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


34:1  Then Elihu answered:
34:2  “Hear my words, you wise men; give ear to me, you men of learning.
34:3  For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
34:4  Let us choose for ourselves what is right; Let us learn together what is good.
34:5  “For Job says, ‘I am righteous, but God has deprived me of justice.
34:6  Concerning my right, should I lie? My wound is incurable, although I am without transgression.’
34:7  What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water,
34:8  who keeps company with evildoers, and walks with wicked men?
34:9  For he says, ‘It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.’
34:10  “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding: Wickedness is far from God, injustice from Shaddai
34:11  For He repays a person for what he has done, and brings on the person what he deserves.
34:12  “Truly God does not act wickedly, and Shaddai does not pervert justice.
34:13  Who appointed Him over the earth? Who put Him over the whole world?
34:14  “If He were to set His heart on it, and gather to Himself His Ruach and breath,
34:15  all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to dust.
34:16  “Now if you have understanding, hear this; give ear to the sound of my words.
34:17  Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the mighty, righteous One?
34:18  Who says to a king, ‘Worthless man’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked men’!
34:19  Who shows no partiality before princes, and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of His hands.
34:20  They die in a moment, at midnight, people are shaken and they pass away. The mighty are removed without a hand.
34:21  “For His eyes are on the ways of man; He sees all his steps.
34:22  There is no gloom and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.
34:23  For He does not consider a man further that he should go before God in judgment.
34:24  He shatters the mighty without inquiry, and sets others in their place.
34:25  Thus He recognizes their deeds, He overturns them in the night and they are crushed.
34:26  He strikes them for their wickedness in a place where people can see,
34:27  because they turned from following Him, and have not understood any of His ways.
34:28  They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, so that He hears the cry of the afflicted.
34:29  “But if He is quiet, who can condemn Him? If He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He is over a nation and an individual alike,
34:30  so that godless men should not rule, nor lay snares for people.
34:31  “Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have born chastisement, but I will not act wickedly any more.
34:32  Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will not do it again.’
34:33  Should He requite it on your terms, because you reject it? But you must choose and not I; now declare what you know.
34:34  “Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me,
34:35  ‘Job speaks without knowledge, and his words lack understanding.’
34:36  Oh, that Job might be tested to the end, for answering like wicked men.
34:37  For he adds rebellion to his sin; in our midst he claps his hands and multiplies his words against God.”