Job 34:31–37

“Suppose someone says to God,

‘I am guilty but will offend no more.

Teach me what I cannot see;

if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’

Should God then reward you on your terms,

when you refuse to repent?

You must decide, not I;

so tell me what you know.

“Men of understanding declare,

wise men who hear me say to me,

‘Job speaks without knowledge;

his words lack insight.’

Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost

for answering like a wicked man!

To his sin he adds rebellion;

scornfully he claps his hands among us

and multiplies his words against God.”

Suppose someone says to God,

“I have endured my punishment;

I will no longer act wickedly.

Teach me what I cannot see;

if I have done wrong, I won’t do it again.”

Should God repay you on your terms

when you have rejected his?

You must choose, not I!

So declare what you know.

Reasonable men will say to me,

along with the wise men who hear me,

“Job speaks without knowledge;

his words are without insight.”

If only Job were tested to the limit,

because his answers are like those of wicked men.

For he adds rebellion to his sin;

he scornfully claps in our presence,

while multiplying his words against God.

“Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned,

but I will sin no more’?

Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me.

If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’?

“Must God tailor his justice to your demands?

But you have rejected him!

The choice is yours, not mine.

Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.

After all, bright people will tell me,

and wise people will hear me say,

‘Job speaks out of ignorance;

his words lack insight.’

Job, you deserve the maximum penalty

for the wicked way you have talked.

For you have added rebellion to your sin;

you show no respect,

and you speak many angry words against God.”

“Indeed, does anyone say to God, ‘I have endured chastisement;

I will not act corruptly again;

teach me yourself what I cannot see;

if I have done wrong, I will not repeat it’?

According to your judgment, must he repay it because you rejected this?

Indeed, you must choose, and not I, so declare what you know.

Those who have sense say to me,

and the wise man hearing me says:

‘Job speaks without knowledge,

and his words are without insight.

Would that Job were tested up to the end

because his answers are like those from men of mischief,

for he adds transgression to his sin;

he claps hands among us,

and he multiplies his words against God.’ ”

Surely it is meet to be said unto God,

I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

That which I see not teach thou me:

If I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it,

Whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I:

Therefore speak what thou knowest.

Let men of understanding tell me,

And let a wise man hearken unto me.

Job hath spoken without knowledge,

And his words were without wisdom.

My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end

Because of his answers for wicked men.

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin,

He clappeth his hands among us,

And multiplieth his words against God.