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34:1  Elihu continued speaking, and said:
34:2  "Listen to what I have to say, you wise men! Pay attention to me, you educated people!
34:3  Since the ear tests words like a palate tastes food,
34:4  let's choose what's right for us. Let's consider among ourselves what is good."
34:5  Now this is Job's claim: 'Even though I'm innocent, God has stopped treating me righteously.
34:6  Have I lied concerning the justice that I deserve? My wound is incurable, though transgression cannot be attributed to me.'
34:7  "What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water,
34:8  traffics in those who practice evil, and walks with wicked people?
34:9  Because he says, 'There's no profit for a man to find joy with God.'"
34:10  "Therefore you men of understanding, listen to me! Far be it for God to practice wickedness, or the Almighty to do what is wrong,
34:11  because he repays a person for his behavior; and according to a person's conduct, he lets it happen to him.
34:12  Truly, God doesn't practice wickedness, and the Almighty doesn't pervert justice.
34:13  Who entrusted the earth to him? Who made him responsible for the entire inhabited world?
34:14  If he were to decide to do so, that is, to take back to himself his spirit and breath of life,
34:15  every living thing would die all at once, and mankind would return to dust."
34:16  If you have understanding, listen to this! Pay attention to what I have to say:
34:17  Can one who hates justice really govern? And if God is righteous and mighty, can you condemn him?
34:18  Can one say to a king, 'You're vile!' or to nobles, 'You're wicked!'?
34:19  Who isn't partial to princes? Who doesn't give preference to the nobles over the poor? Nevertheless, all of them are his handiwork.
34:20  "They die suddenly, in the middle of the night; people suffer seizures and pass away; even valiant men can be taken away— and not by human hands.
34:21  Yes, Job, his eyes constantly watch the behavior of human beings; he carefully observes their every step.
34:22  There's no such thing as darkness to him— not even deep darkness— that can conceal those who practice evil.
34:23  He won't examine mankind further, that they would go before God to judgment.
34:24  He shatters valiant men without a need to investigate, and he raises others in their place.
34:25  Thus he acknowledges their behavior, and overcomes them; when night time comes, they are crushed.
34:26  "He strikes the wicked among them in a place where they can be seen
34:27  because they've abandoned their pursuit of him and had no respect for any of his ways.
34:28  As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him and he has heard the cry of the afflicted.
34:29  "If he remains silent, who will condemn him? If he conceals his face, who can see him? He watches over both nation and individual alike,
34:30  to keep the godless man from reigning or laying a snare for the people."
34:31  "Has anyone ever really told God, 'I've endured, and I won't act corruptly anymore.
34:32  What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!'
34:33  "Should you not be paid back, since you have rejected him? You do the choosing! I won't! Tell us what you know!
34:34  "Men of understanding, speak to me! Are any of you men wise? Then listen to me!
34:35  Job has been speaking from his own ignorance, and what he has to say lacks insight!
34:36  Oh, how Job needs to be given a full court trial, as a rebuke to those who practice evil,
34:37  because he has been adding rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and keeps on ranting against God."