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 food.

4 Let us choose for us that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good!

5 For Job hath said: 'I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right;

For Job hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my judgment:

6 Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression.

7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water,

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

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

9 For he hath said: 'It profiteth a man nothing that he should be in accord with God.'

For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.

10 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.

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

11 For the work of a man will He requite unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

For a man's work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to [his] way.

12 Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

Yea, surely, God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment.

13 Who gave Him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?

Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world?

14 If He set His heart upon man, if He gather unto Himself his spirit and his breath;

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

15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.

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

16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.

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

17 Shall even one that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty —

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

18 Is it fit to say to a king: 'Thou art base'? Or to nobles: 'Ye are wicked'? —

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

19 That respecteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they all are the work of His hands.

[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.

20 In a moment they die, even at midnight; the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.

In a moment they die, even at midnight the people are convulsed and pass away; and the strong are taken away without hand.

21 For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He seeth all his goings.

For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps.

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 appoint a time unto any man, when he should go before God in judgment.

For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before God in judgment.

24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, and setteth others in their stead.

He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead;

25 Therefore He taketh knowledge of their works; and He overturneth them in the night, so that they are crushed.

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

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 turned aside from following Him, and would not have regard to any of His ways;

Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none 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 cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

29 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;

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;

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

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

31 For hath any said unto God: 'I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;

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

32 That which I see not teach Thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more?

33 Shall His recompense be as thou wilt? For thou loathest it, so that thou must choose, and not I; therefore speak what thou knowest.

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.

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

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

35 'Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without discernment.'

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

36 Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of [his] answers after the manner of evil 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.