Job 34
1 Moreouer Elihu answered, and saide,
Then Elihu continued:
2 Heare my wordes, ye wise men, and hearken vnto me, ye that haue knowledge.
“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
3 For the eare tryeth the words, as the mouth tasteth meate.
For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
4 Let vs seeke iudgement among vs, and let vs knowe among our selues what is good.
Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5 For Iob hath saide, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my iudgement.
For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
6 Should I lye in my right? my wound of the arrowe is grieuous without my sinne.
Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Iob, that drinketh scornfulnesse like water?
What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
8 Which goeth in the companie of them that worke iniquitie, and walketh with wicked men?
He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
9 For he hath saide, It profiteth a man nothing that he should walke with God.
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
10 Therefore hearken vnto me, ye men of wisedome, God forbid that wickednesse should be in God, and iniquitie in the Almightie.
Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
11 For he will render vnto man according to his worke, and cause euery one to finde according to his way.
For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
12 And certainely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almightie peruert iudgement.
Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13 Whome hath he appointed ouer the earth beside him selfe? or who hath placed the whole worlde?
Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If he set his heart vpon man, and gather vnto him selfe his spirit and his breath,
If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall returne vnto dust.
all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16 And if thou hast vnderstanding, heare this and hearken to the voyce of my wordes.
If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
17 Shal he that hateth iudgement, gouerne? and wilt thou iudge him wicked that is most iust?
Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
18 Wilt thou say vnto a King, Thou art wicked? or to princes, Ye are vngodly?
who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 How much lesse to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, and regardeth not the rich, more then the poore? for they be all the worke of his handes.
who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
20 They shall die suddenly, and the people shalbe troubled at midnight, and they shall passe foorth and take away the mightie without hand.
They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
21 For his eyes are vpon the wayes of man, and he seeth all his goings.
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
22 There is no darkenesse nor shadowe of death, that the workers of iniquitie might be hid therein.
There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
23 For he will not lay on man so much, that he should enter into iudgement with God.
For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
24 He shall breake the mightie without seeking, and shall set vp other in their stead.
He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
25 Therefore shall he declare their works: he shall turne the night, and they shalbe destroyed.
Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the places of the seers,
He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
27 Because they haue turned backe from him, and would not consider all his wayes:
because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
28 So that they haue caused the voyce of the poore to come vnto him, and he hath heard the cry of the afflicted.
They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
29 And when he giueth quietnesse, who can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who can beholde him, whether it be vpon nations, or vpon a man onely?
But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,
30 Because the hypocrite doeth reigne, and because the people are snared.
that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
31 Surely it appertaineth vnto God to say, I haue pardoned, I will not destroy.
Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
32 But if I see not, teach thou me: if I haue done wickedly, I will doe no more.
Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
33 Wil he performe the thing through thee? for thou hast reproued it, because that thou hast chosen, and not I. now speake what thou knowest.
Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
34 Let men of vnderstanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken vnto me.
Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
35 Iob hath not spoken of knowledge, neyther were his wordes according to wisedome.
‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
36 I desire that Iob may be tryed, vnto the ende touching the answeres for wicked men.
If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
37 For he addeth rebellion vnto his sinne: he clappeth his handes among vs, and multiplieth his wordes against God.
For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
