Job 34
1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
And Elius continued, and said,
2 Hear my words, O all of you wise men; and give ear unto me, all of you that have knowledge.
Hear me, ye wise men; hearken, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear tries words, as the mouth tastes food.
For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
Let us choose judgment to ourselves: let us know amount ourselves what is right.
5 For Job has said, I am righteous: and God has taken away my judgment.
For Job has said, I am righteous: the Lord has removed my judgment.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
And he has erred in my judgment: my wound is severe without unrighteousness [of mine].
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water?
What man is as Job, drinking scorning like water?
8 Which goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men.
[saying], I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly.
9 For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
For thou shouldest not say, There shall be no visitation of a man, whereas [there is] a visitation on him from the Lord.
10 Therefore hearken unto me all of you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
Wherefore hear me, ye that are wise in heart: far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and to pervert righteousness before the almighty.
11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
Yea, he renders to a man accordingly as each of them does, and in a man's path he will find him.
12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
And thinkest thou that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth wrest judgment?
13 Who has given him a charge over the earth? or who has disposed the whole world?
And who is he that made [the whole world] under heaven, and all things therein?
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
For if he would confine, and restrain his spirit with himself;
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.
all flesh would die together, and every mortal would return to the earth, whence also he was formed.
16 If now you have understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
Take heed lest he rebuke [thee]: hear this, hearken to the voice of words.
17 Shall even he that hates right govern? and will you condemn him that is most just?
Behold then the one that hates iniquities, and that destroys the wicked, who is for ever just.
18 Is it fit to say to a king, You are wicked? and to princes, All of you are ungodly?
[He is] ungodly that says to a king, Thou art a transgressor, [that says] to princes, O most ungodly one.
19 How much less to him that accepts not the persons of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
[Such a one] as would not reverence the face of an honourable man, neither knows how to give honour to the great, so as that their persons should be respected.
20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
But it shall turn out vanity to them, to cry and beseech a man; for they dealt unlawfully, the poor being turned aside [from their right].
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he sees all his activities.
For he surveys the works of men, and nothing of what they do has escaped him.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
Neither shall there be a place for the workers of iniquity to hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
For he will not lay upon a man more [than right].
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their position.
For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.
25 Therefore he knows their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
Who discovers their works, and will bring night about [upon them], and they shall be brought low.
26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him.
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances,
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he hears the cry of the afflicted.
so as to bring before him the cry of the needy; for he will hear the cry of the poor.
29 When he gives quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hides his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
And he will give quiet, and who will condemn? and he will hide his face, and who shall see him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man also:
30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people.
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
For [there is] one that says to the Mighty One, I have received [blessings]; I will not take a pledge:
32 That which I see not teach you me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
I will see apart from myself: do thou shew me if I have done unrighteousness; I will not do [so] any more.
33 Should it be according to your mind? he will recompense it, whether you refuse, or whether you choose; and not I: therefore speak what you know.
Will he take vengeance for it on thee, whereas thou wilt put [it] far [from thee]? for thou shalt choose, and not I; and what thou knowest, speak thou.
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word.
35 Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not [uttered] with knowledge.
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
Howbeit do thou learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish:
37 For he adds rebellion unto his sin, he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.
that we add not to our sins: for iniquity will be reckoned against us, if [we] speak many words before the Lord.
