Job 34

1 And Elihu answereth and saith:

And Eliu continued his discourse, and said:

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

Hear ye, wise men, my words, and ye learned, hearken to me:

3 For the ear doth try words, And the palate tasteth to eat.

For the ear trieth words, and the mouth discerneth meats by the taste.

4 Judgment let us choose for ourselves, Let us know among ourselves what [is] good.

Let us choose to us judgment, and let us see among ourselves what is the best.

5 For Job hath said, 'I have been righteous, And God hath turned aside my right,

For Job hath said: I am just, and God hath overthrown my judgment.

6 Against my right do I lie? Mortal [is] mine arrow — without transgression.'

For in judging me there is a lie: my arrow is violent without any sin.

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

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

8 And he hath travelled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness.

Who goeth in company with them that work iniquity, and walketh with wicked men?

9 For he hath said, 'It doth not profit a man, When he delighteth himself with God.'

For he hath said: Man shall not please God, although he run with him.

10 Therefore, O men of heart, hearken to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And [from] the Mighty to do perverseness:

Therefore, ye men of understanding, hear me: far from god be wickedness, and iniquity from the Almighty.

11 For the work of man he repayeth to him, And according to the path of each He doth cause him to find.

For he will render to a man his work, and according to the ways of every one he will reward them.

12 Yea, truly, God doth not do wickedly, And the Mighty doth not pervert judgment.

For in very deed God will not condemn without cause, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13 Who hath inspected for Himself the earth? And who hath placed all the habitable world?

What other hath he appointed over the earth? or whom hath he set over the world which he made?

14 If He doth set on him His heart, His spirit and his breath unto Him He gathereth.

If he turn his heart to him, he shall draw his spirit and breath unto himself.

15 Expire doth all flesh together, And man to dust returneth.

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return into ashes.

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

If then thou hast understanding, hear what is said, and hearken to the voice of my words.

17 Yea, doth one hating justice govern? Or the Most Just dost thou condemn?

Can he be healed that loveth not judgment? and how dost thou so far condemn him that is just?

18 Who hath said to a king — 'Worthless,' Unto princes — 'Wicked?'

Who saith to the king: Thou art an apostate: who calleth rulers ungodly?

19 That hath not accepted the person of princes, Nor hath known the rich before the poor, For a work of His hands [are] all of them.

Who accepteth not the persons of princes: nor hath regarded the tyrant, when he contended against the poor man: for all are the work of his hands.

20 [In] a moment they die, and at midnight Shake do people, and they pass away, And they remove the mighty without hand.

They shall suddenly die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and they shall pass, and take away the violent without hand.

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

For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he considereth all their steps.

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

There is no darkness, and there is no shadow of death, where they may be hid who work iniquity.

23 For He doth not suffer man any more, To go unto God in judgment,

For it is no longer in the power of man to enter into judgment with God.

24 He breaketh the mighty — no searching! And He appointeth others in their stead.

He shall break in pieces many and innumerable, and shall make others to stand in their stead.

25 Therefore He knoweth their works, And He hath overturned by night, And they are bruised.

For he knoweth their works: and therefore he shall bring night on them, and they shall be destroyed.

26 As wicked He hath stricken them, In the place of beholders.

He hath struck them, as being wicked, in open sight.

27 Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And none of His ways have considered wisely,

Who as it were on purpose have revolted from him, and would not understand all his ways:

28 To cause to come in unto Him The cry of the poor, And the cry of the afflicted He heareth.

So that they caused the cry of the needy to come to him, and he heard the voice of the poor.

29 And He giveth rest, and who maketh wrong? And hideth the face, and who beholdeth it? And in reference to a nation and to a man, [It is] the same.

For when he granteth peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hideth his countenance, who is there that can behold him, whether it regard nations, or all men?

30 From the reigning of a profane man, From the snares of a people;

Who maketh a man that is a hypocrite to reign for the sins of the people?

31 For unto God hath any said: 'I have taken away, I do not corruptly,

Seeing then I have spoken of God, I will not hinder thee in thy turn.

32 Besides [that which] I see, shew Thou me, If iniquity I have done — I do not add?'

If I have erred, teach thou me: if I have spoken iniquity, I will add no more.

33 By thee doth He recompense, That thou hast refused — That thou dost choose, and not I? And what thou hast known, speak.

Doth God require it of thee, because it hath displeased thee? for thou begannest to speak, and not I: but if thou know any thing better, speak.

34 Let men of heart say to me, And a wise man is hearkening to me.

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

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

But Job hath spoken foolishly, and his words sound not discipline.

36 My Father! let Job be tried — unto victory, Because of answers for men of iniquity,

My father, let Job be tried even to the end: cease not from the man of iniquity.

37 For he doth add to his sin, Transgression among us he vomiteth, And multiplieth his sayings to God.

Because he addeth blasphemy upon his sins, let him be tied fast in the mean time amongst us: and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.