Job 34
1 And Elihu answers and says:
And Elihu proceeded, and said:
2 “Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.
Hear my words, ye wise men! Give ear to me, ye that have knowledge!
3 For the ear tries words, And the palate tastes to eat.
For the ear trieth words, As the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose judgment for ourselves, Let us know among ourselves what [is] good.
Let us examine for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is true.
5 For Job has said, I have been righteous, And God has turned aside my right,
Job hath said, “I am righteous, And God refuseth me justice.
6 Against my right do I lie? My arrow [is] mortal—without transgression.
Though I am innocent, I am made a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am free from transgression.”
7 Who [is] a man like Job? He drinks scoffing like water,
Where is the man like Job, Who drinketh impiety like water;
8 And he has traveled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness.
Who goeth in company with evil-doers, And walketh with wicked men?
9 For he has said, It does not profit a man When he delights himself with God.
For he hath said, “A man hath no advantage, When he delighteth himself in God.”
10 Therefore, O men of heart, listen to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And [from] the Mighty to do perverseness,
Wherefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding! Far be iniquity from God; Yea, far be injustice from the Almighty!
11 For He repays the work of man to him, And according to the path of each He causes him to find.
For what a man hath done he will requite him, And render to every one according to his deeds.
12 Indeed, truly, God does not do wickedly, And the Mighty does not pervert judgment.
Surely God will not do iniquity, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who has inspected for Himself the earth? And who has placed all the habitable world?
Who hath given him the charge of the earth? Or who hath created the whole world?
14 If He sets His heart on him, [If] He gathers His Spirit and His breath to Himself,
Should he set his heart against man, Should he take back his spirit and his breath,
15 All flesh expires together, And man returns to dust.
Then would all flesh expire together; Yea, man would return to the dust.
16 And if [there is] understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words.
If thou hast understanding, hear this! Give ear to the voice of my words!
17 Indeed, does one hating justice govern? Or do you condemn the Most Just?
Shall he, that hateth justice, govern? Wilt thou then condemn the just and mighty One?
18 Who has said to a king, Worthless, To princes, Wicked?
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked; Or to princes, Ye are unrighteous?
19 That has not accepted the person of princes, Nor has known the rich before the poor, For all of them [are] a 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 they die, And at midnight people shake, And they pass away, And they remove the mighty without 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 His eyes [are] on the ways of each, And He sees all his steps.
For his eyes are upon the ways of man; He seeth all his steps.
22 There is no darkness nor death-shade, For workers of iniquity to be hidden there;
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, Where evil-doers may hide themselves.
23 For He does not permit man anymore, To go to God in judgment,
He needeth not attend long to a man, That he may go into judgment before God;
24 He breaks the mighty—no searching! And He appoints others in their stead.
He dasheth in pieces the mighty without inquiry, And setteth up others in their stead.
25 Therefore He knows their works, And He has overturned by night, And they are bruised.
Therefore he knoweth their works, And in a night he overthroweth them, so that they are destroyed.
26 As wicked He has struck them, In the place of beholders.
On account of their wickedness he smiteth them, In the presence of many beholders;
27 Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And have considered none of His ways,
Because they turned away from him, And had no regard to his ways,
28 To cause to come to Him The cry of the poor, And He hears the cry of the afflicted.
And caused the cry of the poor to come before him; For he heareth the cry of the oppressed.
29 And He gives rest, and who makes wrong? And hides the face, and who beholds it? And in reference to a nation and to a man, [It is] the same.
When he giveth rest, who can cause trouble? And when he hideth his face, Who can behold him?
30 From the reigning of a profane man, From the snares of a 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 has any said to God: I have taken away, I do not do corruptly,
Surely thou shouldst say unto God, “I have received chastisement; I will no more offend;
32 Besides [that which] I see, You show me, If I have done iniquity—I do not add?
What I see not, teach thou me! If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more.”
33 Does He repay by you, that you have refused—That you choose, and not I? And what you have known, speak.
Shall he recompense according to thy mind, Because thou refusest, or because thou choosest, and not he? Speak, if thou hast knowledge!
34 Let men of heart say to me, And a wise man is listening to me:
Men of understanding, Wise men, who hear me, will say,
35 Job—he does not speak with knowledge, And his words [are] not with wisdom.
“Job hath spoken without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.”
36 My Father! Let Job be tried—to victory, Because of answers for men of iniquity,
I desire that Job may be tried to the last, For answering like wicked men.
37 For he adds to his sin, He vomits transgression among us, And multiplies his sayings to God.”
For he addeth impiety to his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth words against God.
