Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
And Elius continued, and said,
2 Hear my words, ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Hear me, you wise men; listen, you that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good!
Let us choose judgement to ourselves: let us know amount ourselves what is right.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my judgment:
For Job has said, I am righteous: the Lord has removed my judgement.
6 Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression.
And he has erred in my judgement: my wound is severe without unrighteousness [of mine].
7 What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water,
What man is as Job, drinking scorning like water?
8 And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
[saying], I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly.
9 For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.
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 hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from God, and wrong 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 a man's work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to [his] way.
Yes, he renders to a man accordingly as each of them does, and in a man's path he will find him.
12 Yea, surely, God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment.
And think you that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth wrest judgement?
13 Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world?
And who is he that made [the whole world] under heaven, and all things therein?
14 If he only thought of himself, [and] gathered unto him his spirit and his breath,
For if he would confine, and restrain his spirit with himself;
15 All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.
all flesh would die together, and every mortal would return to the earth, whence also he was formed.
16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words!
Take heed lest he rebuke [you]: hear this, listen to the voice of words.
17 Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just?
Behold then the one that hates iniquities, and that destroys the wicked, who is for ever just.
18 Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked?
[He is] ungodly that says to a king, You are a transgressor, [that says] to princes, O most ungodly one.
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.
[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.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight the people are convulsed and pass away; and the strong are taken away without 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 man, and he seeth all his steps.
For he surveys the works of men, and nothing of what they do has escaped him.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
Neither shall there be a place for the workers of iniquity to hide themselves.
23 For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before God in judgment.
For he will not lay upon a man more [than right].
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead;
For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.
25 Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth [them] in the night, and they are crushed.
Who discovers their works, and will bring night about [upon them], and they shall be brought low.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,
And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him.
27 Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways;
Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances,
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
so as to bring before him the cry of the needy; for he will hear the cry of the poor.
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;
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 That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.
causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people.
31 For hath he said unto God, I bear [chastisement], I will not offend;
For [there is] one that says to the Mighty One, I have received [blessings]; I will not take a pledge:
32 What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so 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 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.
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 Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:
Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word.
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence.
But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not [uttered] with knowledge.
36 Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of [his] answers after the manner of evil men!
Howbeit do you learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish:
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
that we add not to our sins: for iniquity will be reckoned against us, if [we] speak many words before the Lord.
