Job 34: 1 - 35: 16
1Moreover Elihu answered, |
2“Hear my words, you wise men. |
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge. |
3For the ear tries words, |
as the palate tastes food. |
4Let us choose for us that which is right. |
Let us know amongst ourselves what is good. |
5For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, |
God has taken away my right: |
6Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. |
My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’ |
7What man is like Job, |
who drinks scorn like water, |
8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, |
and walks with wicked men? |
9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing |
that he should delight himself with God.’ |
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. |
11For the work of a man he will render to him, |
and cause every man to find according to his ways. |
12Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, |
neither will the Almighty pervert justice. |
13Who put him in charge of the earth? |
Or who has appointed him over the whole world? |
14If he set his heart on himself, |
if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath, |
15all flesh would perish together, |
and man would turn again to dust. |
16“If now you have understanding, hear this. |
Listen to the voice of my words. |
17Should even one who hates justice govern? |
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?— |
18Who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ |
or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’? |
19He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, |
nor respect the rich more than the poor; |
for they all are the work of his hands. |
20In a moment they die, even at midnight. |
The people are shaken and pass away. |
The mighty are taken away without a hand. |
21“For his eyes are on the ways of a man. |
He sees all his goings. |
22There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, |
where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. |
23For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, |
that he should go before God in judgement. |
24He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, |
and sets others in their place. |
25Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. |
He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed. |
26He strikes them as wicked men |
in the open sight of others; |
27because they turned away from following him, |
and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways, |
28so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. |
He heard the cry of the afflicted. |
29When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? |
When he hides his face, who then can see him? |
He is over a nation or a man alike, |
30that the godless man may not reign, |
that there be no one to ensnare the people. |
31“For has any said to God, |
‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more. |
32Teach me that which I don’t see. |
If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’? |
33Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? |
For you must choose, and not I. |
Therefore speak what you know. |
34Men of understanding will tell me, |
yes, every wise man who hears me: |
35‘Job speaks without knowledge. |
His words are without wisdom.’ |
36I wish that Job were tried to the end, |
because of his answering like wicked men. |
37For he adds rebellion to his sin. |
He claps his hands amongst us, |
and multiplies his words against God.” |
1Moreover Elihu answered, |
2“Do you think this to be your right, |
or do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s,’ |
3that you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? |
What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’ |
4I will answer you, |
and your companions with you. |
5Look to the skies, and see. |
See the skies, which are higher than you. |
6If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? |
If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? |
7If you are righteous, what do you give him? |
Or what does he receive from your hand? |
8Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, |
and your righteousness may profit a son of man. |
9“By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. |
They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty. |
10But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, |
who gives songs in the night, |
11who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, |
and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’ |
12There they cry, but no one answers, |
because of the pride of evil men. |
13Surely God will not hear an empty cry, |
neither will the Almighty regard it. |
14How much less when you say you don’t see him. |
The cause is before him, and you wait for him! |
15But now, because he has not visited in his anger, |
neither does he greatly regard arrogance, |
16therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, |
and he multiplies words without knowledge.” |
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