Job 34

¹ Then Elihu continued and said:

² Hear, O wise men, my discourse, and you that have knowledge, hear me!

³ For the ear tests words, as the taste does food.

⁴ Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn between us what is good.

⁵ For Job has said, "I am innocent, but God has taken what is my due.

⁶ Notwithstanding my right I am set at nought; in my wound the arrow rankles, sinless though I am."

⁷ What man is like Job? He drinks in blasphemies like water,

⁸ Keeps company with evildoers and goes along with wicked men,

⁹ When he says, "It profits a man nought that he is pleasing to God."

¹⁰ Therefore, men of understanding, hearken to me: far be it from God to do wickedness; far from the Almighty to do wrong!

¹¹ Rather, he requites men for their conduct, and brings home to a man his way of life.

¹² Surely, God cannot act wickedly, the Almighty cannot violate justice.

¹³ Who gave him government over the earth, or who else set all the land in its place?

¹⁴ If he were to take back his spirit to himself, withdraw to himself his breath,

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

¹⁶ Now, do you, O Job, hear this! Hearken to the words I speak!

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 worthless!" and to nobles, "You are wicked!"

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 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 man, and he beholds all his steps.

²² There is no darkness so dense that evildoers can hide in it.

²³ For he forewarns no man of his time to come before God in judgment.

²⁴ Without a trial he breaks the mighty, and sets others in their stead,

²⁵ Therefore he discerns their works; he turns at night and crushes them.

²⁷ Because they turned away from him and heeded none of his ways,

²⁸ But caused the cries of the poor to reach him, so that he heard the plea of the afflicted.

²⁹ If he remains tranquil, who then can condemn? If he hides his face, who then can behold him?

³¹ When anyone says to God, "I was misguided; I will offend no more.

³² Teach me wherein I have sinned; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more,"

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 Men of understanding will say to me, every wise man who hears my views:

³⁵ "Job speaks without intelligence, and his words are without sense."

³⁶ Let Job be tried to the limit, since his answers are those of the impious;

³⁷ For he is adding rebellion to his sin by brushing off our arguments and addressing many words to God.