Job 34

1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

Moreover Elihu answered,

2 Hear my words, O all of you wise men; and give ear unto me, all of you that have knowledge.

“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

3 For the ear tries words, as the mouth tastes food.

For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.

4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

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

5 For Job has said, I am righteous: and God has taken away my judgment.

For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right.

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

Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’

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

What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,

8 Which goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men.

who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, 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 himself with 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, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13 Who has given him a charge over the earth? or who has disposed the whole world?

Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has 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 set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,

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

all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

16 If now you have understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

“If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

17 Shall even he that hates right govern? and will you condemn him that is most just?

Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,

18 Is it fit to say to a king, You are wicked? and to princes, All of you are ungodly?

who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘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.

He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor, for they all are 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.

In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a 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. He sees all his goings.

22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their position.

He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

25 Therefore he knows their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to 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.

so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry 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:

When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,

30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

32 That which I see not teach you me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

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.

Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:

35 Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’

36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

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.”