Job 34
1 And Elihu proceeded, and said:
Moreover Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, ye wise men! Give ear to me, ye that have knowledge!
Hear my words, ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, As the mouth tasteth meat.
For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
4 Let us examine for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is true.
Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good!
5 Job hath said, “I am righteous, And God refuseth me justice.
For Job hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my judgment:
6 Though I am innocent, I am made a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am free from transgression.”
Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression.
7 Where is the man like Job, Who drinketh impiety like water;
What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water,
8 Who goeth in company with evil-doers, And walketh with wicked men?
And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 For he hath said, “A man hath no advantage, When he delighteth himself in God.”
For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.
10 Wherefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding! Far be iniquity from God; Yea, far be injustice from the Almighty!
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from God, and wrong from the Almighty!
11 For what a man hath done he will requite him, And render to every one according to his deeds.
For a man's work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to [his] way.
12 Surely God will not do iniquity, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
Yea, surely, God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment.
13 Who hath given him the charge of the earth? Or who hath created the whole world?
Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world?
14 Should he set his heart against man, Should he take back his spirit and his breath,
If he only thought of himself, [and] gathered unto him his spirit and his breath,
15 Then would all flesh expire together; Yea, man would return to the dust.
All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.
16 If thou hast understanding, hear this! Give ear to the voice of my words!
If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words!
17 Shall he, that hateth justice, govern? Wilt thou then condemn the just and mighty One?
Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just?
18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked; Or to princes, Ye are unrighteous?
Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked?
19 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.
[How then to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich man more than the poor? for they are all the work of his hands.
20 In a moment they die; yea, at midnight Do the people stagger and pass away, And the mighty are destroyed without hand.
In a moment they die, even at midnight the people are convulsed and pass away; and the strong are taken away without hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man; He seeth all his steps.
For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, Where evil-doers may hide themselves.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 He needeth not attend long to a man, That he may go into judgment before God;
For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before God in judgment.
24 He dasheth in pieces the mighty without inquiry, And setteth up others in their stead.
He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead;
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, And in a night he overthroweth them, so that they are destroyed.
Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth [them] in the night, and they are crushed.
26 On account of their wickedness he smiteth them, In the presence of many beholders;
He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,
27 Because they turned away from him, And had no regard to his ways,
Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways;
28 And caused the cry of the poor to come before him; For he heareth the cry of the oppressed.
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29 When he giveth rest, who can cause trouble? And when he hideth his face, Who can behold him?
When he giveth quietness, who then will disturb? and when he hideth [his] face, who shall behold him? and this towards a nation, or towards a man alike;
30 So is it with nations and individuals alike! That the wicked may no more rule, And may not be snares to the people.
That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.
31 Surely thou shouldst say unto God, “I have received chastisement; I will no more offend;
For hath he said unto God, I bear [chastisement], I will not offend;
32 What I see not, teach thou me! If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more.”
What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more?
33 Shall he recompense according to thy mind, Because thou refusest, or because thou choosest, and not he? Speak, if thou hast knowledge!
Shall he recompense according to thy mind? for thou hast refused [his judgment]; for thou so choosest, and not I; speak then what thou knowest.
34 Men of understanding, Wise men, who hear me, will say,
Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:
35 “Job hath spoken without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.”
Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence.
36 I desire that Job may be tried to the last, For answering like wicked men.
Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of [his] answers after the manner of evil men!
37 For he addeth impiety to his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth words against God.
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
