Job 34

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Then Elihu said:	1 After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say:
2 "Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;	2 May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me.
3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.	3 For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste.
4 Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.	4 Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best.
5 For Job has said, 'I am innocent, and God has taken away my right;	5 For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment.
6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'	6 For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.”
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,	7 What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water,
8 who goes in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?	8 who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men?
9 For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.'	9 For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.”
10 "Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding, far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.	10 Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.
11 For according to the work of a man he will requite him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.	11 For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them.
12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.	12 For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment.
13 Who gave him charge over the earth and who laid on him the whole world?	13 What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made?
14 If he should take back his spirit to himself, and gather to himself his breath,	14 But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself.
15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.	15 All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes.
16 "If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.	16 Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence.
17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,	17 Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just?
18 who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' and to nobles, 'Wicked man';	18 He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious.
19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?	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.
20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.	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.
21 "For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.	21 For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps.
22 There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.	22 There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden.
23 For he has not appointed a time for any man to go before God in judgment.	23 For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God.
24 He shatters the mighty without investigation, and sets others in their place.	24 He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.	25 For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness in the sight of men,	26 Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen.
27 because they turned aside from following him, and had no regard for any of his ways,	27 They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways,
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted--	28 so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor.
29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?--	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?
30 that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people.	30 He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people.
31 "For has any one said to God, 'I have borne chastisement; I will not offend any more;	31 Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same.
32 teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?	32 If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more.
33 Will he then make requital to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.	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.
34 Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:	34 Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me.
35 'Job speaks without knowledge, his words are without insight.'	35 But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching.
36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.	36 My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God."	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.