| 1 | Elihu answered (continued his discourse) and said, |
| 2 | Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who have [so much] knowledge. |
| 3 | For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food. |
| 4 | Let us choose for ourselves that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good. |
| 5 | For Job has said, I am [innocent and uncompromisingly] righteous, but God has taken away my right; |
| 6 | Would I lie against my right? Yet, notwithstanding my right, I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression. |
| 7 | What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing
and
scorning like water, |
| 8 | Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity and walks with wicked men? |
| 9 | For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God
and
consent to Him. |
| 10 | Therefore hear me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God that He should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that He should commit iniquity. |
| 11 | For according to the deeds of a man God will [exactly] proportion his pay, and He will cause every man to find [recompense] according to his ways. |
| 12 | Truly God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice. |
| 13 | Who put [God] in charge over the earth? Or who laid on Him the whole world? |
| 14 | If [God] should set His heart upon him [man] and withdraw His [life-giving] spirit and His breath [from man] to Himself, |
| 15 | All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust. |
| 16 | If now you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words. |
| 17 | Is it possible that an enemy of right should govern? And will you condemn Him Who is just
and
mighty? |
| 18 | [God] Who says to a king, You are worthless
and
vile, or to princes
and
nobles, You are ungodly
and
evil? |
| 19 | [God] is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of His hands. |
| 20 | In a moment they die; even at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no [human] hand. |
| 21 | For [God’s] eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. |
| 22 | There is no darkness nor thick gloom where the evildoers may hide themselves. |
| 23 | [God] sets before man no appointed time, that he should appear before [Him] in judgment. |
| 24 | He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry [before a jury]
and
in ways past finding out and sets others in their stead. |
| 25 | Therefore He takes knowledge of their works, and He overturns them in the night, so that they are crushed
and
destroyed. |
| 26 | God strikes them down as wicked men in the open sight of beholders, |
| 27 | Because they turned aside from Him and would not consider
or
show regard for any of His ways, |
| 28 | So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and He heard the cry of the afflicted. |
| 29 | When He gives quietness (peace and security from oppression), who then can condemn? When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make Him gracious], whether it be a nation or a man by himself?— |
| 30 | That the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people. |
| 31 | For has anyone said to God, I have borne my chastisement; I will not offend any more; |
| 32 | Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned]; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more? |
| 33 | Should [God’s] recompense [for your sins] be as you will it, when you refuse to accept it? For you must do the choosing, and not I; therefore say what is your truthful conclusion. |
| 34 | Men of understanding will tell me, indeed, every wise man who hears me [will agree], |
| 35 | That Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom
and
insight. |
| 36 | [Would that Job’s afflictions be continued and] he be tried to the end because of his answering like wicked men! |
| 37 | For he adds rebellion [in his unsubmissive, defiant attitude toward God] to his unacknowledged sin; he claps his hands [in open mockery and contempt of God] among us, and he multiplies his words of accusation against God. |
Cross references:
-
Job 34:5 : Job 33:9.
-
Job 34:15 : Ps. 104:29; Eccl. 12:7.
-
Job 34:21 : Ps. 34:15; Prov. 5:21; Jer. 16:17.
-
Job 34:24 : Dan. 2:21.
-
Job 34:27 : I Sam. 15:11.
-
Job 34:28 : Exod. 22:23; James 5:4.
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