Job 34
1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
Then Elihu continued:
2 Hear my words, O all of you wise men; and give ear unto me, all of you that have knowledge.
“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
3 For the ear tries words, as the mouth tastes food.
For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5 For Job has said, I am righteous: and God has taken away my judgment.
For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water?
What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
8 Which goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men.
He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
9 For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
10 Therefore hearken unto me all of you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
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 the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13 Who has given him a charge over the earth? or who has disposed the whole world?
Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself 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 return unto dust.
all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16 If now you have understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
17 Shall even he that hates right govern? and will you condemn him that is most just?
Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
18 Is it fit to say to a king, You are wicked? and to princes, All of you are ungodly?
who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 How much less to him that accepts not the persons of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away 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 upon the ways of man, and he sees all his activities.
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their position.
He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
25 Therefore he knows their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he hears 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 When he gives quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hides his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
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 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
32 That which I see not teach you me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
33 Should it be according to your mind? he will recompense it, whether you refuse, or whether you choose; and not I: therefore speak what you know.
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 understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
35 Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
37 For he adds rebellion unto his sin, he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.
For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
