Job 34

1 Then Elihu continued:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

26 He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,

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

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

29 But 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 ¶ Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19 [How 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.

20 In 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29 When 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:

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

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

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

33 [Should 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.

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

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

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

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

1 And Elihu answered and said:

2 Hear, ye wise men, my words; and, ye men of understanding, hearken unto me.

3 For the ear trieth speech, and the mouth tasteth meat.

4 Let us choose us a judgment, that we may know among ourselves what is good.

5 For Job hath said, I am righteous, and GOD denieth me my right.

6 I lie, if I be right; and I am pained with mine arrows, if I have done nothing wrong.

7 Who is such a one as Job, that drinketh mockery like water?

8 And walk in the way with evildoers, and walk with ungodly men?

9 For he hath said, Though a man be pious, yet is he not counted worthy with God.

10 Therefore hear me, ye wise men; Far be it from God to be wicked, and the Almighty to be unjust,

11 But he rewardeth a man according to his due, and afflicteth every man according to his deeds.

12 Without doubt, God condemns no one with injustice, and the Almighty does not bend justice.

13 Who hath ordained that which is in the earth, and who hath set the whole face of the earth?

14 And if he be subdued, he shall gather unto himself all spirit and breath.

15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to ashes.

16 If then thou hast understanding, hear this, and hearken unto the voice of my saying.

17 Shall any man therefore force justice, that he may hate it? And because thou art proud, shouldest thou therefore condemn the righteous?

18 Shall any man say unto the king, Thou rascal, and unto the princes? Ye wicked!

19 Who regardeth not the persons of princes, neither knoweth he that is glorious more than he that is poor: for they are all the work of his hands.

20 Suddenly the people must die, and be afraid at midnight, and perish; the mighty are taken away powerless.

21 For his eyes behold every man's way, and he seeth all their courses.

22 There is no darkness nor obscurity, that evildoers should hide themselves there.

23 For it shall not be lawful for any man to reprove God.

24 He killeth many of the proud that cannot be numbered, and setteth others in their stead,

25 Because he knoweth their works, and turneth them back by night, that they may be destroyed.

26 He casteth the wicked over a heap, because they love to see it,

27 Because they departed from him, and missed none of his ways,

28 That the cry of the poor should come before him, and he should hear the cry of the afflicted.

29 If he give peace, who shall condemn? and if he hide his face, who shall behold him among the people and nations?

30 And let a hypocrite reign over them, to press the people.

31 I must speak for God, and I cannot refrain.

32 If I have not done right, teach me better: if I have done wrong, I will do it no more.

33 They wait for an answer from thee, because thou hast rejected all things: and thou hast begun them, and not I. If thou knowest any thing, tell me.

34 Wise men will I let tell me, and a wise man will hearken unto me.

35 But Job spake with foolishness, and his words are not wise.

36 My father, let Job be tried unto the end, that he may turn to wicked men.

37 He has blasphemed his sin in addition; therefore let him be smitten between us, and after that let him talk much against Allah.