Job 34

1Then Elihu answered and said:

2Hear my words, you wise men, and listen to me, you who know.

3For the ear tests words, as the palate tastes food.

4Let us choose for ourselves what is just; let us discern among ourselves what is good.

5For Job has said, “I am in the right, and God has taken away my right.”

6Would I lie about my right? My arrow is incurable, though I have not transgressed.

7What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water?

8and keeps company with evildoers, and walks with wicked men.

9For he has said, “A man gains nothing by taking pleasure in God.”

10Therefore, men of understanding, listen to me: far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to do wrong.

11For he repays a man for his deed, and causes each one to find what his way deserves.

12Indeed, God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

13Who appointed him over the earth, and who put the whole world under his charge?

14If he should set his heart on it and gather his spirit and his breath back to himself,

15all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.

16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

17Can one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the righteous and mighty One?

18Is it fitting to say to a king, “Worthless one!” or to nobles, “Wicked ones!”?

19who shows no partiality to princes and does not regard the rich above the poor, for all of them are the work of his hands.

20In a moment they die; at midnight a people is shaken and passes away; the mighty are removed, not by human hand.

21For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.

22There is no darkness and no deep shadow where workers of wickedness may hide themselves.

23For he does not set a time for a man to go before God in judgment.

24He shatters the mighty without investigation, and sets others in their place.

25Therefore he recognizes their deeds; he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.

26He strikes them as wicked people in full view.

27because they turned away from following him and gave no thought to any of his ways.

28so as to bring before him the cry of the poor, and he hears the cry of the afflicted.

29If he gives quietness, who can condemn? If he hides his face, who can see him? This is so for a nation and for a man alike.

30lest a godless man reign, because of the snares of the people.

31For has anyone said to God, “I have borne punishment; I will not do wrong?”

32“What I do not see, teach me; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.”

33Should he repay on your terms because you have rejected it? For you must choose, and not I; so say what you know.

34Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who listens to me will say:

35Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without understanding.

36Oh, let Job be tested to the limit because of his answers like those of wicked men.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin; among us he claps his hands, and he multiplies his words against God.