Job 34

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 scorning 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 be in accord 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 requite 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 man, If He gather unto Himself his spirit and his breath;

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

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

17Shall even one that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty—

18Is it fit to say to a king: ‘Thou art base’? 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 shadow of death, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23For He doth not appoint a time unto any man, When he should go before God in judgment.

24He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, And setteth others in their stead.

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

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

27Because they turned aside from following Him, And would not have regard to 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 condemn? And when He hideth His face, who then can behold Him? Whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man, alike;

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

31For hath any said unto God: ‘I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;

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? For thou loathest it, So that 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:

35‘Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without discernment.’

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.