Job 34
1 And Eliu continued his discourse, and said:
Furthermore Elihu responded, and said: —
2 Hear ye, wise men, my words, and ye learned, hearken to me:
Hear, ye wise men, my words, and, ye who know, give ear unto me;
3 For the ear trieth words, and the mouth discerneth meats by the taste.
For, the ear, trieth words, as, the palate, tasteth in eating.
4 Let us choose to us judgment, and let us see among ourselves what is the best.
What is right, let us choose for ourselves, Let us know, among ourselves, what is good;
5 For Job hath said: I am just, and God hath overthrown my judgment.
For Job hath said—I am righteous, But, GOD, hath turned away my right;
6 For in judging me there is a lie: my arrow is violent without any sin.
Concerning mine own right, shall I tell a falsehood? Incurable is my disease—not for any transgression.
7 What man is there like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
What man is like Job? He drinketh in scoffing like water;
8 Who goeth in company with them that work iniquity, and walketh with wicked men?
And is on the way to keep company, with the workers of iniquity, and to walk with lawless men.
9 For he hath said: Man shall not please God, although he run with him.
For he hath said, It profiteth not a man, when, his good pleasure, is with God.
10 Therefore, ye men of understanding, hear me: far from god be wickedness, and iniquity from the Almighty.
Wherefore, ye men of mind, hearken unto me, —Far be it, that, GOD, should be lawless, or, the Almighty, be perverse!
11 For he will render to a man his work, and according to the ways of every one he will reward them.
For, what any son of earth doeth, he repayeth him, and, according to every man’s course, he causeth him to find.
12 For in very deed God will not condemn without cause, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Nay, verily, GOD, will not condemn unjustly, —nor, the Almighty, pervert justice.
13 What other hath he appointed over the earth? or whom hath he set over the world which he made?
Who set him in charge of the earth? Or who appointed [him] the whole world?
14 If he turn his heart to him, he shall draw his spirit and breath unto himself.
If he should set against him his heart, His spirit and his inspiration, unto himself he should withdraw.
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return into ashes.
All flesh together, would cease to breathe, and, the earth-born, unto dust, would return.
16 If then thou hast understanding, hear what is said, and hearken to the voice of my words.
If then [thou hast] understanding, hear this, Give thou ear to the teaching of my words: —
17 Can he be healed that loveth not judgment? and how dost thou so far condemn him that is just?
Shall, the very hater of right, control? Or, the just—the mighty one, wilt thou condemn?
18 Who saith to the king: Thou art an apostate: who calleth rulers ungodly?
Doth one say to a king, Abandoned one! Or, Lawless one! unto nobles?
19 Who accepteth not the persons of princes: nor hath regarded the tyrant, when he contended against the poor man: for all are the work of his hands.
For he hath shewn no respect of persons unto princes, neither hath he recognised the rich rather than the poor? For, the work of his hands, are they all.
20 They shall suddenly die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and they shall pass, and take away the violent without hand.
In a moment, they die, even in the middle of the night, —A people are convulsed when they pass away, A mighty one is removed, without hand;
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he considereth all their steps.
For, his eyes, are on the ways of a man, and, all his footsteps, he beholdeth, —
22 There is no darkness, and there is no shadow of death, where they may be hid who work iniquity.
No darkness, and no death-shade, where the workers of iniquity may hide.
23 For it is no longer in the power of man to enter into judgment with God.
For, unto no man, doth he appoint a repetition, —in going unto GOD in judgment;
24 He shall break in pieces many and innumerable, and shall make others to stand in their stead.
He shattereth mighty ones unsearchably, and setteth up others in their stead:
25 For he knoweth their works: and therefore he shall bring night on them, and they shall be destroyed.
Therefore, he observeth their works, —and overturneth [them] in a night, and they are crushed;
26 He hath struck them, as being wicked, in open sight.
In the place of lawless men, hath he chastised them, in presence of beholders.
27 Who as it were on purpose have revolted from him, and would not understand all his ways:
Forasmuch, as they turned from following him, and, none of his ways, did they teach;
28 So that they caused the cry of the needy to come to him, and he heard the voice of the poor.
Causing to reach him the outcry of the poor, Yea, the outcry of the oppressed, he heareth.
29 For when he granteth peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hideth his countenance, who is there that can behold him, whether it regard nations, or all men?
When, he, giveth quiet, who then shall condemn? And, when he hideth [his] face, who then shall sing of him? whether unto a nation or unto mankind altogether,
30 Who maketh a man that is a hypocrite to reign for the sins of the people?
That impious men may not reign, nor be ensnarers of the people.
31 Seeing then I have spoken of God, I will not hinder thee in thy turn.
For, unto GOD, hath one [ever] said—I have borne punishment, I will not be perverse;
32 If I have erred, teach thou me: if I have spoken iniquity, I will add no more.
What I see not, do, thou, shew me, If, perverseness, I have wrought, I will do it no more?
33 Doth God require it of thee, because it hath displeased thee? for thou begannest to speak, and not I: but if thou know any thing better, speak.
According to thy mind, must he requite it, that thou hast refused? For, thou, must choose, and not, I, What then thou knowest, speak!
34 Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man hearken to me.
The men of mind, will say to me, yea any wise man hearkening unto me: —
35 But Job hath spoken foolishly, and his words sound not discipline.
Job, without knowledge, doth speak, and, his words, are not with discretion.
36 My father, let Job be tried even to the end: cease not from the man of iniquity.
Would that Job might be tested to the uttermost, for replying with the men of iniquity:
37 Because he addeth blasphemy upon his sins, let him be tied fast in the mean time amongst us: and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.
For he addeth—unto his sin—rebellion, In our midst, he clappeth his hands, and multiplieth his sayings against GOD.
