Job 34
1 And Elihu commenced, and said,
Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 Hear, O ye wise men, my words; and ye that have knowledge, give ear unto me.
Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear proveth words, as the palate tasteth the food.
For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is just: let us acknowledge between 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 justice from me.
For Job hath said: 'I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right;
6 Should I lie concerning the justice due me? incurable is [my wound from] the arrow I bear in me without any transgression.”
Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'
7 What man is there like Job, who drinketh scorning like water,
What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 And is on the road to keep company with the wrong-doers, and to walk with men of wickedness?
Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 For he hath said, “It profiteth a man nothing when he acteth according to the pleasure of God.”
For he hath said: 'It profiteth a man nothing that he should be in accord with God.'
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 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.
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.
For the work of a man will He requite unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yea, surely God will not condemn unjustly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who hath given him a charge concerning the earth? or who hath intrusted [him] the whole world?
Who gave Him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 If he were to set his heart upon man, he would gather unto himself his spirit and his breath:
If He set His heart upon man, if He gather unto Himself his spirit and his breath;
15 All flesh would perish together, and the son of earth would return again unto dust.
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.
16 If then thou wishest to understand, hear this: give ear to the sound of my words.
If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Is it possible that he who hateth justice should govern? or wilt thou condemn the righteous mighty One?
Shall even one that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty —
18 [Is it fit] to say to a king, Thou art worthless? and to princes, Ye are wicked?
Is it fit to say to a king: 'Thou art base'? Or to nobles: 'Ye are wicked'? —
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.
That respecteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they all are the work of His hands.
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.
In a moment they die, even at midnight; the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.
21 For big eyes are upon the ways of man, and all his steps doth he see.
For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He seeth all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the evil-doers can hide themselves.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may 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 doth not appoint a time unto any man, when he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaketh down mighty men without [long] searching, and placeth others in their stead.
He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, and setteth others in their stead.
25 For the reason that he knoweth their deeds: therefore he overturneth them in the night, and they are crushed.
Therefore He taketh knowledge of their works; and He overturneth them in the night, so that they are crushed.
26 Among wicked men doth he strike them, in the place where [many] see them:
He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Because they have departed from following him, and have not considered all his ways.
Because they turned aside from following Him, and would not have regard to any of His ways;
28 Bringing before them the cry of the indigent, and the cry of the afflicted which he had to hear.
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry of the afflicted.
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:
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;
30 That no hypocritical man may reign, that such shall not be a mare to the people.
That the godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people.
31 For truly it is only fitting to say unto God, “I bear [cheerfully], I will not do any wrong;
For hath any said unto God: 'I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;
32 What I cannot see myself, do thou truly teach me; if I have done what is unjust, I will do so no more.”
That which I see not teach Thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no 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.
Shall His recompense be as thou wilt? For thou loathest it, so that thou must choose, and not I; therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 Men of sense will say unto me, and every wise man who heareth me,
Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me:
35 That Job hath not spoken with knowledge, and that his words are without intelligence.
'Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without discernment.'
36 Oh that Job may therefore be probed continually, in order to give answers against sinful men.
Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
37 For he addeth unto his sin transgression: among us he uttereth too many loud words, and multiplieth his speeches against God.
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
