Job 34

1 Then Elihu said:

2 “Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you who know a lot.

3 The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.

4 Let’s decide for ourselves what is right, and let’s learn together what is good.

5 “Job says, ‘I am not guilty, and God has refused me a fair trial.

6 Instead of getting a fair trial, I am called a liar.
I have been seriously hurt, even though I have not sinned.’

7 There is no other man like Job; he takes insults as if he were drinking water.

8 He keeps company with those who do evil and spends time with wicked men,

9 because he says, ‘It is no use to try to please God.’

10 “So listen to me, you who can understand. God can never do wrong! It is impossible for the Almighty to do evil.

11 God pays people back for what they have done and gives them what their actions deserve.

12 Truly God will never do wrong; the Almighty will never twist what is right.

13 No one chose God to rule over the earth or put him in charge of the whole world.

14 If God should decide to take away life and breath,

15 then everyone would die together and turn back into dust.

16 “If you can understand, hear this; listen to what I have to say.

17 Can anyone govern who hates what is right? How can you blame God who is both fair and powerful?

18 God is the one who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ or to important people, ‘You are evil.’

19 He is not nicer to princes than other people, nor kinder to rich people than poor people, because he made them all with his own hands.

20 They can die in a moment, in the middle of the night. They are struck down, and then they pass away; powerful people die without help.

21 “God watches where people go; he sees every step they take.

22 There is no dark place or deep shadow where those who do evil can hide from him.

23 He does not set a time for people to come before him for judging.

24 Without asking questions, God breaks powerful people into pieces and puts others in their place.

25 Because God knows what people do, he defeats them in the night, and they are crushed.

26 He punishes them for the evil they do so that everyone else can watch,

27 because they stopped following God and did not care about any of his ways.

28 The cry of the poor comes to God; he hears the cry of the needy.

29 But if God keeps quiet, who can blame him? If he hides his face, who can see him?
God still rules over both nations and persons alike.

30 He keeps the wicked from ruling and from trapping others.

31 “But suppose someone says to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not sin anymore.

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

33 So, Job, should God reward you as you want when you refuse to change?
You must decide, not I, so tell me what you know.

34 “Those who understand speak, and the wise who hear me say,

35 ‘Job speaks without knowing what is true; his words show he does not understand.’

36 I wish Job would be tested completely, because he answered like an evil man!
37 Job now adds to his sin by turning against God. He claps his hands in protest, speaking more and more against God.”

Job 34

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 Who 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 will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.

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

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

14 If he set his heart upon himself, 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 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;

19 That respecteth 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 they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without hand.

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

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

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

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

25 Therefore he taketh knowledge of 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 aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:

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

29 When 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:

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

31 For hath any 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 it no more?

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

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

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

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

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