Chapter 34

  Moreover Elihu answered,  

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  'Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.  

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  For the ear tries words, As the palate tastes 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 has said, 'I am righteous, God has taken away my right:  

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  Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.'  

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

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  Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?  

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  For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.'  

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  'Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, From the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.  

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

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  Yes surely, 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 has appointed him over the whole world?  

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  If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath;  

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  All flesh would perish together, And man would turn again to dust.  

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  'If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.  

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  Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?--  

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  Who says to a king, 'Vile!' Or to nobles, 'Wicked!'  

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  Who doesn't respect the persons of princes, Nor regards 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, The mighty are taken away without hand.  

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  'For his eyes are on the ways of a man, He sees 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 doesn't need to consider a man further, That he should go before God in judgment.  

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  He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, And sets others in their place.  

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  Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.  

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

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  Because they turned aside from following him, And wouldn't have regard in any of his ways:  

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  So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, He heard the cry of the afflicted.  

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  When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man:  

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  That the godless man may not reign, That there be no one to ensnare the people.  

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  'For has any said to God, 'I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.  

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  Teach me that which I don't see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?  

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  Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.  

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  Men of understanding will tell me, Yes, every wise man who hears me:  

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  'Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.'  

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  I wish that Job were tried to the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.  

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  For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.'  

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