Job 34

Elihu Asserts God's Justice

1 Furthermore, Elihu answered and said,

2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 3 For the ear tries words, as the mouth tastes food. 4 Let us choose our judgment; let us know among ourselves what is good. 5 For Job has said, I am righteous; and God has taken away my right. 6 In my judgment he was a liar, my arrow wound is grievous without my having committed a transgression. 7 What man is like Job, who drinks up the scorn like water? 8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men. 9 For he said, It shall profit a man nothing that he should conform his will with God.

10 Therefore, hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. 11 For he shall pay man according to his work and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. 13 Who visited the earth for him? And who set the whole world in order? 14 If he were to set his heart upon man and gather unto himself his spirit and his breath, 15 all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again unto dust.

16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. 17 Shall even he that hates judgment govern? And wilt thou condemn the Mighty One that is righteous? 18 Is it fit to say to the king, Thou art of Belial and to the princes, Ye are ungodly? 19 How much less to him who is not a respecter of the persons of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands. 20 In a moment they shall die, and the peoples shall be troubled at midnight and shall pass away; and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he sees all his steps. 22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23 For he will not lay upon man more than that which is just; that he should enter into judgment with God. 24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number and set others in their stead. 25 Therefore, he shall cause their works to be notorious, when he shall overturn them in the night, so that they are destroyed. 26 He shall strike them as wicked men in the open sight of others 27 because thus they turned back from him and would not consider any of his ways 28 so that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he hears the cry of the afflicted. 29 When he gives rest, who then can make trouble? If he hides his face, who then can behold him? This applies to a nation and the same to a man, 30 that the hypocrite not reign, lest the people be ensnared.

31 For it is of God to say, I have forgiven, I will no longer destroy. 32 Teach me that which I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more. 33 Will he, perchance finish his work by thee; whether thou refuse or whether thou choose, or by me? Speak what thou knowest. 34 The men of understanding will say as I say, and the wise man will hearken unto me. 35 Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without prudence. 36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end, that there may be answers against wicked men. 37 For he added rebellion unto his sin, he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.

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