Job 34

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,	1 Elihu continued his speech. He said:
2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.	2 And now, you sages, listen to what I say, lend me your ears, you learned men.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.	3 The ear distinguishes the value of what is said, just as the palate can tel one food from another.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.	4 Let us consider together God's ruling and decide what we all mean by good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.	5 Job has been saying, 'I am upright and God denies me fair judgement.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.	6 My judge is treating me cruel y, my wound is incurable, for no fault of mine.'
7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?	7 Can anyone else exist like Job, who laps up mockery like water,
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.	8 who consorts with evil-doers and marches in step with the wicked?
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.	9 Did he not say, 'No one derives any benefit from enjoying the society of God'?
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.	10 Listen to me then, like intel igent people. Far be evil from God or injustice from Shaddai!
11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.	11 For he pays people back for what they do, treating each as his own conduct deserves.
12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.	12 Be sure of it: God never does wrong, Shaddai does not pervert what is just.
13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?	13 Did someone else entrust the world to his care was he given charge of the universe by someoneelse?
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;	14 If he were to recal his spirit, to concentrate his breath back in himself,
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.	15 all flesh would instantly perish and al people would return to dust.
16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.	16 If you have any intel igence, listen to this, lend your ear to the sound of my words.
17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?	17 Could an enemy of fair judgement ever govern? Would you dare condemn the Upright One, theAlmighty,
18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?	18 who says to a king, 'You are a scoundrel!' and to nobles, 'You are wicked!',
19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.	19 who is unimpressed by princes and makes no distinction between rich and poor, since al alike havebeen made by him?
20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.	20 They die suddenly, at dead of night, they perish -- these great ones -- and disappear: it costs him noeffort to remove a tyrant.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.	21 For his eyes keep watch on human ways, and he observes every step.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.	22 No darkness, no shadow dark as death where wrong-doers can hide!
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.	23 He serves no writ on anyone, no summons to appear before God's court:
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.	24 he breaks the powerful without enquiry and sets up others in their places.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.	25 He knows the sort of things they do! He overthrows them at night, to be trampled on.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;	26 He beats them like criminals chained up for al to see,
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:	27 since they have turned their backs on him, having understood so little 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.	28 as to make the cries of the weak rise to him and let him hear the appeal of the afflicted.
29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:	29 But if he is stil silent and no one can move him, if he veils his face, so that no one can see him, he istaking pity on nations and individuals,
30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.	30 is setting some wrong-doer free from the meshes of affliction.
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:	31 When such a one says to God, 'I was misled, I shal not do wrong any more;
32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.	32 although I have sinned, instruct me; although I did wrong, I will not do it again,'
33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.	33 in your opinion, should he punish such a one -- you who have rejected his decisions? This is for youto decide -- not for me!- so kindly enlighten us!
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.	34 Ordinary sensible people, however, wil say to me, and so wil any sage who has been listening tome,
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.	35 'Job's words are spoken without any knowledge, what he says shows no intel igence.
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.	36 Kindly examine him thoroughly, since his answers imply that he is a criminal.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.	37 For to his sin he now adds rebellion, bringing law to an end among us and heaping abuse on God.'