Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
Moreover Elihu answered, and said,
2 Hear my words, ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Hear my words, ye wise men, and give ear to me, ye who have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good!
Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my judgment:
For Job has said, I am righteous, and God has taken away my right.
6 Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression.
Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
7 What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water,
What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water,
8 And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
saying, I have not sinned, nor committed unrighteousness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity to go with the profane.
9 For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.
For thou should not say, There shall be no visitation to a man, whereas visitation is to him from the Lord.
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from God, and wrong from the Almighty!
Therefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding. Far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and pervert righteousness before the Almighty.
11 For a man's work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to [his] way.
For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yea, surely, God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment.
Yea, certainly God will not do wrong. Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world?
Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who has disposed the whole world?
14 If he only thought of himself, [and] gathered unto him his spirit and his breath,
If he sets his heart upon himself, if he gathers his spirit and his breath to himself,
15 All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.
all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again to dust.
16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words!
If now thou be understanding, hear this. Hearken to the voice of words.
17 Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just?
Behold thou him who hates lawlessness, and who destroys evil men, who is forever righteousness,
18 Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked?
him who says to a king, Thou are vile, to ranking men, Ye are wicked,
19 [How then to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich man more than the poor? for they are all the work of his hands.
who does not respect the persons of rulers, nor regards the rich more than the poor. For they all are the work of his hands.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight the people are convulsed and pass away; and the strong are taken away without hand.
In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps.
For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
There is no darkness, nor thick gloom where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before God in judgment.
For he needs no further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead;
He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their stead.
25 Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth [them] in the night, and they are crushed.
Therefore he takes knowledge of their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,
He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others
27 Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways;
because they turned aside from following him, and would not have regard in any of his ways,
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 When he giveth quietness, who then will disturb? and when he hideth [his] face, who shall behold him? and this towards a nation, or towards a man alike;
When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hides his face, who then can behold him? It is the same whether to a nation, or to a man,
30 That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.
that the profane man not reign, that there be none to ensnare the people.
31 For hath he said unto God, I bear [chastisement], I will not offend;
For has any said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.
32 What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more?
Teach thou me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
33 Shall he recompense according to thy mind? for thou hast refused [his judgment]; for thou so choosest, and not I; speak then what thou knowest.
Shall his recompense be as thou desire, that thou refuse it? For thou must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what thou know.
34 Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:
Men of understanding will say to me, yes, every wise man who hears me,
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence.
Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.
36 Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of [his] answers after the manner of evil men!
But surely not. Learn thou Job not to still give an answer like the foolish,
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
so that we may not add to our sins, and lawlessness will be reckoned against us, speaking many words before the Lord.
