Job 34
1 And Elihu answereth and saith:
Then Elihu continued,
2 Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.
“Listen to my words, you men who say you are wise; pay attention to what I'm saying you who think you know.
3 For the ear doth try words, And the palate tasteth to eat.
The ear distinguishes words just as the palate distinguishes foods.
4 Judgment let us choose for ourselves, Let us know among ourselves what [is] good.
Let us discern for ourselves what is right: let us decide among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, 'I have been righteous, And God hath turned aside my right,
Job said, ‘I am innocent, and God has denied me justice.
6 Against my right do I lie? Mortal [is] mine arrow — without transgression.'
Even though I'm right, I'm treated like a liar; I am dying from my wounds, even though I've done nothing wrong.’
7 Who [is] a man like Job? He drinketh scoffing like water,
Has there ever been a man like Job with such a thirst for ridiculing others?
8 And he hath travelled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness.
He keeps company with wicked people; he associates with those who do evil.
9 For he hath said, 'It doth not profit a man, When he delighteth himself with God.'
He's even said, ‘What benefit is there in being God's friend?’
10 Therefore, O men of heart, hearken to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And [from] the Mighty to do perverseness:
So listen to me, you men of understanding! It's impossible for God to do evil and the Almighty to do wrong.
11 For the work of man he repayeth to him, And according to the path of each He doth cause him to find.
He pays people back for what they've done, and treats them as they deserve.
12 Yea, truly, God doth not do wickedly, And the Mighty doth not pervert judgment.
It's absolutely sure that God doesn't act wickedly; the Almighty would never pervert justice.
13 Who hath inspected for Himself the earth? And who hath placed all the habitable world?
Who put him in charge of the earth? Who gave him the responsibility for all the world?
14 If He doth set on him His heart, His spirit and his breath unto Him He gathereth.
If he were to withdraw his spirit, if he were to take back his breath,
15 Expire doth all flesh together, And man to dust returneth.
all living things would immediately die and human beings would return to dust.
16 And if [there is] understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words.
If you have understanding then hear this; pay attention to what I'm saying.
17 Yea, doth one hating justice govern? Or the Most Just dost thou condemn?
Do you really think someone who hated justice could govern? Are you going to condemn Almighty God who always does what is right?
18 Who hath said to a king — 'Worthless,' Unto princes — 'Wicked?'
He's the one who tells kings, ‘You're useless!’ or says to nobles, ‘You're wicked!’
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.
He doesn't think more of the rich than the poor, for they are all people he himself made.
20 [In] a moment they die, and at midnight Shake do people, and they pass away, And they remove the mighty without hand.
They die in a moment; at midnight they shudder and pass away; the mighty are gone without effort.
21 For His eyes [are] on the ways of each, And all his steps He doth see.
For he watches what they're doing and sees everywhere they go.
22 There is no darkness nor death-shade, For workers of iniquity to be hidden there;
There is no darkness so deep where people who do evil can hide themselves from him.
23 For He doth not suffer man any more, To go unto God in judgment,
God doesn't need to examine anyone in any greater detail that they should come before him for judgment.
24 He breaketh the mighty — no searching! And He appointeth others in their stead.
He brings down the mighty without needing an investigation; he sets up others in their place.
25 Therefore He knoweth their works, And He hath overturned by night, And they are bruised.
Knowing what they've done he overthrows them in a night and destroys them.
26 As wicked He hath stricken them, In the place of beholders.
He strikes them down for their wickedness in public where they can be seen
27 Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And none of His ways have considered wisely,
because they turned away from following him, disregarding all his ways.
28 To cause to come in unto Him The cry of the poor, And the cry of the afflicted He heareth.
They made the poor call out to him, and he heard the cries of the oppressed.
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.
Yet if God wants to remain silent, who can condemn him? If he chooses to hide his face, who can see him? Whether it concerns a nation or an individual,
30 From the reigning of a profane man, From the snares of a people;
a person who rejects God should not rule so they don't mislead people.
31 For unto God hath any said: 'I have taken away, I do not corruptly,
If you were to say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I won't do bad things any more.
32 Besides [that which] I see, shew Thou me, If iniquity I have done — I do not add?'
Show me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I won't do it again,’
33 By thee doth He recompense, That thou hast refused — That thou dost choose, and not I? And what thou hast known, speak.
then should God reward you for following your own opinions since you have rejected his? You're the one who has to choose, not me! Tell us what you think.
34 Let men of heart say to me, And a wise man is hearkening to me.
For people who understand—those who are wise who have heard what I said—will tell me,
35 Job — not with knowledge doth he speak, And his words [are] not with wisdom.
‘Job doesn't know what he's talking about. What he says doesn't make any sense.’
36 My Father! let Job be tried — unto victory, Because of answers for men of iniquity,
If only Job were thoroughly condemned because he speaks like evil people do.
37 For he doth add to his sin, Transgression among us he vomiteth, And multiplieth his sayings to God.
Now he has added rebellion to his sins; he claps his hands at us, making long speeches full of accusations against God.”
