Job 34
1 And Elihu commenced, and said,
And Elius continued, and said,
2 Hear, O ye wise men, my words; and ye that have knowledge, give ear unto me.
Hear me, you wise men; listen, you that have knowledge.
3 For the ear proveth words, as the palate tasteth the food.
For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is just: let us acknowledge between ourselves what is good.
Let us choose judgement to ourselves: let us know amount ourselves what is right.
5 For Job hath said, “I am righteous; and God hath taken away justice from me.
For Job has said, I am righteous: the Lord has removed my judgement.
6 Should I lie concerning the justice due me? incurable is [my wound from] the arrow I bear in me without any transgression.”
And he has erred in my judgement: my wound is severe without unrighteousness [of mine].
7 What man is there like Job, who drinketh scorning like water,
What man is as Job, drinking scorning like water?
8 And is on the road to keep company with the wrong-doers, and to walk with men of wickedness?
[saying], I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly.
9 For he hath said, “It profiteth a man nothing when he acteth according to the pleasure of God.”
For you should not say, There shall be no visitation of a man, whereas [there is] a visitation on him from the Lord.
10 Therefore ye men of sense hearken unto me: far is it from God to practise wickedness; and from the Almighty to do wrong!
Therefore hear me, you that are wise in heart: far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and to pervert righteousness before the almighty.
11 For the work of a son of earth doth he recompense unto him, and according to the path of man doth he permit things to occur to him.
Yes, he renders to a man accordingly as each of them does, and in a man's path he will find him.
12 Yea, surely God will not condemn unjustly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
And think you that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth wrest judgement?
13 Who hath given him a charge concerning the earth? or who hath intrusted [him] the whole world?
And who is he that made [the whole world] under heaven, and all things therein?
14 If he were to set his heart upon man, he would gather unto himself his spirit and his breath:
For if he would confine, and restrain his spirit with himself;
15 All flesh would perish together, and the son of earth would return again unto dust.
all flesh would die together, and every mortal would return to the earth, whence also he was formed.
16 If then thou wishest to understand, hear this: give ear to the sound of my words.
Take heed lest he rebuke [you]: hear this, listen to the voice of words.
17 Is it possible that he who hateth justice should govern? or wilt thou condemn the righteous mighty One?
Behold then the one that hates iniquities, and that destroys the wicked, who is for ever just.
18 [Is it fit] to say to a king, Thou art worthless? and to princes, Ye are wicked?
[He is] ungodly that says to a king, You are a transgressor, [that says] to princes, O most ungodly one.
19 Whereas he is one that showeth no favor to chieftains, and distinguisheth not the rich before the indigent; for all of them are the work of his hands.
[Such a one] as would not reverence the face of an honourable man, neither knows how to give honour to the great, so as that their persons should be respected.
20 In a moment will they die, and in the midst of the night; people are moved, and pass away: and the mighty will be removed without a human hand.
But it shall turn out vanity to them, to cry and beseech a man; for they dealt unlawfully, the poor being turned aside [from their right].
21 For big eyes are upon the ways of man, and all his steps doth he see.
For he surveys the works of men, and nothing of what they do has escaped him.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the evil-doers can hide themselves.
Neither shall there be a place for the workers of iniquity to hide themselves.
23 For he need not direct [his attention] a long time upon man, that he should enter into judgment before God.
For he will not lay upon a man more [than right].
24 He breaketh down mighty men without [long] searching, and placeth others in their stead.
For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.
25 For the reason that he knoweth their deeds: therefore he overturneth them in the night, and they are crushed.
Who discovers their works, and will bring night about [upon them], and they shall be brought low.
26 Among wicked men doth he strike them, in the place where [many] see them:
And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him.
27 Because they have departed from following him, and have not considered all his ways.
Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances,
28 Bringing before them the cry of the indigent, and the cry of the afflicted which he had to hear.
so as to bring before him the cry of the needy; for he will hear the cry of the poor.
29 When he now granteth rest, who will condemn [him]! and when he hideth his face, who can behold him? whether it be against a nation, or against one man, it is the same:
And he will give quiet, and who will condemn? and he will hide his face, and who shall see him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man also:
30 That no hypocritical man may reign, that such shall not be a mare to the people.
causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people.
31 For truly it is only fitting to say unto God, “I bear [cheerfully], I will not do any wrong;
For [there is] one that says to the Mighty One, I have received [blessings]; I will not take a pledge:
32 What I cannot see myself, do thou truly teach me; if I have done what is unjust, I will do so no more.”
I will see apart from myself: do you show me if I have done unrighteousness; I will not do [so] any more.
33 Should he then according to thy view send a recompense, because thou hast rejected him? “Because thou must choose, and not I?” and what thou knowest, do speak.
Will he take vengeance for it on you, whereas you will put [it] far [from you]? for you shall choose, and not I; and what you know, speak you.
34 Men of sense will say unto me, and every wise man who heareth me,
Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word.
35 That Job hath not spoken with knowledge, and that his words are without intelligence.
But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not [uttered] with knowledge.
36 Oh that Job may therefore be probed continually, in order to give answers against sinful men.
Howbeit do you learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish:
37 For he addeth unto his sin transgression: among us he uttereth too many loud words, and multiplieth his speeches against God.
that we add not to our sins: for iniquity will be reckoned against us, if [we] speak many words before the Lord.
