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


34:1  Then Elihu answered:
34:2  “Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you who know a lot.
34:3  The ear tests words as the ·tongue [L palate] tastes food.
34:4  Let’s ·decide [choose] for ourselves what is ·right [just], and let’s learn together what is good.
34:5  “Job says, ‘I am ·not guilty [right/righteous], and God has ·refused me a fair trial [L turned justice away from me].
34:6  ·Instead of getting a fair trial [concerning my case], I am ·called [considered] a liar. ·I have been seriously hurt [An arrow has given me an incurable wound; L My arrow is incurable], even though I have not sinned.’
34:7  ·There is no other [L Who is a…?] man like Job; he ·takes [or receives] ·insults [ridicule; scoffing] as if he were drinking water.
34:8  He ·keeps company [travels] with those who do evil and ·spends time [L goes] with wicked men,
34:9  because he says, ‘It is no use to try to please God.’
34:10  “So listen to me, you who ·can understand [or are sensible]. God can never do wrong! It is impossible for the Almighty to do evil.
34:11  God pays people back for what they have done and ·gives them what their actions deserve [L finds them out according to their ways].
34:12  Truly God will never do wrong; the Almighty will never ·twist [pervert] ·what is right [justice].
34:13  ·No one [L Who…?] chose God to rule over the earth or put him in charge of the whole world.
34:14  If God should ·decide [L set his mind/heart to himself] to take away ·life [L spirit] and breath,
34:15  then ·everyone [L all flesh] would ·die [expire] together and turn back into dust.
34:16  “If you can understand, hear this; ·listen to what I have to say [L give ear to my words].
34:17  Can anyone govern who hates what is right? How can you ·blame God [L condemn one] who is both ·fair [righteous] and powerful?
34:18  ·God [L Who…?] is the one who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ or to important people, ‘You are evil.’
34:19  He ·is not nicer to princes than other people [L shows no favoritism to princes], nor ·kinder [L gives more recognition] to ·rich people [nobles] than poor people, because he made them all with his own hands [Prov. 14:31; 17:5; 22:2].
34:20  They can die in a moment, in the middle of the night. ·They are struck down [L The people are shaken], and then they pass away; powerful people ·die [are taken away] ·without help [or not by human hand].
34:21  “·God watches where people go [L His eyes are on the path of people]; he sees every step they take.
34:22  There is no dark place or deep shadow where those who do evil can hide from him.
34:23  He does not set a time for people to come before him for judging.
34:24  Without ·asking questions [investigation; inquiry], God breaks powerful people into pieces and puts others in their place.
34:25  Because God knows what people do, he ·defeats [overturns] them in the night, and they are crushed.
34:26  He ·punishes [slaps] them for the evil they do so that everyone else can watch,
34:27  because they ·stopped [turned away from] following God and did not care about any of his ways.
34:28  The cry of the poor comes to God; he hears the cry of the ·needy [afflicted].
34:29  But if God keeps quiet, who can blame him? If he hides his face, who among nations or people can see him?
34:30  He keeps the wicked from ruling and from trapping others.
34:31  “But suppose someone says to God, ‘I ·am guilty, but [or have endured punishment, so] I will not sin anymore.
34:32  Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
34:33  So, Job, should God ·reward [or make peace with] you as you want ·when [or since] you refuse to change? You must ·decide [choose], not I, so tell me what you know.
34:34  “Those ·who understand [with sense] speak, and the wise who hear me say,
34:35  ‘Job speaks without knowing what is true; his words show he ·does not understand [has no insight].’
34:36  I wish Job would be ·tested completely [examined forever], because he answered like an evil man!
34:37  Job now adds to his sin ·by turning against God [with transgression]. He ·claps his hands in protest [L claps among us; C clapping is a sign of protest or contempt], speaking more and more against God.”