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34:1  Elihu continued,
34:2  “Hear what I’m saying, you wise men. Listen to me, you who have learned so much.
34:3  Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn’t. And our ears tell us what’s true and what isn’t.
34:4  So let’s choose for ourselves what is right. Let’s learn together what is good.
34:5  “Job says, ‘I’m not guilty of doing anything wrong. But God doesn’t treat me fairly.
34:6  Even though I’m right, he thinks I’m a liar. Even though I’m not guilty, his arrows give me wounds that can’t be healed.’
34:7  Is there anyone like Job? He accuses God as easily as he drinks water.
34:8  He’s a companion of those who do evil. He spends his time with sinful people.
34:9  He asks, ‘What good is it to try to please God?’
34:10  “So listen to me, you men who have understanding. God would never do what is evil. The Mighty One would never do what is wrong.
34:11  He pays back everyone for what they’ve done. He gives them exactly what they should get.
34:12  It isn’t possible for God to do wrong. The Mighty One would never treat people unfairly.
34:13  Who appointed him to rule over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world?
34:14  If he really wanted to, he could hold back his spirit and breath.
34:15  Then everyone would die together. They would return to the dust.
34:16  “Job, if you have understanding, listen to me. Pay attention to what I’m saying.
34:17  Can someone who hates to be fair govern? Will you bring charges against the holy and mighty God?
34:18  He says to kings, ‘You are worthless.’ He says to nobles, ‘You are evil.’
34:19  He doesn’t favor princes. He treats rich people and poor people the same. His hands created all of them.
34:20  They die suddenly in the middle of the night. God strikes them down, and they pass away. Even people who are mighty are removed, but not by human hands.
34:21  “His eyes see how people live. He watches every step they take.
34:22  There is no deep shadow or total darkness where those who do what is evil can hide.
34:23  God doesn’t need to bring charges against anyone. He knows they are guilty. So he doesn’t need to have them appear in his court to be judged.
34:24  He destroys the mighty without asking them questions in court. Then he sets others up in their places.
34:25  He knows what they do. So he crushes them during the night.
34:26  He punishes them for the sins they commit. He does it where everyone can see them.
34:27  That’s because they turned away from following him. They didn’t have respect for anything he does.
34:28  They caused poor people to cry out to him. He heard the cries of those who were in need.
34:29  But if he remains silent, who can judge him? If he turns his face away, who can see him? He rules over individual people and nations alike.
34:30  He keeps those who are ungodly from ruling. He keeps them from laying traps for others.
34:31  “Someone might say to God, ‘I’m guilty of sinning, but I won’t do it anymore.
34:32  Show me my sins that I’m not aware of. If I’ve done what is wrong, I won’t do it again.’
34:33  But you refuse to turn away from your sins. So God won’t treat you the way you want to be treated. You must decide, Job. I can’t do it for you. So tell me what you know.
34:34  “You men who have understanding have spoken. You wise men who hear me have said to me,
34:35  ‘Job doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The things he has said don’t make any sense.’
34:36  I wish Job would be given the hardest test possible! He answered like someone who is evil.
34:37  To his sin he adds even more sin. He claps his hands and makes fun of us. He multiplies his words against God.”