Job 34
1 And Elihu commenced, and said,
And Elihu proceeded, 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! Give ear to me, ye that have knowledge!
3 For the ear proveth words, as the palate tasteth the food.
For the ear trieth words, As the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is just: let us acknowledge between ourselves what is good.
Let us examine for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is true.
5 For Job hath said, “I am righteous; and God hath taken away justice from me.
Job hath said, “I am righteous, And God refuseth me justice.
6 Should I lie concerning the justice due me? incurable is [my wound from] the arrow I bear in me without any transgression.”
Though I am innocent, I am made a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am free from transgression.”
7 What man is there like Job, who drinketh scorning like water,
Where is the man like Job, Who drinketh impiety 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 evil-doers, 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, “A man hath no advantage, When he delighteth himself in 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!
Wherefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding! Far be iniquity from God; Yea, far be injustice from 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.
For what a man hath done he will requite him, And render to every one according to his deeds.
12 Yea, surely God will not condemn unjustly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
Surely God will not do iniquity, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who hath given him a charge concerning the earth? or who hath intrusted [him] the whole world?
Who hath given him the charge of the earth? Or who hath created the whole world?
14 If he were to set his heart upon man, he would gather unto himself his spirit and his breath:
Should he set his heart against man, Should he take back his spirit and his breath,
15 All flesh would perish together, and the son of earth would return again unto dust.
Then would all flesh expire together; Yea, man would return to the dust.
16 If then thou wishest to understand, hear this: give ear to the sound of my words.
If thou hast understanding, hear this! Give ear 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 he, that hateth justice, govern? Wilt thou then condemn the just and mighty One?
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 wicked; Or to princes, Ye are unrighteous?
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.
How much less to him that is not partial to princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they are all 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; yea, at midnight Do the people stagger and pass away, And the mighty are destroyed 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 man; He seeth all his steps.
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 evil-doers may hide themselves.
23 For he need not direct [his attention] a long time upon man, that he should enter into judgment before God.
He needeth not attend long to a man, That he may go into judgment before God;
24 He breaketh down mighty men without [long] searching, and placeth others in their stead.
He dasheth in pieces the mighty without inquiry, And setteth up 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 knoweth their works, And in a night he overthroweth them, so that they are destroyed.
26 Among wicked men doth he strike them, in the place where [many] see them:
On account of their wickedness he smiteth them, In the presence of many beholders;
27 Because they have departed from following him, and have not considered all his ways.
Because they turned away from him, And had no regard to his ways,
28 Bringing before them the cry of the indigent, and the cry of the afflicted which he had to hear.
And caused the cry of the poor to come before him; For he heareth the cry of the oppressed.
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 rest, who can cause trouble? And when he hideth his face, Who can behold him?
30 That no hypocritical man may reign, that such shall not be a mare to the people.
So is it with nations and individuals alike! That the wicked may no more rule, And may not be snares to the people.
31 For truly it is only fitting to say unto God, “I bear [cheerfully], I will not do any wrong;
Surely thou shouldst say unto God, “I have received chastisement; I will no more offend;
32 What I cannot see myself, do thou truly teach me; if I have done what is unjust, I will do so no more.”
What 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 he recompense according to thy mind, Because thou refusest, or because thou choosest, and not he? Speak, if thou hast knowledge!
34 Men of sense will say unto me, and every wise man who heareth me,
Men of understanding, Wise men, who hear me, will say,
35 That Job hath not spoken with knowledge, and that his words are without intelligence.
“Job hath spoken without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.”
36 Oh that Job may therefore be probed continually, in order to give answers against sinful men.
I desire that Job may be tried to the last, For 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 impiety to his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth words against God.
