Job 34

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,	1 Then Elihu continued and said:
2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.	2 Hear, O wise men, my discourse, and you that have knowledge, hear me!
3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.	3 For the ear tests words, as the taste does food.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.	4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn between us what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.	5 For Job has said, "I am innocent, but God has taken what is my due.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.	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, who drinketh up scorning like water?	7 What man is like Job? He drinks in blasphemies like water,
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.	8 Keeps company with evildoers and goes along with wicked men,
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.	9 When he says, "It profits a man nought that he is pleasing to 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 Therefore, men of understanding, hearken to me: far be it from God to do wickedness; far from the Almighty to do wrong!
11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.	11 Rather, he requites men for their conduct, and brings home to a man his way of life.
12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.	12 Surely, God cannot act wickedly, the Almighty cannot violate justice.
13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?	13 Who gave him government over the earth, or who else set all the land in its place?
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;	14 If he were to take back his spirit to himself, withdraw to himself his breath,
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.	15 All flesh would perish together, and man would return to the dust.
16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.	16 Now, do you, O Job, hear this! Hearken to the words I speak!
17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?	17 Can an enemy of justice indeed be in control, or will you condemn the supreme Just One,
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 worthless!" 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 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 shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without 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 man, and he seeth all his goings.	21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he beholds all his steps.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.	22 There is no darkness so dense that evildoers can hide in it.
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.	23 For he forewarns no man of his time to come before God in judgment.
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.	24 Without a trial he breaks the mighty, and sets others in their stead,
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.	25 Therefore he discerns their works; he turns at night and crushes them.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:	27 Because they turned away from him and heeded none 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 But caused the cries of the poor to reach him, so that he heard the plea 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 If he remains tranquil, who then can condemn? If he hides his face, who then can behold him?
30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:	31 When anyone says to God, "I was misguided; I will offend no more.
32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.	32 Teach me wherein I have sinned; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more,"
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 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 tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.	34 Men of understanding will say to me, every wise man who hears my views:
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.	35 "Job speaks without intelligence, and his words are without sense."
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.	36 Let Job be tried to the limit, since his answers are those of the impious;
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.	37 For he is adding rebellion to his sin by brushing off our arguments and addressing many words to God.