Job 34
1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
And Elihu commenced, and said,
2 Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear to me, ye that have knowledge.
Hear, O ye wise men, my words; and ye that have knowledge, give ear unto me.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth food.
For the ear proveth words, as the palate tasteth the food.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what [is] good.
Let us choose for ourselves what is just: let us acknowledge between ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
For Job hath said, “I am righteous; and God hath taken away justice from me.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound [is] incurable without transgression.
Should I lie concerning the justice due me? incurable is [my wound from] the arrow I bear in me without any transgression.”
7 What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh up scorning like water?
What man is there like Job, who drinketh scorning like water,
8 Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
And is on the road to keep company with the wrong-doers, and to walk with men of wickedness?
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
For he hath said, “It profiteth a man nothing when he acteth according to the pleasure of God.”
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 ye men of sense hearken unto me: far is it from God to practise wickedness; and from the Almighty to do wrong!
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 son of earth doth he recompense unto him, and according to the path of man doth he permit things to occur to him.
12 Yes, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Yea, surely God will not condemn unjustly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
Who hath given him a charge concerning the earth? or who hath intrusted [him] 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 were to set his heart upon man, he would gather unto himself his spirit and his breath:
15 All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
All flesh would perish together, and the son of earth would return again unto dust.
16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
If then thou wishest to understand, hear this: give ear to the sound of my words.
17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
Is it possible that he who hateth justice should govern? or wilt thou condemn the righteous mighty One?
18 [Is it fit] to say to a king, [Thou art] wicked? [and] to princes, [Ye are] ungodly?
[Is it fit] to say to a king, Thou art worthless? and to princes, 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.
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.
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 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.
21 For his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
For big eyes are upon the ways of man, and all his steps doth he see.
22 [There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the evil-doers can hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay upon man more [than right]; that he should enter into judgment with God.
For he need not direct [his attention] a long time upon man, that he should enter into judgment before God.
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
He breaketh down mighty men without [long] searching, and placeth others in their stead.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth [them] in the night, so that they are destroyed.
For the reason that he knoweth their deeds: therefore he overturneth them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
Among wicked men doth he strike them, in the place where [many] see them:
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
Because they have departed from following him, and have not considered all his ways.
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
Bringing before them the cry of the indigent, and the cry of the afflicted which he had to hear.
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 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:
30 That the hypocrite may not reign, lest the people should be ensnared.
That no hypocritical man may reign, that such shall not be a mare to the people.
31 Surely it is meet to be said to God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:
For truly it is only fitting to say unto God, “I bear [cheerfully], I will not do any wrong;
32 [That which] I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
What I cannot see myself, do thou truly teach me; if I have done what is unjust, I will do so 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.
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.
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken to me.
Men of sense will say unto me, and every wise man who heareth me,
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words [were] without wisdom.
That Job hath not spoken with knowledge, and that his words are without intelligence.
36 My desire [is that] Job may be tried to the end, because of [his] answers for wicked men.
Oh that Job may therefore be probed continually, in order to give answers against sinful men.
37 For he addeth rebellion to his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
For he addeth unto his sin transgression: among us he uttereth too many loud words, and multiplieth his speeches against God.
