Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
And Elihu commenced, and said,
2 Hear my words, ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Hear, O ye wise men, my words; and ye that have knowledge, give ear unto me.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
For the ear proveth words, as the palate tasteth the food.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good!
Let us choose for ourselves what is just: let us acknowledge between ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my judgment:
For Job hath said, “I am righteous; and God hath taken away justice from me.
6 Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression.
Should I lie concerning the justice due me? incurable is [my wound from] the arrow I bear in me without any transgression.”
7 What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water,
What man is there like Job, who drinketh scorning like water,
8 And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
And is on the road to keep company with the wrong-doers, and to walk with men of wickedness?
9 For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.
For he hath said, “It profiteth a man nothing when he acteth according to the pleasure of God.”
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from God, and wrong from the Almighty!
Therefore ye men of sense hearken unto me: far is it from God to practise wickedness; and from the Almighty to do wrong!
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 son of earth doth he recompense unto him, and according to the path of man doth he permit things to occur to him.
12 Yea, surely, God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment.
Yea, surely God will not condemn unjustly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world?
Who hath given him a charge concerning the earth? or who hath intrusted [him] the whole world?
14 If he only thought of himself, [and] gathered unto him his spirit and his breath,
If he were to set his heart upon man, he would gather unto himself his spirit and his breath:
15 All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.
All flesh would perish together, and the son of earth would return again unto dust.
16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words!
If then thou wishest to understand, hear this: give ear to the sound of my words.
17 Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just?
Is it possible that he who hateth justice should govern? or wilt thou condemn the righteous mighty One?
18 Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked?
[Is it fit] to say to a king, Thou art worthless? and to princes, 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.
Whereas he is one that showeth no favor to chieftains, and distinguisheth not the rich before the indigent; for all of them 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 will they die, and in the midst of the night; people are moved, and pass away: and the mighty will be removed without a human hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps.
For big eyes are upon the ways of man, and all his steps doth he see.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the evil-doers can hide themselves.
23 For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before God in judgment.
For he need not direct [his attention] a long time upon man, that he should enter into judgment before God.
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead;
He breaketh down mighty men without [long] searching, and placeth others in their stead.
25 Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth [them] in the night, and they are crushed.
For the reason that he knoweth their deeds: therefore he overturneth them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,
Among wicked men doth he strike them, in the place where [many] see them:
27 Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways;
Because they have departed from following him, and have not considered all his ways.
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
Bringing before them the cry of the indigent, and the cry of the afflicted which he had to hear.
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 now granteth rest, who will condemn [him]! and when he hideth his face, who can behold him? whether it be against a nation, or against one man, it is the same:
30 That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.
That no hypocritical man may reign, that such shall not be a mare to the people.
31 For hath he said unto God, I bear [chastisement], I will not offend;
For truly it is only fitting to say unto God, “I bear [cheerfully], I will not do any wrong;
32 What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more?
What I cannot see myself, do thou truly teach me; if I have done what is unjust, I will do so 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.
Should he then according to thy view send a recompense, because thou hast rejected him? “Because thou must choose, and not I?” and what thou knowest, do speak.
34 Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:
Men of sense will say unto me, and every wise man who heareth me,
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence.
That Job hath not spoken with knowledge, and that his words are without intelligence.
36 Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of [his] answers after the manner of evil men!
Oh that Job may therefore be probed continually, in order to give answers against sinful men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
For he addeth unto his sin transgression: among us he uttereth too many loud words, and multiplieth his speeches against God.
