Job 34

1 Then Elihu continued:

Moreover Elihu answered and said:

2 “You [three] men who [think that you] [SAR] are very wise, hear me; listen to what I am saying, you men who [say that you] know so much.

Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3 When we [SYN] hear what other people [like you] say, we [RHQ] think carefully about what they say [to determine what is good and what is bad], like we [SYN] taste food [to determine what is good].

For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.

4 We need to decide [who is saying] what is right and to determine among ourselves what is good/best.

Let us choose for us that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 Job has said, ‘I am innocent, but God has refused to judge me fairly/justly.

For Job hath said: 'I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right;

6 Even though I have always done what is right, he is lying about me. Even though I have not done what is wrong, he has caused me to suffer, and I will certainly die.’

Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

7 (Is there any person like Job, who insults others as easily as people accept a drink of water?/There is no person like Job, who insults others as easily as people accept a drink of water.) [RHQ]

What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

8 He habitually associates with people who do what is evil and spends time with wicked people.

Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

9 He has said, ‘It is useless for people to try to please God.’

For he hath said: 'It profiteth a man nothing that he should be in accord with God.'

10 “So, you men who [claim that you] understand everything, listen to me! Almighty God would never consider doing anything that is wicked or wrong [DOU]!

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 He (pays back/punishes) people for what they have done; he gives them what they deserve for the way that they have conducted their lives.

For the work of a man will He requite unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 Truly, Almighty God never does what is wicked; he always [LIT] does what is fair/just.

Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13 The authority that he has to rule everything on the earth, no one [RHQ] gave it to him; no one [RHQ] put him in control of the whole world. [He has always had that authority].

Who gave Him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?

14 If he would take his spirit back to himself,

If He set His heart upon man, if He gather unto Himself his spirit and his breath;

15 everyone would die [immediately], and their corpses would soon become dirt again.

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.

16 “So, [Job], if [you say that you] understand everything, listen to what I am saying.

If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.

17 God could certainly not [RHQ] govern the world if he hated doing what is fair/just. So, will you condemn God, who is righteous and powerful, [saying that what he has done is wrong]?

Shall even one that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty —

18 He tells [some] kings that they are worthless, and he says to [some] officials that they are wicked.

Is it fit to say to a king: 'Thou art base'? Or to nobles: 'Ye are wicked'? —

19 He does not favor rulers [more than he favors others]; he does not favor rich people more than poor people, because he created all of them.

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 People [often] die suddenly; he strikes them at midnight and they die; he even gets rid of mighty people without the help of any humans [SYN].

In a moment they die, even at midnight; the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.

21 “He sees [MTY] everything that people do; [when we walk, ] he watches every step that we take.

For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He seeth all his goings.

22 There is no gloom or darkness [DOU] that is so dark that sinners can hide [from him] in that darkness.

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 God does not [need to] set a time when we will stand in front of him in order that he may judge us. [He can judge us whenever he wants to].

For He doth not appoint a time unto any man, when he should go before God in judgment.

24 He destroys mighty people without [needing to] investigate [what they have done], and he appoints others to take their places.

He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, and setteth others in their stead.

25 Because he [already] knows what they have done, he removes them at night and gets rid of them.

Therefore He taketh knowledge of their works; and He overturneth them in the night, so that they are crushed.

26 Where [many] people can see it, he strikes/punishes them because of the wicked things that they have done;

He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27 he strikes them because they turned away from doing what he wanted them to do and did not pay attention to any of his commands.

Because they turned aside from following Him, and would not have regard to any of His ways;

28 They [mistreated] the poor people, with the result that those poor people cried out to God [for help], and he heard those afflicted people when they cried out [to him].

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry of the afflicted.

29 But if God decides to do nothing [to punish wicked people], no one can criticize/condemn him. If a godless/wicked man rules a nation, a man who tricks/deceives the people,

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 and if [God] hides his face [with the result that he does not see that ruler or punish him], no one will be able to prevent that ruler [from doing those things].

That the godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people.

31 “Job, have you or anyone else ever said to God, ‘I have been punished [for my sins], and I will not sin any more;

For hath any said unto God: 'I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;

32 so teach/show me what [sins I have committed]; if I have done anything that is evil, I will not do it any more’?

That which I see not teach Thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

33 [Job, ] you object to what God has done to you, but do you think that he will do what you want him to do? It is you who must choose [what you say to God], not I; so tell me what you are thinking about this.

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 “People who have good sense, those who are wise and who listen to what I say, will say to me,

Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me:

35 ‘Job is speaking ignorantly; what he says is nonsense.’

'Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without discernment.'

36 I think that Job should be taken to a court and (put on trial/judged), because he answers [us his friends] like wicked men would answer.

Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

37 To add to the [other] sins that he has committed, he is rebelling [against God]; he shows us that he does not respect God [IDM], making long speeches [saying that God has punished him unjustly].”

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.