Home Master Index
←Prev   Job 34 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


34:1  Then Elihu said,
34:2  “Hear my words, you wise men. Listen to me, you who know.
34:3  For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
34:4  Let us choose for ourselves what is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
34:5  For Job has said, ‘I am right and good, but God has taken away my right.
34:6  Would I lie about my right? I have been hurt so that I cannot be healed, but I have done no wrong.’
34:7  What man is like Job, who drinks up words against him like water?
34:8  He goes among those who do wrong, and walks with sinful men.
34:9  For he has said, ‘A man gets nothing by trying to please God.’
34:10  “So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do what is sinful, and from the All-powerful to do wrong.
34:11  For He pays a man by the work he does. He will see that a man is paid for what he does.
34:12  For sure God will not do wrong. The All-powerful will not turn what is right into sin.
34:13  Who gave Him the power over the earth? Who gave Him the whole world to take care of?
34:14  If He should take back His spirit and His breath,
34:15  all flesh would die together, and man would return to dust.
34:16  “If you have understanding, hear this. Listen to what I say.
34:17  Should one who hates what is right be the one to rule? Will you say that He Who is right and good and strong is guilty?
34:18  Who says to a king, ‘You are of no worth,’ and to rulers, ‘You are sinful’?
34:19  Who shows no favor to princes, or thinks of the rich as more important than the poor? They are all the work of His hands.
34:20  In a short time they die. At midnight the people are shaken and pass away. And the powerful are taken away by no human hand.
34:21  “For God’s eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.
34:22  There is no darkness or shadow where sinners can hide themselves.
34:23  For God does not need to set a time for man to go before Him and be judged.
34:24  He breaks powerful men in pieces without asking any reason, and puts others in their place.
34:25  For He knows their works. He puts them down in the night, and they are crushed.
34:26  God punishes them for their sin where everyone can see them.
34:27  Because they turned aside from following Him. They did not care about any of His ways.
34:28  So they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him. And He heard the cry of those in need.
34:29  When He keeps quiet, who can say He is wrong? When He hides His face, who can see Him? But He is over both nation and man.
34:30  So men without God should not rule and should not be a trap for the people.
34:31  “For has any one said to God, ‘I have suffered punishment, and will not cause any more trouble?
34:32  Teach me what I cannot see. If I have sinned, I will do it no more’?
34:33  Will God ask what you want to do, when you will not do what He says? You must decide, and not I. So tell what you know.
34:34  Men of understanding will say to me, and wise men who hear me say,
34:35  ‘Job speaks without much learning. His words are without wisdom.
34:36  Job should be tried to the end, because he answers like sinful men.
34:37  To his sin he adds a strong will against God. Making fun he claps his hands among us, and speaks many words against God.’”