Job 34

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Elihu continued his speech. He said:	1 Then Elihu continued and said:
2 And now, you sages, listen to what I say, lend me your ears, you learned men.	2 Hear, O wise men, my discourse, and you that have knowledge, hear me!
3 The ear distinguishes the value of what is said, just as the palate can tel one food from another.	3 For the ear tests words, as the taste does food.
4 Let us consider together God's ruling and decide what we all mean by good.	4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn between us what is good.
5 Job has been saying, 'I am upright and God denies me fair judgement.	5 For Job has said, "I am innocent, but God has taken what is my due.
6 My judge is treating me cruel y, my wound is incurable, for no fault of mine.'	6 Notwithstanding my right I am set at nought; in my wound the arrow rankles, sinless though I am."
7 Can anyone else exist like Job, who laps up mockery like water,	7 What man is like Job? He drinks in blasphemies like water,
8 who consorts with evil-doers and marches in step with the wicked?	8 Keeps company with evildoers and goes along with wicked men,
9 Did he not say, 'No one derives any benefit from enjoying the society of God'?	9 When he says, "It profits a man nought that he is pleasing to God."
10 Listen to me then, like intel igent people. Far be evil from God or injustice from Shaddai!	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 pays people back for what they do, treating each as his own conduct deserves.	11 Rather, he requites men for their conduct, and brings home to a man his way of life.
12 Be sure of it: God never does wrong, Shaddai does not pervert what is just.	12 Surely, God cannot act wickedly, the Almighty cannot violate justice.
13 Did someone else entrust the world to his care was he given charge of the universe by someoneelse?	13 Who gave him government over the earth, or who else set all the land in its place?
14 If he were to recal his spirit, to concentrate his breath back in himself,	14 If he were to take back his spirit to himself, withdraw to himself his breath,
15 all flesh would instantly perish and al people would return to dust.	15 All flesh would perish together, and man would return to the dust.
16 If you have any intel igence, listen to this, lend your ear to the sound of my words.	16 Now, do you, O Job, hear this! Hearken to the words I speak!
17 Could an enemy of fair judgement ever govern? Would you dare condemn the Upright One, theAlmighty,	17 Can an enemy of justice indeed be in control, or will you condemn the supreme Just One,
18 who says to a king, 'You are a scoundrel!' and to nobles, 'You are wicked!',	18 Who says to a king, "You are worthless!" and to nobles, "You are wicked!"
19 who is unimpressed by princes and makes no distinction between rich and poor, since al alike havebeen made by him?	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 die suddenly, at dead of night, they perish -- these great ones -- and disappear: it costs him noeffort to remove a tyrant.	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 keep watch on human ways, and he observes every step.	21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he beholds all his steps.
22 No darkness, no shadow dark as death where wrong-doers can hide!	22 There is no darkness so dense that evildoers can hide in it.
23 He serves no writ on anyone, no summons to appear before God's court:	23 For he forewarns no man of his time to come before God in judgment.
24 he breaks the powerful without enquiry and sets up others in their places.	24 Without a trial he breaks the mighty, and sets others in their stead,
25 He knows the sort of things they do! He overthrows them at night, to be trampled on.	25 Therefore he discerns their works; he turns at night and crushes them.
26 He beats them like criminals chained up for al to see,
27 since they have turned their backs on him, having understood so little of his ways	27 Because they turned away from him and heeded none of his ways,
28 as to make the cries of the weak rise to him and let him hear the appeal of the afflicted.	28 But caused the cries of the poor to reach him, so that he heard the plea of the afflicted.
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,	29 If he remains tranquil, who then can condemn? If he hides his face, who then can behold him?
30 is setting some wrong-doer free from the meshes of affliction.
31 When such a one says to God, 'I was misled, I shal not do wrong any more;	31 When anyone says to God, "I was misguided; I will offend no more.
32 although I have sinned, instruct me; although I did wrong, I will not do it again,'	32 Teach me wherein I have sinned; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more,"
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!	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 Ordinary sensible people, however, wil say to me, and so wil any sage who has been listening tome,	34 Men of understanding will say to me, every wise man who hears my views:
35 'Job's words are spoken without any knowledge, what he says shows no intel igence.	35 "Job speaks without intelligence, and his words are without sense."
36 Kindly examine him thoroughly, since his answers imply that he is a criminal.	36 Let Job be tried to the limit, since his answers are those of the impious;
37 For to his sin he now adds rebellion, bringing law to an end among us and heaping abuse on God.'	37 For he is adding rebellion to his sin by brushing off our arguments and addressing many words to God.