< Job 34 >

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
And Elihu answers and says:
2 Hear my words, ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
“Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
For the ear tries words, And the palate tastes to eat.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good!
Let us choose judgment for ourselves, 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 have been righteous, And God has turned aside my right,
6 Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression.
Against my right do I lie? My arrow [is] mortal—without transgression.
7 What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water,
Who [is] a man like Job? He drinks scoffing like water,
8 And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
And he has traveled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness.
9 For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.
For he has said, It does not profit a man When he delights himself with God.
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from God, and wrong from the Almighty!
Therefore, O men of heart, listen to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And [from] the Mighty to do perverseness,
11 For a man's work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to [his] way.
For He repays the work of man to him, And according to the path of each He causes him to find.
12 Yea, surely, God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment.
Indeed, truly, God does not do wickedly, And the Mighty does not pervert judgment.
13 Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world?
Who has inspected for Himself the earth? And who has placed all the habitable world?
14 If he only thought of himself, [and] gathered unto him his spirit and his breath,
If He sets His heart on him, [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 expires together, And man returns to dust.
16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words!
And if [there is] understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words.
17 Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just?
Indeed, does one hating justice govern? Or do you condemn the Most Just?
18 Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked?
Who has said to a king, Worthless, To princes, 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.
That has not accepted the person of princes, Nor has known the rich before the poor, For all of them [are] a 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, And at midnight people shake, And they pass away, And they remove the mighty without hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps.
For His eyes [are] on the ways of each, And He sees all his steps.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
There is no darkness nor death-shade, For workers of iniquity to be hidden there;
23 For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before God in judgment.
For He does not permit man anymore, To go to God in judgment,
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead;
He breaks the mighty—no searching! And He appoints others in their stead.
25 Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth [them] in the night, and they are crushed.
Therefore He knows their works, And He has overturned by night, And they are bruised.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,
As wicked He has struck them, In the place of beholders.
27 Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways;
Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And have considered none 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.
To cause to come to Him The cry of the poor, And He hears 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;
And He gives rest, and who makes wrong? And hides the face, and who beholds it? And in reference to a nation and to a man, [It is] the same.
30 That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.
From the reigning of a profane man, From the snares of a people;
31 For hath he said unto God, I bear [chastisement], I will not offend;
For has any said to God: I have taken away, I do not do corruptly,
32 What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more?
Besides [that which] I see, You show me, If I have done iniquity—I do not add?
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.
Does He repay by you, that you have refused—That you choose, and not I? And what you have known, speak.
34 Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:
Let men of heart say to me, And a wise man is listening to me:
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence.
Job—he does not speak with knowledge, And his words [are] not with wisdom.
36 Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of [his] answers after the manner of evil men!
My Father! Let Job be tried—to victory, Because of answers for men of iniquity,
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
For he adds to his sin, He vomits transgression among us, And multiplies his sayings to God.”

< Job 34 >