Job 34:1–20
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.