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 unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3 For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.

For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth meat.

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 hath said, I am righteous, and God hath 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 drinketh up scorning like water?

8 And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, 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, it profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from God, and wrong from the Almighty!

Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

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 shall he render unto 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, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

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 hath disposed the whole world?

14 If he only thought of himself, [and] gathered unto him his spirit and his breath,

If he set his heart upon man, [if] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15 All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words!

If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

17 Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just?

Shall even one that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is just [and] mighty?

18 Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked?

Is it [fit] to say to a king, [Thou art] vile? [or] to nobles, [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.

[How much less to] him that respecteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth 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 seeth 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 shadow of death, 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 needeth not 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 breaketh in pieces mighty men [in ways] past finding out, and setteth others in their stead.

25 Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth [them] in the night, and they are crushed.

Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,

He striketh 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 to 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 unto 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 giveth quietness, who then can condemn? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether [it be done] unto a nation, or unto a man, alike:

30 That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.

That the godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people.

31 For hath he said unto God, I bear [chastisement], I will not offend;

For hath any said unto 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?

That which 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 his recompence be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? for thou must choose, and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

34 Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:

Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me:

35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence.

Job speaketh 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!

Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his 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 rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.