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34:1  Then Elihu said:
34:2  "Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.
34:3  Job said, 'The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.'
34:4  So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
34:5  For Job also said, 'I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.
34:6  I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.'
34:7  "Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk?
34:8  He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men.
34:9  He has even said, 'Why waste time trying to please God?'
34:10  "Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn't sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.
34:11  He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.
34:12  Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.
34:13  Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?
34:14  If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,
34:15  all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.
34:16  "Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.
34:17  Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?
34:18  For he says to kings, 'You are wicked,' and to nobles, 'You are unjust.'
34:19  He doesn't care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.
34:20  In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
34:21  "For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do.
34:22  No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes.
34:23  We don't set the time when we will come before God in judgment.
34:24  He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place.
34:25  He knows what they do, and in the night he overturns and destroys them.
34:26  He strikes them down because they are wicked, doing it openly for all to see.
34:27  For they turned away from following him. They have no respect for any of his ways.
34:28  They cause the poor to cry out, catching God's attention. He hears the cries of the needy.
34:29  But if he chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him, whether an individual or a nation.
34:30  He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.
34:31  "Why don't people say to God, 'I have sinned, but I will sin no more'?
34:32  Or 'I don't know what evil I have done--tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once'?
34:33  "Must God tailor his justice to your demands? But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine. Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.
34:34  After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say,
34:35  'Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.'
34:36  Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked.
34:37  For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God."