For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat.
4 Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best.
Let us choose judgment to ourselves: let us know amount ourselves what is right.
5 For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment.
For Job has said, I am righteous: the Lord has removed my judgment.
6 For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.”
And he has erred in my judgment: my wound is severe without unrighteousness [of mine].
7 What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water,
What man is as Job, drinking scorning like water?
8 who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men?
[saying], I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly.
9 For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.”
For you should not say, There shall be no visitation of a man, whereas [there is] a visitation on him from the Lord.
10 Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.
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.
11 For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them.
Yes, he renders to a man accordingly as each of them does, and in a man's path he will find him.
12 For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment.
And think you that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth wrest judgment?
13 What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made?
And who is he that made [the whole world] under heaven, and all things therein?
14 But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself.
For if he would confine, and restrain his spirit with himself;
15 All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes.
all flesh would die together, and every mortal would return to the earth, whence also he was formed.
16 Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence.
Take heed lest he rebuke [you]: hear this, listen to the voice of words.
17 Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just?
Behold then the one that hates iniquities, and that destroys the wicked, who is for ever just.
18 He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious.
[He is] ungodly that says to a king, You are a transgressor, [that says] to princes, O most ungodly one.
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.
[Such a one] as would not reverence the face of an honorable man, neither knows how to give honor to the great, so as that their persons should be respected.
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.
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].
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps.
For he surveys the works of men, and nothing of what they do has escaped him.
22 There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden.
Neither shall there be a place for the workers of iniquity to 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 a man more [than right].
24 He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place.
For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.
25 For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed.
Who discovers their works, and will bring night about [upon them], and they shall be brought low.
26 Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen.
And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him.
27 They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways,
Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances,
28 so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor.
so as to bring before him the cry of the needy; for he will hear the cry of the poor.
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?
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:
30 He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people.
causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people.
31 Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same.
For [there is] one that says to the Mighty One, I have received [blessings]; I will not take a pledge:
32 If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more.
I will see apart from myself: do you show me if I have done unrighteousness; I will not do [so] any 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.
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.
34 Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me.
Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word.
35 But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching.
But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not [uttered] with knowledge.
36 My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity.
Howbeit do you learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish:
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.
that we add not to our sins: for iniquity will be reckoned against us, if [we] speak many words before the Lord.
