Job 34

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Then Elihu continued and said:	1 After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say:
2 Hear, O wise men, my discourse, and you that have knowledge, hear me!	2 May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me.
3 For the ear tests words, as the taste does food.	3 For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste.
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn between us 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, but God has taken what is my due.	5 For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment.
6 Notwithstanding my right I am set at nought; in my wound the arrow rankles, sinless though I am."	6 For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.”
7 What man is like Job? He drinks in blasphemies like water,	7 What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water,
8 Keeps company with evildoers and goes along with wicked men,	8 who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men?
9 When he says, "It profits a man nought that he is pleasing to God."	9 For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.”
10 Therefore, men of understanding, hearken to me: far be it from God to do wickedness; far from the Almighty to do wrong!	10 Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.
11 Rather, he requites men for their conduct, and brings home to a man his way of life.	11 For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them.
12 Surely, God cannot act wickedly, the Almighty cannot violate justice.	12 For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment.
13 Who gave him government over the earth, or who else set all the land in its place?	13 What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made?
14 If he were to take back his spirit to himself, withdraw 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 the dust.	15 All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes.
16 Now, do you, O Job, hear this! Hearken to the words I speak!	16 Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence.
17 Can an enemy of justice indeed be in control, or will you condemn the supreme Just One,	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, "You are worthless!" and to nobles, "You are wicked!"	18 He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious.
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;	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, even at midnight. He brings on nobles, and takes them away, removing the powerful without lifting a 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 man, and he beholds all his steps.	21 For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps.
22 There is no darkness so dense that evildoers can hide in it.	22 There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden.
23 For he forewarns no man of his time to come before God in judgment.	23 For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God.
24 Without a trial he breaks the mighty, and sets others in their stead,	24 He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place.
25 Therefore he discerns their works; he turns at night and crushes them.	25 For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed.
	26 Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen.
27 Because they turned away from him and heeded none of his ways,	27 They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways,
28 But caused the cries of the poor to reach him, so that he heard the plea 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 If he remains tranquil, who then can condemn? If he hides his face, who then can behold him?	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 He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people.
31 When anyone says to God, "I was misguided; I will offend no more.	31 Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same.
32 Teach me wherein I have sinned; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more,"	32 If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add 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.	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, every wise man who hears my views:	34 Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me.
35 "Job speaks without intelligence, and his words are without sense."	35 But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching.
36 Let Job be tried to the limit, since his answers are those of the impious;	36 My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity.
37 For he is adding rebellion to his sin by brushing off our arguments and addressing many words to 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.