Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say:
2 Hear my words, ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good!
Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my judgment:
For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment.
6 Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression.
For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.”
7 What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water,
What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water,
8 And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men?
9 For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.
For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.”
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from God, and wrong from the Almighty!
Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.
11 For a man's work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to [his] way.
For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them.
12 Yea, surely, God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment.
For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment.
13 Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world?
What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made?
14 If he only thought of himself, [and] gathered unto him his spirit and his breath,
But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself.
15 All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.
All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes.
16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words!
Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence.
17 Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just?
Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just?
18 Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked?
He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious.
19 [How then to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich man more than the poor? for they are all the work of his hands.
He does not accept the reputation of leaders; nor does he recognize the tyrant as he contends against the poor. For all are the work of his hands.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight the people are convulsed and pass away; and the strong are taken away without hand.
They will die suddenly, and the people will be troubled in the middle of the night, but they will pass through it, and the violent will be taken away without a hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps.
For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden.
23 For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before God in judgment.
For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God.
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead;
He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place.
25 Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth [them] in the night, and they are crushed.
For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,
Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen.
27 Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways;
They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways,
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor.
29 When he giveth quietness, who then will disturb? and when he hideth [his] face, who shall behold him? and this towards a nation, or towards a man alike;
For, when he grants peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hides his face, who is there that can contemplate him, either among the nations, or among all men?
30 That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.
He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people.
31 For hath he said unto God, I bear [chastisement], I will not offend;
Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same.
32 What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more?
If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more.
33 Shall he recompense according to thy mind? for thou hast refused [his judgment]; for thou so choosest, and not I; speak then what thou knowest.
Does God require this of you because it is displeasing to you? For you were the first to speak, and not I. But if you know something better, speak.
34 Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:
Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me.
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence.
But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching.
36 Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of [his] answers after the manner of evil men!
My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
For he adds blasphemy on top of his sins; nevertheless, let him be constrained to be among us, and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.
