Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
And Elihu proceeded, and said:
2 Hear my words, ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Hear my words, ye wise men! Give ear to me, ye that have knowledge!
3 For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
For the ear trieth words, As the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good!
Let us examine for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is true.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my judgment:
Job hath said, “I am righteous, And God refuseth me justice.
6 Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression.
Though I am innocent, I am made a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am free from transgression.”
7 What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water,
Where is the man like Job, Who drinketh impiety like water;
8 And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
Who goeth in company with evil-doers, And walketh with wicked men?
9 For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.
For he hath said, “A man hath no advantage, When he delighteth himself in God.”
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from God, and wrong from the Almighty!
Wherefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding! Far be iniquity from God; Yea, far be injustice from the Almighty!
11 For a man's work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to [his] way.
For what a man hath done he will requite him, And render to every one according to his deeds.
12 Yea, surely, God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment.
Surely God will not do iniquity, 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 the charge of the earth? Or who hath created the whole world?
14 If he only thought of himself, [and] gathered unto him his spirit and his breath,
Should he set his heart against man, Should he take back his spirit and his breath,
15 All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.
Then would all flesh expire together; Yea, man would return to the dust.
16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words!
If thou hast 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?
Shall he, that hateth justice, govern? Wilt thou then condemn the just and mighty One?
18 Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked?
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked; Or to princes, Ye are unrighteous?
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.
How much less to him that is not partial to princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they are all 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; yea, at midnight Do the people stagger and pass away, And the mighty are destroyed 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 man; He seeth 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 shadow of death, Where evil-doers may hide themselves.
23 For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before God in judgment.
He needeth not attend long to a man, That he may go into judgment before God;
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead;
He dasheth in pieces the mighty without inquiry, And setteth up others in their stead.
25 Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth [them] in the night, and they are crushed.
Therefore he knoweth their works, And in a night he overthroweth them, so that they are destroyed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,
On account of their wickedness he smiteth them, In the presence of many beholders;
27 Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways;
Because they turned away from him, And had no regard to his ways,
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
And caused the cry of the poor to come before him; For he heareth the cry of the oppressed.
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 giveth rest, who can cause trouble? And when he hideth his face, Who can behold him?
30 That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.
So is it with nations and individuals alike! That the wicked may no more rule, And may not be snares to the people.
31 For hath he said unto God, I bear [chastisement], I will not offend;
Surely thou shouldst say unto God, “I have received chastisement; I will no more offend;
32 What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more?
What I see not, teach thou me! 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 he recompense according to thy mind, Because thou refusest, or because thou choosest, and not he? Speak, if thou hast knowledge!
34 Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:
Men of understanding, Wise men, who hear me, will say,
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence.
“Job hath spoken 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!
I desire that Job may be tried to the last, For answering like wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
For he addeth impiety to his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth words against God.
