Job 34–35

Chapter 34

¹Moreover Elihu answered and said, ²Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. ³For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food. ⁴Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good! ⁵For Job hath said, I am righteous, and •God hath taken away my judgment: ⁶Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression. ⁷What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water, ⁸And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. ⁹For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.

¹⁰Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from •God, and wrong from the Almighty! ¹¹For a man’s work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to his way. ¹²Yea, surely, •God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment. ¹³Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world? ¹⁴If he only thought of himself, and gathered unto him his spirit and his breath, ¹⁵All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.

¹⁶If now thou hast understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words! ¹⁷Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just? ¹⁸Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked? ¹⁹How then to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich man more than the poor? for they are all the work of his hands. ²⁰In a moment they die, even at midnight the people are convulsed and pass away; and the strong are taken away without hand. ²¹For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps. ²²There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. ²³For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before •God in judgment. ²⁴He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead; ²⁵Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth them in the night, and they are crushed. ²⁶He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others, ²⁷Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways; ²⁸So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. ²⁹When he giveth quietness, who then will disturb? and when he hideth his face, who shall behold him? and this towards a nation, or towards a man alike; ³⁰That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.

³¹For hath he said unto •God, I bear chastisement, I will not offend; ³²What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more? ³³Shall he recompense according to thy mind? for thou hast refused his judgment; for thou so choosest, and not I; speak then what thou knowest. ³⁴Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me: ³⁵Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence. ³⁶Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of his answers after the manner of evil men! ³⁷For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against •God.

Chapter 35

¹Moreover Elihu answered and said, ²Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than •God’s? ³For thou hast asked of what profit it is unto thee: what do I gain more than if I had sinned? ⁴I will reply to thee in words, and to thy companions with thee. ⁵Look unto the heavens and see; and survey the skies: they are higher than thou. ⁶If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? If thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? ⁷If thou be righteous, what givest thou to him? or what doth he receive of thy hand? ⁸Thy wickedness may affect a man as thou art, and thy righteousness a son of man.

⁹By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry; they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty: ¹⁰But none saith, Where is †God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night, ¹¹Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowl of the heavens? ¹²There they cry, and he answereth not, because of the pride of evil men. ¹³Surely •God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

¹⁴Although thou sayest thou dost not see him, judgment is before him, therefore wait for him. ¹⁵But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, doth not Job know his great arrogancy? ¹⁶For Job hath opened his mouth in vanity, and made words abundant without knowledge.