Job — Chapter 34

1Then Elihu continued:

2“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.

3For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.

4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

5For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

7What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?

8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.

9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’

10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?

14If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,

15all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

17Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,

18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.

20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

21For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.

22There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

23For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.

24He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.

25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

26He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,

27because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.

28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

29But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,

30that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.

31Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.

32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’

33Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed Him? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.

34Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:

35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’

36If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

1Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

6Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

10Therefore 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.

11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

18Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

19How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

20In 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.

21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

25Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

29When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

30That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

31Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

32That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

33Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

36My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

1Moreover Elihu answered and said,

2Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

3For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.

4Let us choose for us that which is right: Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:

6Notwithstanding my right I am [accounted] a liar; My wound is incurable, [though I am] without transgression.

7What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scoffing like water,

8Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?

9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.

10Therefore 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.

11For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.

12Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?

14If he set his heart upon himself, [If] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.

16If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.

17Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous [and] mighty?-

18[Him] that saith to a king, [Thou art] vile, [Or] to nobles, [Ye are] wicked;

19That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.

20In a moment they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without hand.

21For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.

22There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

24He breaketh in pieces mighty men [in ways] past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.

25Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;

27Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:

28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.

29When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether [it be done] unto a nation, or unto a man:

30That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.

31For hath any said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:

32That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

33Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.

34Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:

35Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.

36Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.

37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.

1Elihu answered:

2“Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you learned men.

3For the ear assesses words as the mouth tastes food.

4Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right; let us come to know among ourselves what is good.

5For Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God turns away my right.

6Concerning my right, should I lie? My wound is incurable, although I am without transgression.’

7Who is there like Job, who drinks derision like water?

8He goes about in company with evildoers; he goes along with wicked men.

9For he says, ‘It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.’

10“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil.

11For he repays a person for his work, and according to the conduct of a person, he causes the consequences to find him.

12Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

13Who entrusted to him the earth? And who put him over the whole world?

14If God were to set his heart on it, and gather in his spirit and his breath,

15all flesh would perish together, and human beings would return to dust.

16“If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say.

17Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely Righteous One,

18who says to a king, ‘Worthless man,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’

19who shows no partiality to princes, and does not take note of the rich more than the poor because all of them are the work of his hands?

20In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; people are shaken, and they pass away. The mighty are removed effortlessly.

21For his eyes are on the ways of an individual; he observes all a person’s steps.

22There is no darkness, and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.

23For he does not still consider a person, that he should come before God in judgment.

24He shatters the great without inquiry and sets up others in their place.

25Therefore, he knows their deeds; he overthrows them in the night, and they are crushed.

26He strikes them for their wickedness in a place where people can see,

27because they have turned away from following him and have not understood any of his ways,

28so that they caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he hears the cry of the needy.

29But if God is quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, then who can see him? Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike,

30so that the godless man should not rule and not lay snares for the people.

31“Has anyone said to God, ‘I have endured chastisement, but I will not act wrongly any more;

32teach me what I cannot see; if I have done evil, I will do so no more’?

33Is it your opinion that God should recompense it, because you reject this? But you must choose, and not I, so tell us what you know.

34Men of understanding say to me— any wise man listening to me says—

35that Job speaks without knowledge and his words are without understanding.

36But Job will be tested to the end, because his answers are like those of wicked men.

37For he adds transgression to his sin; in our midst he claps his hands and multiplies his words against God.”

1Moreover Elihu answered,

2“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

3For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.

4Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right:

6Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’

7What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,

8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?

9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’

10“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.

11For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13Who put him in charge of the earth? or who has appointed him over the whole world?

14If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,

15all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

16“If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

17Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?—

18Who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?

19Who doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands.

20In 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. He sees all his goings.

22There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

24He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

25Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,

28so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.

29When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,

30that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

31“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

32Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

33Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

34Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:

35‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’

36I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”