Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
And Elihu proceeded, and said:
2 Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Hear my words, ye wise men! Give ear to me, ye that have knowledge!
3 For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
For the ear trieth words, As the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose for us that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.
Let us examine for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is true.
5 For Job hath said: 'I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right;
Job hath said, “I am righteous, And God refuseth me justice.
6 Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'
Though I am innocent, I am made a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am free from transgression.”
7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
Where is the man like Job, Who drinketh impiety like water;
8 Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
Who goeth in company with evil-doers, 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, “A man hath no advantage, When he delighteth 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.
Wherefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding! Far be iniquity from God; Yea, far be injustice 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 what a man hath done he will requite him, And render to every one according to his deeds.
12 Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
Surely God will not do iniquity, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?
Who hath given him the charge of the earth? Or who hath created the whole world?
14 If He set His heart upon man, if He gather unto Himself 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 return unto dust.
Then would all flesh expire together; Yea, man would return to the dust.
16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.
If 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 —
Shall he, that hateth justice, govern? Wilt thou then condemn the just and mighty One?
18 Is it fit to say to a king: 'Thou art base'? Or to nobles: 'Ye are wicked'? —
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked; Or to princes, Ye are unrighteous?
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 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 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; yea, at midnight Do the people stagger and pass away, And the mighty are destroyed 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; 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 evil-doers may hide themselves.
23 For He doth not appoint a time unto any man, when he should go before God in judgment.
He needeth not attend long to a man, That he may go into judgment before God;
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, and setteth others in their stead.
He dasheth in pieces the mighty without inquiry, And setteth up others in their stead.
25 Therefore He taketh knowledge of their works; and He overturneth them in the night, so that they are crushed.
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 open sight of others;
On account of their wickedness he smiteth them, In the presence of many beholders;
27 Because they turned aside from following Him, and would not have regard to any of His ways;
Because they turned away from him, And had no regard to his ways,
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth 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 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 rest, who can cause trouble? And when he hideth his face, Who can behold him?
30 That the godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people.
So is it with nations and individuals alike! That the wicked may no more rule, And may not be snares to the people.
31 For hath any said unto God: 'I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;
Surely thou shouldst say unto God, “I have received chastisement; I will no more 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 iniquity, I will do it 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, Because thou refusest, or because thou choosest, and not he? Speak, if thou hast knowledge!
34 Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me:
Men of understanding, Wise men, who hear me, will say,
35 'Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without discernment.'
“Job hath spoken without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.”
36 Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
I desire that Job may be tried to the last, For answering like wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
For he addeth impiety to his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth words against God.
