Job 34

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say:	1 Then Elihu continued and said:
2 May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me.	2 Hear, O wise men, my discourse, and you that have knowledge, hear me!
3 For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste.	3 For the ear tests words, as the taste does food.
4 Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best.	4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn between us what is good.
5 For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment.	5 For Job has said, "I am innocent, but God has taken what is my due.
6 For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.”	6 Notwithstanding my right I am set at nought; in my wound the arrow rankles, sinless though I am."
7 What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water,	7 What man is like Job? He drinks in blasphemies like water,
8 who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men?	8 Keeps company with evildoers and goes along with wicked men,
9 For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.”	9 When he says, "It profits a man nought that he is pleasing to God."
10 Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.	10 Therefore, men of understanding, hearken to me: far be it from God to do wickedness; far from the Almighty to do wrong!
11 For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them.	11 Rather, he requites men for their conduct, and brings home to a man his way of life.
12 For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment.	12 Surely, God cannot act wickedly, the Almighty cannot violate justice.
13 What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made?	13 Who gave him government over the earth, or who else set all the land in its place?
14 But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself.	14 If he were to take back his spirit to himself, withdraw to himself his breath,
15 All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes.	15 All flesh would perish together, and man would return to the dust.
16 Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence.	16 Now, do you, O Job, hear this! Hearken to the words I speak!
17 Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just?	17 Can an enemy of justice indeed be in control, or will you condemn the supreme Just One,
18 He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious.	18 Who says to a king, "You are worthless!" and to nobles, "You are wicked!"
19 He does not accept the reputation of leaders; nor does he recognize the tyrant as he contends against the poor. For all are the work of his hands.	19 Who neither favors the person of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor? For they are all the work of his hands;
20 They will die suddenly, and the people will be troubled in the middle of the night, but they will pass through it, and the violent will be taken away without a hand.	20 in a moment they die, even at midnight. He brings on nobles, and takes them away, removing the powerful without lifting a hand;
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps.	21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he beholds all his steps.
22 There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden.	22 There is no darkness so dense that evildoers can hide in it.
23 For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God.	23 For he forewarns no man of his time to come before God in judgment.
24 He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place.	24 Without a trial he breaks the mighty, and sets others in their stead,
25 For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed.	25 Therefore he discerns their works; he turns at night and crushes them.
26 Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen.
27 They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways,	27 Because they turned away from him and heeded none of his ways,
28 so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor.	28 But caused the cries of the poor to reach him, so that he heard the plea of the afflicted.
29 For, when he grants peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hides his face, who is there that can contemplate him, either among the nations, or among all men?	29 If he remains tranquil, who then can condemn? If he hides his face, who then can behold him?
30 He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people.
31 Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same.	31 When anyone says to God, "I was misguided; I will offend no more.
32 If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more.	32 Teach me wherein I have sinned; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more,"
33 Does God require this of you because it is displeasing to you? For you were the first to speak, and not I. But if you know something better, speak.	33 Would you then say that God must punish, since you reject what he is doing? It is you who must choose, not I; speak, therefore, what you know.
34 Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me.	34 Men of understanding will say to me, every wise man who hears my views:
35 But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching.	35 "Job speaks without intelligence, and his words are without sense."
36 My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity.	36 Let Job be tried to the limit, since his answers are those of the impious;
37 For he adds blasphemy on top of his sins; nevertheless, let him be constrained to be among us, and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.	37 For he is adding rebellion to his sin by brushing off our arguments and addressing many words to God.