Job 34

1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

Moreover Elihu answered, and said,

2 Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear to me, ye that have knowledge.

Hear my words, ye wise men, and give ear to me, ye who have knowledge.

3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth food.

For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.

4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among 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 my judgment.

For Job has said, I am righteous, and God has taken away my right.

6 Should I lie against my right? my wound [is] incurable without transgression.

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

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

What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water,

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

saying, I have not sinned, nor committed unrighteousness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity to go with the profane.

9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

For thou should not say, There shall be no visitation to a man, whereas visitation is to him from the Lord.

10 Therefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, [that he should do] wickedness; and [from] the Almighty, [that he should commit] iniquity.

Therefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding. Far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and pervert righteousness before the Almighty.

11 For the work of a man he shall render to him, and cause every man to find according to [his] ways.

For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 Yes, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Yea, certainly God will not do wrong. Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who has disposed the whole world?

14 If he should set his heart upon man, [if] he should gather to himself his spirit and his breath;

If he sets his heart upon himself, if he gathers his spirit and his breath to himself,

15 All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again to dust.

16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

If now thou be understanding, hear this. Hearken to the voice of words.

17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

Behold thou him who hates lawlessness, and who destroys evil men, who is forever righteousness,

18 [Is it fit] to say to a king, [Thou art] wicked? [and] to princes, [Ye are] ungodly?

him who says to a king, Thou are vile, to ranking men, Ye are wicked,

19 [How much less to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all [are] the work of his hands.

who does not respect the persons of rulers, nor regards the rich more than the poor. For they all are the work of his hands.

20 In a moment they shall die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without 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 his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his goings.

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

There is no darkness, nor thick gloom where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 For he will not lay upon man more [than right]; that he should enter into judgment with God.

For he needs no further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment.

24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their stead.

25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth [them] in the night, so that they are destroyed.

Therefore he takes knowledge of their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

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

He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others

27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

because they turned aside from following him, and would not have regard in any of his ways,

28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted.

29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth [his] face, who then can behold him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man only:

When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hides his face, who then can behold him? It is the same whether to a nation, or to a man,

30 That the hypocrite may not reign, lest the people should be ensnared.

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

31 Surely it is meet to be said to God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:

For has any said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.

32 [That which] I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

Teach thou me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

33 [Should it be] according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou shalt refuse, or whether thou shalt choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

Shall his recompense be as thou desire, that thou refuse it? For thou must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what thou know.

34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken to me.

Men of understanding will say to me, yes, every wise man who hears me,

35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words [were] without wisdom.

Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.

36 My desire [is that] Job may be tried to the end, because of [his] answers for wicked men.

But surely not. Learn thou Job not to still give an answer like the foolish,

37 For he addeth rebellion to his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

so that we may not add to our sins, and lawlessness will be reckoned against us, speaking many words before the Lord.