Job 34:1–36:23
34 Elihu further answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men;
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 aFor the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, b‘I am righteous,
But cGod has taken away my justice;
6 dShould I lie concerning my right?
My 1wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
eWho drinks 2scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9 For fhe has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
That he should delight in God.’
10 “Therefore listen to me, you 3men of understanding:
gFar be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 hFor He repays man according to his work,
And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12 Surely God will never do wickedly,
Nor will the Almighty ipervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?
Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If He should set His heart on it,
If He should jgather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 kAll flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words:
17 lShould one who hates justice govern?
Will you mcondemn Him who is most just?
18 nIs it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’
And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19 Yet He ois not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For pthey are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, qin the middle of the night;
The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For rHis eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 sThere is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 tHe breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
27 Because they uturned back from Him,
And vwould not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they wcaused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He xhears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should He repay it according to your terms,
Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I;
Therefore speak what you know.
34 “Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to me:
35 ‘Job yspeaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom.’
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
37 For he adds zrebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.”
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
35 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this is right?
Do you say,
‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For ayou say,
‘What advantage will it be to You?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
And byour companions with you.
5 cLook to the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—
They are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what do you accomplish dagainst Him?
Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
7 eIf you are righteous, what do you give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you,
And your righteousness a son of man.
9 “Because fof the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, g‘Where is God my Maker,
hWho gives songs in the night,
11 Who iteaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
12 jThere they cry out, but He does not answer,
Because of the pride of evil men.
13 kSurely God will not listen to empty talk,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 lAlthough you say you do not see Him,
Yet justice is before Him, and myou must wait for Him.
15 And now, because He has not npunished in His anger,
Nor taken much notice of folly,
16 oTherefore Job opens his mouth in vain;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”
Elihu Proclaims God’s Goodness
36 Elihu also proceeded and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one;
aHe is mighty in strength 1of understanding.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the boppressed.
7 cHe does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But dthey are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
8 And eif they are bound in 2fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—
That they have acted 3defiantly.
10 fHe also opens their ear to 4instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him,
They shall gspend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures.
They shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die 5without hknowledge.
13 “But the hypocrites in heart istore up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
And their life ends among the 7perverted persons.
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,
And opens their ears in oppression.
16 “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,
kInto a broad place where there is no restraint;
And lwhat is set on your table would be full of mrichness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the nwicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For oa large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 pWill your riches,
Or all the mighty forces,
Keep you from distress?
When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, qdo not turn to iniquity,
For ryou have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 “Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
23 sWho has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, ‘You have done twrong’?