Job 34
1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
Moreover Elihu answered,
2 Hear my words, O ye wise [men; ] and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
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 hath said, I am righteous: and God hath 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] drinketh up scorning like water?
What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?
9 For he hath said, It profiteth 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, ye 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 hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath 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 turn again unto dust.
all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
16 If now [thou hast] 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 hateth right govern? and wilt thou 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, [Thou art] wicked? [and] to princes, [Ye are] ungodly?
who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
19 [How much less to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth 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 seeth all his goings.
“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 stead.
He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth [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 striketh 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 heareth 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 giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth [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 thou 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 thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
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 hath 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 addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”
