Job 34
1 Moreouer Elihu answered, and saide,
And Elihu proceeded, and said:
2 Heare my wordes, ye wise men, and hearken vnto me, ye that haue knowledge.
Hear my words, ye wise men! Give ear to me, ye that have knowledge!
3 For the eare tryeth the words, as the mouth tasteth meate.
For the ear trieth words, As the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let vs seeke iudgement among vs, and let vs knowe among our selues what is good.
Let us examine for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is true.
5 For Iob hath saide, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my iudgement.
Job hath said, “I am righteous, And God refuseth me justice.
6 Should I lye in my right? my wound of the arrowe is grieuous without my sinne.
Though I am innocent, I am made a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am free from transgression.”
7 What man is like Iob, that drinketh scornfulnesse like water?
Where is the man like Job, Who drinketh impiety like water;
8 Which goeth in the companie of them that worke iniquitie, and walketh with wicked men?
Who goeth in company with evil-doers, 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, “A man hath no advantage, When he delighteth himself in God.”
10 Therefore hearken vnto me, ye men of wisedome, God forbid that wickednesse should be in God, and iniquitie in the Almightie.
Wherefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding! Far be iniquity from God; Yea, far be injustice from the Almighty!
11 For he will render vnto man according to his worke, and cause euery one to finde according to his way.
For what a man hath done he will requite him, And render to every one according to his deeds.
12 And certainely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almightie peruert iudgement.
Surely God will not do iniquity, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Whome hath he appointed ouer the earth beside him selfe? or who hath placed the whole worlde?
Who hath given him the charge of the earth? Or who hath created the whole world?
14 If he set his heart vpon man, and gather vnto him selfe his spirit and his breath,
Should he set his heart against man, Should he take back his spirit and his breath,
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall returne vnto dust.
Then would all flesh expire together; Yea, man would return to the dust.
16 And if thou hast vnderstanding, heare this and hearken to the voyce of my wordes.
If thou hast understanding, hear this! Give ear to the voice of my words!
17 Shal he that hateth iudgement, gouerne? and wilt thou iudge him wicked that is most iust?
Shall he, that hateth justice, govern? Wilt thou then condemn the just and mighty One?
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 wicked; Or to princes, Ye are unrighteous?
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.
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 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; yea, at midnight Do the people stagger and pass away, And the mighty are destroyed 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 man; He seeth all his steps.
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 evil-doers may hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay on man so much, that he should enter into iudgement with God.
He needeth not attend long to a man, That he may go into judgment before God;
24 He shall breake the mightie without seeking, and shall set vp other in their stead.
He dasheth in pieces the mighty without inquiry, And setteth up others in their stead.
25 Therefore shall he declare their works: he shall turne the night, and they shalbe destroyed.
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 places of the seers,
On account of their wickedness he smiteth them, In the presence of many beholders;
27 Because they haue turned backe from him, and would not consider all his wayes:
Because they turned away from him, And had no regard to 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.
And caused the cry of the poor to come before him; For he heareth the cry of the oppressed.
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 rest, who can cause trouble? And when he hideth his face, Who can behold him?
30 Because the hypocrite doeth reigne, and because the people are snared.
So is it with nations and individuals alike! That the wicked may no more rule, And may not be snares to the people.
31 Surely it appertaineth vnto God to say, I haue pardoned, I will not destroy.
Surely thou shouldst say unto God, “I have received chastisement; I will no more offend;
32 But if I see not, teach thou me: if I haue done wickedly, I will doe no more.
What 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 he recompense according to thy mind, Because thou refusest, or because thou choosest, and not he? Speak, if thou hast knowledge!
34 Let men of vnderstanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken vnto me.
Men of understanding, Wise men, who hear me, will say,
35 Iob hath not spoken of knowledge, neyther were his wordes according to wisedome.
“Job hath spoken without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.”
36 I desire that Iob may be tryed, vnto the ende touching the answeres for wicked men.
I desire that Job may be tried to the last, For 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 impiety to his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth words against God.
