Job 34

1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

And Elihu answers and says:

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

“Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.

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

For the ear tries words, And the palate tastes to eat.

4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what [is] good.

Let us choose judgment for ourselves, 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 have been righteous, And God has turned aside my right,

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

Against my right do I lie? My arrow [is] mortal—without transgression.

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

Who [is] a man like Job? He drinks scoffing like water,

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

And he has traveled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness.

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

For he has said, It does not profit a man When he delights himself with 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, O men of heart, listen to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And [from] the Mighty to do perverseness,

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

For He repays the work of man to him, And according to the path of each He causes him to find.

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

Indeed, truly, God does not do wickedly, And the Mighty does not pervert judgment.

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

Who has inspected for Himself the earth? And who has placed all the habitable 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 on him, [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 expires together, And man returns to dust.

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

And if [there is] understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words.

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

Indeed, does one hating justice govern? Or do you condemn the Most Just?

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

Who has said to a king, Worthless, To princes, 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.

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.

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, And at midnight people shake, And they pass away, And they remove the mighty without hand.

21 For his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

For His eyes [are] on the ways of each, And He sees all his steps.

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

There is no darkness nor death-shade, For workers of iniquity to be hidden there;

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

For He does not permit man anymore, To go to God in judgment,

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

He breaks the mighty—no searching! And He appoints others in their stead.

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

Therefore He knows their works, And He has overturned by night, And they are bruised.

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

As wicked He has struck them, In the place of beholders.

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

Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And have considered none 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.

To cause to come to Him The cry of the poor, And He hears 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:

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.

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

From the reigning of a profane man, From the snares of a 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 taken away, I do not do corruptly,

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

Besides [that which] I see, You show me, If I have done iniquity—I do not add?

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.

Does He repay by you, that you have refused—That you choose, and not I? And what you have known, speak.

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

Let men of heart say to me, And a wise man is listening to me:

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

Job—he does not speak with knowledge, And his words [are] not with wisdom.

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

My Father! Let Job be tried—to victory, Because of answers for men of iniquity,

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

For he adds to his sin, He vomits transgression among us, And multiplies his sayings to God.”