Job 34:1
Moreover Elihu answered, and said,
Job 34:2
Hear my words, ye wise men, and give ear to me, ye who have knowledge.
Job 34:3
For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.
Job 34:4
Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
Job 34:5
For Job has said, I am righteous, and God has taken away my right.
Job 34:6
Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
Job 34:7
What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water,
Job 34:8
saying, I have not sinned, nor committed unrighteousness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity to go with the profane.
Job 34:9
For thou should not say, There shall be no visitation to a man, whereas visitation is to him from the Lord.
Job 34:10
Therefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding. Far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and pervert righteousness before the Almighty.
Job 34:11
For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
Job 34:12
Yea, certainly God will not do wrong. Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
Job 34:13
Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who has disposed the whole world?
Job 34:14
If he sets his heart upon himself, if he gathers his spirit and his breath to himself,
Job 34:15
all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again to dust.
Job 34:16
If now thou be understanding, hear this. Hearken to the voice of words.
Job 34:17
Behold thou him who hates lawlessness, and who destroys evil men, who is forever righteousness,
Job 34:18
him who says to a king, Thou are vile, to ranking men, Ye are wicked,
Job 34:19
who does not respect the persons of rulers, nor regards the rich more than the poor. For they all are the work of his hands.
Job 34:20
In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.
Job 34:21
For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his goings.
Job 34:22
There is no darkness, nor thick gloom where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
Job 34:23
For he needs no further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment.
Job 34:24
He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their stead.
Job 34:25
Therefore he takes knowledge of their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
Job 34:26
He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others
Job 34:27
because they turned aside from following him, and would not have regard in any of his ways,
Job 34:28
so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted.
Job 34:29
When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hides his face, who then can behold him? It is the same whether to a nation, or to a man,
Job 34:30
that the profane man not reign, that there be none to ensnare the people.
Job 34:31
For has any said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.
Job 34:32
Teach thou me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
Job 34:33
Shall his recompense be as thou desire, that thou refuse it? For thou must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what thou know.
Job 34:34
Men of understanding will say to me, yes, every wise man who hears me,
Job 34:35
Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.
Job 34:36
But surely not. Learn thou Job not to still give an answer like the foolish,
Job 34:37
so that we may not add to our sins, and lawlessness will be reckoned against us, speaking many words before the Lord.