Job 34

1 Moreover Elihu answered,⋮

2 “Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.⋮

3 For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.⋮

4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.⋮

5 For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right.⋮

6 Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’⋮

7 What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,⋮

8 who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?⋮

9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’⋮

10 “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.⋮

11 For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.⋮

12 Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.⋮

13 Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?⋮

14 If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,⋮

15 all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.⋮

16 “If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.⋮

17 Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,⋮

18 who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?⋮

19 He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of his hands.⋮

20 In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.⋮

21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.⋮

22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.⋮

23 For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.⋮

24 He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.⋮

25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.⋮

26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;⋮

27 because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,⋮

28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.⋮

29 When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,⋮

30 that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.⋮

31 “For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.⋮

32 Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?⋮

33 Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.⋮

34 Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:⋮

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’⋮

36 I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.⋮

37 For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”⋮