Job 34
1 And Elihu made answer and said,
Moreover Elihu answered,
2 Give ear, you wise, to my words; and you who have knowledge, give attention to me;
“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 For words are tested by the ear, as food is tasted by the mouth.
For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us make the decision for ourselves as to what is right; let us have the knowledge among ourselves of what is good.
Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know amongst ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, I am upright, and it is God who has taken away my right;
For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right.
6 Though I am right, still I am in pain; my wound may not be made well, though I have done no wrong.
Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’
7 What man is like Job, a man who freely makes sport of God,
What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
8 And goes in the company of evil-doers, walking in the way of sinners?
who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?
9 For he has said, It is no profit to a man to take delight in God.
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’
10 Now then, you wise, take note; you men of knowledge, give ear to me. Let it be far from God to do evil, and from the Ruler of all to do wrong.
“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 For he gives to every man the reward of his work, and sees that he gets the fruit of his ways.
For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Truly, God does not do evil, and the Ruler of all is not a false judge.
Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who put the earth into his care, or made him responsible for the world?
Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?
14 If he made his spirit come back to him, taking his breath into himself again,
If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
15 All flesh would come to an end together, and man would go back to the dust.
all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
16 If you are wise, take note of this; give ear to the voice of my words.
“If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
17 How may a hater of right be a ruler? and will you say that the upright Ruler of all is evil?
Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18 He who says to a king, You are an evil-doer; and to rulers, You are sinners;
who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
19 Who has no respect for rulers, and who gives no more attention to those who have wealth than to the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.
He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of his hands.
20 Suddenly they come to an end, even in the middle of the night: the blow comes on the men of wealth, and they are gone, and the strong are taken away without the hand of man.
In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.
“For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.
22 There is no dark place, and no thick cloud, in which the workers of evil may take cover.
There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he does not give man a fixed time to come before him to be judged.
For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgement.
24 He sends the strong to destruction without searching out their cause, and puts others in their place.
He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
25 For he has knowledge of their works, overturning them in the night, so that they are crushed.
Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 The evil-doers are broken by his wrath, he puts his hand on them with force before the eyes of all onlookers.
He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Because they did not go after him, and took no note of his ways,
because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
28 So that the cry of the poor might come up to him, and the prayer of those in need come to his ears.
so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.
When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,
that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
34 Men of knowledge, and all wise men, hearing me, will say,
Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:
35 Job's words do not come from knowledge; they are not the fruit of wisdom.
‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’
36 May Job be tested to the end, because his answers have been like those of evil men.
I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
37 For in addition to his sin, he is uncontrolled in heart; before our eyes he makes sport of God, increasing his words against him.
For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands amongst us, and multiplies his words against God.”
