Job 34
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
And Elius continued, and said,
2 Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Hear me, you wise men; listen, you that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth meat.
For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat.
4 Let us choose for us that which is right: 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 hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right:
For Job has said, I am righteous: the Lord has removed my judgment.
6 Notwithstanding my right I am [accounted] a liar; my wound is incurable, [though I am] without transgression.
And he has erred in my judgment: my wound is severe without unrighteousness [of mine].
7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
What man is as Job, drinking scorning like water?
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh 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 hath said, it profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
For you should 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, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
Therefore hear me, you 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.
Yes, he renders to a man accordingly as each of them does, and in a man's path he will find him.
12 Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
And think you that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth wrest judgment?
13 Who gave him a charge over the earth? or who hath 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 turn again unto dust.
all flesh would die together, and every mortal would return to the earth, whence also he was formed.
16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
Take heed lest he rebuke [you]: hear this, listen to the voice of words.
17 Shall even one that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is just [and] mighty?
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, [Thou art] vile? [or] to nobles, [Ye are] wicked?
[He is] ungodly that says to a king, You are a transgressor, [that says] to princes, O most ungodly one.
19 [How much less to] him that respecteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth 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 honorable man, neither knows how to give honor to the great, so as that their persons should be respected.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight; the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are 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 a man, and he seeth all his goings.
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 needeth not further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment.
For he will not lay upon a man more [than right].
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men [in ways] past finding out, and setteth others in their stead.
For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.
25 Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; and he overturneth 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 striketh 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 aside from following him, and would not have regard to any of his ways:
Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances,
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heard 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 giveth quietness, who then can condemn? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether [it be done] unto a nation, or unto a man, alike:
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 godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people.
causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people.
31 For hath any 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 thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
I will see apart from myself: do you show me if I have done unrighteousness; I will not do [so] any more.
33 Shall his recompence be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? for thou must choose, and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
Will he take vengeance for it on you, whereas you will put [it] far [from you]? for you shall choose, and not I; and what you know, speak you.
34 Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me:
Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word.
35 Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.
But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not [uttered] with knowledge.
36 Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
Howbeit do you learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish:
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth 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.
