Job 34
1 Then Elihu continued:
Then Elihu continued,
2 “You [three] men who [think that you] [SAR] are very wise, hear me; listen to what I am saying, you men who [say that you] know so much.
“Listen to my words, you men who say you are wise; pay attention to what I'm saying you who think you know.
3 When we [SYN] hear what other people [like you] say, we [RHQ] think carefully about what they say [to determine what is good and what is bad], like we [SYN] taste food [to determine what is good].
The ear distinguishes words just as the palate distinguishes foods.
4 We need to decide [who is saying] what is right and to determine among ourselves what is good/best.
Let us discern for ourselves what is right: let us decide among ourselves what is good.
5 Job has said, ‘I am innocent, but God has refused to judge me fairly/justly.
Job said, ‘I am innocent, and God has denied me justice.
6 Even though I have always done what is right, he is lying about me. Even though I have not done what is wrong, he has caused me to suffer, and I will certainly die.’
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 (Is there any person like Job, who insults others as easily as people accept a drink of water?/There is no person like Job, who insults others as easily as people accept a drink of water.) [RHQ]
Has there ever been a man like Job with such a thirst for ridiculing others?
8 He habitually associates with people who do what is evil and spends time with wicked people.
He keeps company with wicked people; he associates with those who do evil.
9 He has said, ‘It is useless for people to try to please God.’
He's even said, ‘What benefit is there in being God's friend?’
10 “So, you men who [claim that you] understand everything, listen to me! Almighty God would never consider doing anything that is wicked or wrong [DOU]!
So listen to me, you men of understanding! It's impossible for God to do evil and the Almighty to do wrong.
11 He (pays back/punishes) people for what they have done; he gives them what they deserve for the way that they have conducted their lives.
He pays people back for what they've done, and treats them as they deserve.
12 Truly, Almighty God never does what is wicked; he always [LIT] does what is fair/just.
It's absolutely sure that God doesn't act wickedly; the Almighty would never pervert justice.
13 The authority that he has to rule everything on the earth, no one [RHQ] gave it to him; no one [RHQ] put him in control of the whole world. [He has always had that authority].
Who put him in charge of the earth? Who gave him the responsibility for all the world?
14 If he would take his spirit back to himself,
If he were to withdraw his spirit, if he were to take back his breath,
15 everyone would die [immediately], and their corpses would soon become dirt again.
all living things would immediately die and human beings would return to dust.
16 “So, [Job], if [you say that you] understand everything, listen to what I am saying.
If you have understanding then hear this; pay attention to what I'm saying.
17 God could certainly not [RHQ] govern the world if he hated doing what is fair/just. So, will you condemn God, who is righteous and powerful, [saying that what he has done is wrong]?
Do you really think someone who hated justice could govern? Are you going to condemn Almighty God who always does what is right?
18 He tells [some] kings that they are worthless, and he says to [some] officials that they are wicked.
He's the one who tells kings, ‘You're useless!’ or says to nobles, ‘You're wicked!’
19 He does not favor rulers [more than he favors others]; he does not favor rich people more than poor people, because he created all of them.
He doesn't think more of the rich than the poor, for they are all people he himself made.
20 People [often] die suddenly; he strikes them at midnight and they die; he even gets rid of mighty people without the help of any humans [SYN].
They die in a moment; at midnight they shudder and pass away; the mighty are gone without effort.
21 “He sees [MTY] everything that people do; [when we walk, ] he watches every step that we take.
For he watches what they're doing and sees everywhere they go.
22 There is no gloom or darkness [DOU] that is so dark that sinners can hide [from him] in that darkness.
There is no darkness so deep where people who do evil can hide themselves from him.
23 God does not [need to] set a time when we will stand in front of him in order that he may judge us. [He can judge us whenever he wants to].
God doesn't need to examine anyone in any greater detail that they should come before him for judgment.
24 He destroys mighty people without [needing to] investigate [what they have done], and he appoints others to take their places.
He brings down the mighty without needing an investigation; he sets up others in their place.
25 Because he [already] knows what they have done, he removes them at night and gets rid of them.
Knowing what they've done he overthrows them in a night and destroys them.
26 Where [many] people can see it, he strikes/punishes them because of the wicked things that they have done;
He strikes them down for their wickedness in public where they can be seen
27 he strikes them because they turned away from doing what he wanted them to do and did not pay attention to any of his commands.
because they turned away from following him, disregarding all his ways.
28 They [mistreated] the poor people, with the result that those poor people cried out to God [for help], and he heard those afflicted people when they cried out [to him].
They made the poor call out to him, and he heard the cries of the oppressed.
29 But if God decides to do nothing [to punish wicked people], no one can criticize/condemn him. If a godless/wicked man rules a nation, a man who tricks/deceives the people,
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 and if [God] hides his face [with the result that he does not see that ruler or punish him], no one will be able to prevent that ruler [from doing those things].
a person who rejects God should not rule so they don't mislead people.
31 “Job, have you or anyone else ever said to God, ‘I have been punished [for my sins], and I will not sin any more;
If you were to say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I won't do bad things any more.
32 so teach/show me what [sins I have committed]; if I have done anything that is evil, I will not do it any more’?
Show me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I won't do it again,’
33 [Job, ] you object to what God has done to you, but do you think that he will do what you want him to do? It is you who must choose [what you say to God], not I; so tell me what you are thinking about this.
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 “People who have good sense, those who are wise and who listen to what I say, will say to me,
For people who understand—those who are wise who have heard what I said—will tell me,
35 ‘Job is speaking ignorantly; what he says is nonsense.’
‘Job doesn't know what he's talking about. What he says doesn't make any sense.’
36 I think that Job should be taken to a court and (put on trial/judged), because he answers [us his friends] like wicked men would answer.
If only Job were thoroughly condemned because he speaks like evil people do.
37 To add to the [other] sins that he has committed, he is rebelling [against God]; he shows us that he does not respect God [IDM], making long speeches [saying that God has punished him unjustly].”
Now he has added rebellion to his sins; he claps his hands at us, making long speeches full of accusations against God.”
