Chapter 34

Furthermore Elihu answered⁴ and said,⁴

Hear³ my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear⁵⁴ unto me, ye that have knowledge.⁶

For the ear trieth⁴ words, as the mouth tasteth⁴ meat.²

Let us choose⁴ to us judgment: let us know⁴ among ourselves what [is] good.

For Job hath said,¹ I am righteous:¹ and God hath taken away⁵² my judgment.

Should I lie¹⁷ against my right? my wound [is] incurable⁷ without transgression.

What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh⁴ up scorning like water?

Which goeth¹ in company with the workers⁶ of iniquity, and walketh² with wicked men.

For he hath said,¹ It profiteth⁴ a man nothing that he should delight² himself with God.

Therefore hearken³ 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.

For the work of a man shall he render¹⁷ unto him, and cause every man to find⁵⁵ according to [his] ways.

Yea, surely God will not do wickedly,⁵⁵ neither will the Almighty pervert¹⁷ judgment.

Who hath given him a charge¹ over the earth? or who hath disposed¹ the whole world?

If he set⁴ his heart upon man, [if] he gather⁴ unto himself his spirit and his breath;

All flesh shall perish⁴ together, and man shall turn again⁴ unto dust.

If now [thou hast] understanding, hear³ this: hearken⁵⁴ to the voice of my words.

Shall even he that hateth⁶ right govern?⁴ and wilt thou condemn⁵⁵ him that is most just?

[Is it fit] to say² to a king, [Thou art] wicked? [and] to princes, [Ye are] ungodly?

[How much less to him] that accepteth¹ not the persons of princes, nor regardeth¹⁴ the rich more than the poor? for they all [are] the work of his hands.

In a moment shall they die,⁴ and the people shall be troubled²⁹ at midnight, ³⁹¹⁵ and pass away:⁴ and the mighty shall be taken away⁵⁵ without hand.

For his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth⁴ all his goings.

[There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers⁶ of iniquity may hide⁹ themselves.

For he will not lay⁴ upon man more [than right]; that he should enter² into judgment with God.

He shall break in pieces⁴ mighty men without number, and set⁵⁵ others in their stead.

Therefore he knoweth⁵⁵ their works, and he overturneth¹ [them] in the night, so that they are destroyed.¹⁰¹

He striketh¹ them as wicked men in the open sight⁶ of others;

Because they turned back¹ from him, and would not consider⁵² any of his ways:

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come⁵³ unto him, and he heareth⁴ the cry of the afflicted.

When he giveth quietness,⁵⁵ who then can make trouble?⁵⁵ and when he hideth⁵⁵ [his] face, who then can behold⁴ him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man only:

That the hypocrite ²⁶¹¹ reign² not, lest the people be ensnared.

Surely it is meet to be said⁹ unto God, I have borne¹ [chastisement], I will not offend⁴ [any more]:

[That which] I see⁴ not teach⁵⁴ thou me: if I have done¹ iniquity, I will do⁵⁵ no more.

[Should it be] according to thy mind? he will recompense¹⁷ it, whether thou refuse,¹ or whether thou choose;⁴ and not I: therefore speak¹⁶ what thou knowest.¹

Let men of understanding tell⁴ me, and let a wise man hearken⁶ unto me.

Job hath spoken¹⁷ without knowledge, and his words [were] without wisdom.⁵³

My desire ¹ [is that] Job may be tried¹¹ unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men.

For he addeth⁵⁵ rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth⁴ [his hands] among us, and multiplieth⁵⁵ his words against God.