34:1 Then Elihu said:
34:2 “Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.
34:3 For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.
34:4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
34:5 “Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God denies me justice.
34:6 Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’
34:7 What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water?
34:8 He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with wicked men.
34:9 For he says, ‘It profits a man nothing when he tries to please God.’
34:10 “So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
34:11 He repays a man for what he has done; he brings upon him what his conduct deserves.
34:12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.
34:13 Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world?
34:14 If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath,
34:15 all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust.
34:16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.
34:17 Can he who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
34:18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
34:19 who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
34:20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
34:21 “His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step.
34:22 There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide.
34:23 God has no need to examine men further, that they should come before him for judgment.
34:24 Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place.
34:25 Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
34:26 He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them,
34:27 because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways.
34:28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy.
34:29 But if he remains silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he is over man and nation alike,
34:30 to keep a godless man from ruling, from laying snares for the people.
34:31 “Suppose a man says to God, ‘I am guilty but will offend no more.
34:32 Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
34:33 Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.
34:34 “Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me,
34:35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
34:36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man!
34:37 To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
34:1 Then Elihu continued and said,
34:2 Hear my words, you wise men; / And you who know, give ear to me.
34:3 For the ear tries words / As the palate 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 righteous, / And God has taken away my right;
34:6 Should I lie against my right? / My arrow wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
34:7 What man is like Job, / Who drinks up scoffing like water,
34:8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity / And walks with wicked men?
34:9 For he has said, It does not profit a man / To delight himself in God.
34:10 Therefore, you men of understanding, hear me: / Far be it from God that He would do evil, / And from the Almighty that He would commit iniquity.
34:11 For He will render a man’s work to him / And will cause a man to find that which is according to his own way.
34:12 Indeed in all certainty God will not do evil, / And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
34:13 Who has ever put the earth in His charge? / Or who has ever set in order the whole world?
34:14 If He were to consider Himself only, / He would gather back to Himself His spirit and His breath;
34:15 All flesh would perish together, / And man would return to dust.
34:16 If then you have understanding, hear this; / Give ear to the voice of my words.
34:17 Shall one who hates justice govern? / And will you condemn the just and mighty One,
34:18 He who says to a king, You worthless one! / And to nobles, You wicked one!
34:19 He who does not respect the persons of princes, / Nor regard the rich man more than the poor, / For they are all the work of His hands?
34:20 In a moment they die, and in the middle of the night / The people are shaken, and they pass away; / And the mighty are taken away, but by no human hand.
34:21 For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, / And He sees all his steps.
34:22 There is no darkness and no shadow of death / Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
34:23 For He does not need to consider a man further, / That he should go to God in litigation.
34:24 He breaks mighty men in pieces without inquiry / And puts others in their stead.
34:25 Hence He knows their actions, / And He overturns them in the night so that they are crushed.
34:26 He strikes them as He would evil men, / In a place where all can see;
34:27 Because they turned aside from following after Him / And would not regard any of His ways,
34:28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, / And He heard the cry of the afflicted.
34:29 When He is silent, who can condemn Him? / When He hides His face, who can behold Him? / He does so toward a nation and toward a man alike,
34:30 That no profane man would reign, that there would be no snares for the / people.
34:31 For has anyone ever said to God, / I have borne chastisement; I will offend no more;
34:32 What I do not see teach me; / If I have committed iniquity, I will do it no more?
34:33 Should He recompense to fit you, since you have rejected it? / For you must choose, and not I. / So speak what you know.
34:34 Men of understanding will say to me, / As well as the man of wisdom who hears me,
34:35 Job has spoken without knowledge, / And his words are without insight.
34:36 I wish that Job were tried to the limit / Because of his answering like evil men.
34:37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; / Among us he claps his hands / And multiplies his words against God.