NETtext - Job - 34

34:1  Elihu answered:

34:2  "Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you learned men.

34:3  For the ear assesses words as the mouth tastes food.

34:4  Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right; let us come to know among ourselves what is good.

34:5  For Job says, 'I am innocent, but God turns away my right.

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 derision like water!

34:8  He goes about in company with evildoers, he goes along 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. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil.

34:11  For he repays a person for his work, and according to the conduct of a person, he causes the consequences to find him.

34:12  Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

34:13  Who entrusted to him the earth? And who put him over the whole world?

34:14  If God were to set his heart on it, and gather in his spirit and his breath,

34:15  all flesh would perish together and human beings would return to dust.

34:16  "If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say.

34:17  Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely righteous One,

34:18  who says to a king, 'Worthless man' and to nobles, 'Wicked men,'

34:19  who shows no partiality to princes, and does not take note of the rich more than the poor, because all of them are the work of his hands?

34:20  In a moment they die, in the middle of the night, people are shaken and they pass away. The mighty are removed effortlessly.

34:21  For his eyes are on the ways of an individual, he observes all a person's steps.

34:22  There is no darkness, and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.

34:23  For he does not still consider a person, that he should come before God in judgment.

34:24  He shatters the great without inquiry, and sets up others in their place.

34:25  Therefore, he knows their deeds, he overthrows 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 have turned away from following him, and have not understood any of his ways,

34:28  so that they caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he hears the cry of the needy.

34:29  But if God is quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, then who can see him? Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike,

34:30  so that the godless man should not rule, and not lay snares for the people.

34:31  "Has anyone said to God, 'I have endured chastisement, but I will not act wrongly any more.

34:32  Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will do so no more.'

34:33  Is it your opinion that God should recompense it, because you reject this? But you must choose, and not I, so tell us what you know.

34:34  Men of understanding say to me - any wise man listening to me says -

34:35  that Job speaks without knowledge and his words are without understanding.

34:36  But Job will be tested to the end, because his answers are like those of wicked men.

34:37  For he adds transgression to his sin; in our midst he claps his hands, and multiplies his words against God."