Chapter 34

  Moreover Elihu answered and said,  

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  Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.  

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  For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.  

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  Let us choose for us that which is right: Let us know among ourselves what is good.  

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  For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:  

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  Notwithstanding my right I am [accounted] a liar; My wound is incurable, [though I am] without transgression.  

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  What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scoffing like water,  

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  Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?  

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  For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.  

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  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.  

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  For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.  

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  Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.  

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  Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?  

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  If he set his heart upon himself, [If] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;  

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  All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.  

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  If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.  

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  Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous [and] mighty?-  

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  [Him] that saith to a king, [Thou art] vile, [Or] to nobles, [Ye are] wicked;  

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  That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.  

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  In a moment they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without hand.  

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  For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.  

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  There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.  

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  For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.  

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  He breaketh in pieces mighty men [in ways] past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.  

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  Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.  

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  He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;  

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  Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:  

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  So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.  

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  When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether [it be done] unto a nation, or unto a man:  

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  That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.  

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  For hath any said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:  

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  That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?  

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  Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.  

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  Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:  

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  Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.  

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  Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.  

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  For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.  

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