Job 34

¹ Moreover Elihu answered and said, ² Hear my words, ye wise men ; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. ³ For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food. ⁴ Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good! ⁵ For Job hath said, I am righteous, and *God hath taken away my judgment: ⁶ Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression. ⁷ What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water, ⁸ And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. ⁹ For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.

¹⁰ Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from *God, and wrong from the Almighty! ¹¹ For a man's work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to his way. ¹² Yea, surely, *God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment. ¹³ Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world? ¹⁴ If he only thought of himself, and gathered unto him his spirit and his breath, ¹⁵ All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.

¹⁶ If now thou hast understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words! ¹⁷ Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just? ¹⁸ Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked? ¹⁹  How then to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich man more than the poor? for they are all the work of his hands. ²⁰ In a moment they die, even at midnight the people are convulsed and pass away; and the strong are taken away without hand. ²¹ For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps. ²² There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. ²³ For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before *God in judgment. ²⁴ He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead; ²⁵ Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth them in the night, and they are crushed. ²⁶ He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others, ²⁷ Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways; ²⁸ So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. ²⁹ When he giveth quietness, who then will disturb? and when he hideth his face, who shall behold him? and this towards a nation, or towards a man alike; ³⁰ That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.

³¹ For hath he said unto *God, I bear chastisement , I will not offend; ³² What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more? ³³ Shall he recompense according to thy mind? for thou hast refused his judgment ; for thou so choosest, and not I; speak then what thou knowest. ³⁴ Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me: ³⁵ Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence. ³⁶ Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of his answers after the manner of evil men! ³⁷ For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against *God.