NHEBJE - Job - 34

34:1  Moreover Elihu answered,

34:2  "Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

34:3  For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.

34:4  Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

34:5  For Job has said, 'I am righteous, God has taken away my right:

34:6  Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.'

34:7  What man is like Job, who drinks scorn 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 profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.'

34:10  "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.

34:11  For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

34:12  Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

34:13  Who put him in charge of the earth? or who has appointed him over the whole world?

34:14  If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,

34:15  all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

34:16  "If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

34:17  Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?-

34:18  Who says to a king, 'Vile!' or to nobles, 'Wicked!'?

34:19  Who doesn't respect the persons of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands.

34:20  In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.

34:21  "For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.

34:22  There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

34:23  For he doesn't need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

34:24  He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

34:25  Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

34:26  He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

34:27  because they turned aside from following him, and wouldn't pay attention to any of his ways,

34:28  so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.

34:29  When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,

34:30  that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

34:31  "For has any said to God, 'I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

34:32  Teach me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

34:33  Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

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

34:35  'Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.'

34:36  I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

34:37  For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God."