< Job 34 >

1 Moreouer Elihu answered, and saide,
Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 Heare my wordes, ye wise men, and hearken vnto me, ye that haue knowledge.
Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the eare tryeth the words, as the mouth tasteth meate.
For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
4 Let vs seeke iudgement among vs, and let vs knowe among our selues what is good.
Let us choose for us that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Iob hath saide, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my iudgement.
For Job hath said: 'I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right;
6 Should I lye in my right? my wound of the arrowe is grieuous without my sinne.
Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; 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 drinketh up scorning like water?
8 Which goeth in the companie of them that worke iniquitie, and walketh with wicked men?
Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 For he hath saide, It profiteth a man nothing that he should walke with God.
For he hath said: 'It profiteth a man nothing that he should be in accord with God.'
10 Therefore hearken vnto me, ye men of wisedome, God forbid that wickednesse should be in God, and iniquitie in the Almightie.
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 he will render vnto man according to his worke, and cause euery one to finde according to his way.
For the work of a man will He requite unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 And certainely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almightie peruert iudgement.
Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Whome hath he appointed ouer the earth beside him selfe? or who hath placed the whole worlde?
Who gave Him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 If he set his heart vpon man, and gather vnto him selfe 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 shall perish together, and man shall returne vnto dust.
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.
16 And if thou hast vnderstanding, heare this and hearken to the voyce of my wordes.
If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Shal he that hateth iudgement, gouerne? and wilt thou iudge him wicked that is most iust?
Shall even one that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty —
18 Wilt thou say vnto a King, Thou art wicked? or to princes, Ye are vngodly?
Is it fit to say to a king: 'Thou art base'? Or to nobles: 'Ye 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.
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 They shall die suddenly, and the people shalbe troubled at midnight, and they shall passe foorth and take away the mightie 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 vpon the wayes of man, and he seeth all his goings.
For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He seeth all his goings.
22 There is no darkenesse nor shadowe of death, that the workers of iniquitie might be hid therein.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay on man so much, that he should enter into iudgement with God.
For He doth not appoint a time unto any man, when he should go before God in judgment.
24 He shall breake the mightie without seeking, and shall set vp other in their stead.
He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, and setteth others in their stead.
25 Therefore shall he declare their works: he shall turne the night, and they shalbe destroyed.
Therefore He taketh knowledge of their works; and He overturneth them in the night, so that they are crushed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the places of the seers,
He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Because they haue turned backe from him, and would not consider all his wayes:
Because they turned aside from following Him, and would not have regard to 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.
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry 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?
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 Because the hypocrite doeth reigne, and because the people are snared.
That the godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people.
31 Surely it appertaineth vnto God to say, I haue pardoned, I will not destroy.
For hath any said unto God: 'I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;
32 But if I see not, teach thou me: if I haue done wickedly, I will doe no more.
That which I see not teach Thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?
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.
Shall His recompense be as thou wilt? For thou loathest it, so that thou must choose, and not I; therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 Let men of vnderstanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken vnto me.
Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me:
35 Iob hath not spoken of knowledge, neyther were his wordes according to wisedome.
'Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without discernment.'
36 I desire that Iob may be tryed, vnto the ende touching the answeres for wicked men.
Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion vnto his sinne: he clappeth his handes among vs, and multiplieth his wordes against God.
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

< Job 34 >