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Job 34

Elihu continues to speak ^{[ a ]}

34 Elihu continued speaking and he said this:

² ‘You men who are so wise and who know so much,
listen to me.
Hear what I have to say.
³ You recognize nice food when you eat it.
So you should recognize the value of my words.
⁴ We should decide among ourselves what is right.
We should agree together what is good.

⁵ Job has said, “I am not guilty.
But God refuses to judge me in a fair way.
⁶ I am right,
but nobody believes me.
I have not done anything wrong,
but I am suffering
and I am near to death.”

⁷ There has never been a man like Job!
He laughs at God as easily as he drinks water.
⁸ He is a friend of wicked people,
and people who do evil things.
⁹ Job says, “If anyone tries to please God,
it does not help them at all.”

¹⁰ So listen to me, you men who understand so much.
Almighty God can never do anything that is wrong or wicked!
¹¹ He judges people fairly
as he sees the things that they do.
He gives people what they deserve.
¹² It is true! Almighty God does not do wicked things.
He never refuses to judge people in a fair way.
¹³ God's great power did not come from anyone else!
He himself has authority over the whole world.
¹⁴ God could decide to remove life from the world.
He could take back his spirit and his breath.
¹⁵ If he did that, everyone that is alive would die.
As humans, we would become dirt again. ^{[ b ]}

¹⁶ If you really understand things, Job, listen to me.
Hear what I have to say.
¹⁷ If God refused to do what is right,
he could not rule the world.
He is the powerful Judge who knows what is right.
But you say that he is guilty!
¹⁸ It is God who may say to a king, “You are useless!”
He may say to rulers, “You are wicked!”
¹⁹ God created everyone.
He is not more kind to important people
than he is to other people.
He does not help rich people
more than he helps poor people.
²⁰ Anyone may die suddenly,
in the middle of the night.
God may shake them, so that they die.
He easily removes even the most powerful people.
²¹ He watches the way that each person lives.
He sees what they do every day.
²² People who do wicked things cannot hide themselves.
There is no place dark enough for them to hide from God.
²³ God does not have to tell people when they must come to him,
so that he can judge them.
²⁴ He destroys powerful people,
and he chooses other people to take their place.
He does not have to ask them anything.
²⁵ He already knows the things that they have done.
In the night, he removes their power,
and he destroys them.
²⁶ He punishes them
because they have done wicked things.
He does that where everyone can see.
²⁷ Those powerful people have turned away from God.
They have not respected his commands.
²⁸ They were cruel to poor people,
so that God saw what was happening.
God heard those poor people
when they called to him for help.
²⁹ But if God decides to do nothing,
no one can say that he is wrong.
If he hides himself, no one can see him.
But he still rules over people and over nations.
³⁰ God does not let men rule,
if they do not respect his ways.
He stops them from causing trouble to the people.

³¹ Someone could say to God, “I am guilty,
and I have received my punishment.
But I will not do any more wrong things.
³² Show me the sins that I have done
when I did not know about them.
If I have done wrong things,
I will not do them again.”
³³ But you, Job, refuse to accept God's justice.
Do you expect God to do what you think is right?
But you must choose what you will say.
I cannot decide for you.
So tell us what you are thinking now.
³⁴ Wise people will agree with me.
When they hear my words, they will say,
³⁵ “Job speaks like a fool who knows nothing.
He only says useless things.”
³⁶ Yes Job, you speak to us like a wicked person.
So you should continue to suffer for ever!
³⁷ You have not only done wrong things,
you have also turned against God.
You have shown that you do not respect us.
You have said many things that insult God.’

Footnotes

34:1 Elihu speaks to Job's friends (verse 2), as well as to Job himself (verses 7 to 9). Then he says that God cannot do anything wrong (verse 12). God is powerful but he is always fair (verse 17). God knows everything (verses 21 to 23). Job has not said sorry to God. So Elihu says that God will not forgive him. None of these things helps Job to understand why bad things have happened to him.
34:15 See Genesis 2:7 .

34 Then Elihu continued his speech:

² “Listen to what I say, you wise men.
Pay attention, you who know so much.
³ Your tongue tastes the food it touches,
and your ear tests the words it hears.
⁴ So let us test these arguments and decide for ourselves what is right.
Together we will learn what is good.
⁵ Job says, ‘I am innocent,
and God is not being fair to me.
⁶ I am right, but I am judged to be a liar.
I have done no wrong, but I am badly hurt.’

⁷ “Would anyone but Job say such things?
He has more thirst for insulting God than for water.
⁸ He is a friend of evil people.
He likes to spend time with the wicked.
⁹ I know this because he says,
‘You will gain nothing if you try to please God.’

¹⁰ “You men can understand, so listen to me.
God would never do what is evil!
God All-Powerful would never do wrong.
¹¹ He pays us back for what we have done.
He gives us what we deserve.
¹² The truth is that God does no wrong.
God All-Powerful is always fair.
¹³ No one chose God to be in charge of the earth.
No one gave him responsibility for the whole world.
¹⁴ If God decided to take away his spirit
and the breath of life he gave us,
¹⁵ then everything on earth would die.
We would all become dust again.

¹⁶ “If you men are wise,
you will listen to what I say.
¹⁷ Can someone be a ruler if he hates justice?
Job, God is not only powerful, but he is fair.
Do you think you can judge him guilty?
¹⁸ God is the one who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’
He says to leaders, ‘You are evil!’
¹⁹ He does not respect leaders more than other people.
And he does not respect the rich more than the poor.
God made everyone.
²⁰ Any of us can die suddenly, in the middle of the night.
Anyone can get sick and pass away.
Even powerful people die for no reason we can see.

²¹ “God watches what people do.
He sees every step they take.
²² There is no place dark enough
for evil people to hide from God.
²³ God does not need to set a time
for people to come before him and be judged.
²⁴ He does not have to ask questions when people do wrong,
even if they are powerful leaders.
He simply destroys them
and chooses others to take their place.
²⁵ When he learns what people have done,
he defeats them, and overnight they are gone.
²⁶ He will punish them for the evil they have done,
and he will do it where everyone can see.
²⁷ He will do this because they rebelled against him
and ignored what he wanted.
²⁸ They hurt the poor and made them cry to God for help.
And he hears their cry!
²⁹ But if God decides not to help them,
no one can judge him guilty.
If he hides himself, no one can find him.
He is the ruler over every person and nation.
³⁰ He keeps the wicked from ruling
so that they will not bring harm to the people.

³¹ “A person should say to God,
‘I am guilty; I will not sin anymore.
³² Show me the sins I am not able to see.
If I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
³³ Job, you want God to reward you,
but you refuse to change.
It is your decision, not mine.
Tell me what you think.
³⁴ A wise person would listen to me.
A wise person would say,
³⁵ ‘Job talks like an ignorant person.
What he says doesn’t make sense!’
³⁶ I think Job should be punished even more,
because he answers us like someone who is evil!
³⁷ He adds rebellion to his other sins.
He sits there insulting us and arguing with God!”

34 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 trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

⁴ Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

⁵ For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

⁶ Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

⁷ What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

⁸ Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

⁹ For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself 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 the work of a man shall he render unto him, 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 hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

¹⁴ If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

¹⁵ All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

¹⁶ If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

¹⁷ Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

¹⁸ Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

¹⁹ How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

²⁰ In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

²¹ For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

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 right; 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 knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

²⁶ He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

²⁷ Because 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 heareth the cry of the afflicted.

²⁹ When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

³⁰ That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

³¹ Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

³² That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

³³ 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.

³⁴ Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

³⁵ Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

³⁶ My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

³⁷ For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice

34 Then Elihu continued and said,

² “Hear my words, you wise men,
And listen to me, you who understand.
³ For ^{( A )} the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
⁴ Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us understand among ourselves what is good.
⁵ For Job has said, ‘ ^{( B )} I am righteous,
But ^{( C )} God has taken away my right;
⁶ ^{[ a ]} Should I lie about my right?
My ^{[ b ]} ^{( D )} wound is incurable, though I am without wrongdoing.’
⁷ What man is like Job,
Who ^{( E )} drinks up derision like water,
⁸ Who goes ^{( F )} in company with the workers of injustice,
And walks with wicked people?
⁹ For he has said, ‘ ^{( G )} It is of no use to a man
When he becomes friends with God.’

¹⁰ “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to ^{( H )} do evil,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
¹¹ For He repays a person for ^{( I )} his work,
And lets things happen in correspondence to a man’s ^{[ c ]} behavior.
¹² ^{( J )} God certainly will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
¹³ Who ^{( K )} gave Him authority over the earth?
And who ^{( L )} has placed the whole world on Him ?
¹⁴ If He were to ^{[ d ]} determine to do so,
If He were to ^{( M )} gather His ^{[ e ]} spirit and His breath to Himself,
¹⁵ ^{[ f ]} ^{( N )} Humanity would perish together,
And mankind would ^{( O )} return to dust.

¹⁶ “But if you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
¹⁷ Shall ^{( P )} one who hates justice rule?
And ^{( Q )} will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
¹⁸ Who says to a king, ‘You worthless one,’
To nobles, ‘You wicked one’;
¹⁹ Who shows no ^{( R )} partiality to the prominent,
Nor regards the rich as above the poor,
Since they are all the ^{( S )} work of His hands?
²⁰ In a moment they die, and ^{( T )} at midnight
People are shaken and pass away,
And ^{( U )} the powerful are taken away without a hand.

²¹ “For ^{( V )} His eyes are upon the ways of a person,
And He sees all his steps.
²² There is ^{( W )} no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of injustice can hide themselves.
²³ For He does not ^{( X )} need to consider a person further,
That he should go before God in judgment.
²⁴ He breaks in pieces the ^{( Y )} mighty without investigation,
And sets others in their place.
²⁵ Therefore He ^{( Z )} knows their deeds,
And ^{( AA )} He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
²⁶ He ^{( AB )} strikes them like the wicked
^{[ g ]} In a public place,
²⁷ Because they ^{( AC )} turned aside from following Him,
And ^{( AD )} had no regard for any of His ways,
²⁸ So that they caused ^{( AE )} the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And that He would ^{( AF )} hear the cry of the afflicted—
²⁹ When He keeps quiet, who can condemn?
And when He hides His face, who then can look at Him,
That is, regarding both nation and a person?—
³⁰ So that ^{( AG )} godless people would not rule,
Nor be snares for the people.

³¹ “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have endured punishment ;
I will not offend anymore ;
³² Teach me what I do not see;
If I have ^{( AH )} done wrong,
I will not do it again’?
³³ Shall God ^{( AI )} repay on your terms, because you have rejected His ?
For you must choose, and not I;
Therefore declare what you know.
³⁴ Men of understanding will say to me,
And a wise man who hears me,
³⁵ ‘Job ^{( AJ )} speaks without knowledge,
And his words are without wisdom.
³⁶ Oh that Job were tested ^{[ h ]} to the limit,
Because ^{[ i ]} he answers ^{( AK )} like sinners.
³⁷ For he adds ^{( AL )} rebellion to his sin;
He ^{( AM )} claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.’”

Footnotes

Job 34:6 Or Although I am right I am accounted a liar .
Job 34:6 Lit arrow
Job 34:11 Lit way
Job 34:14 Lit set His mind on Himself
Job 34:14 Or Spirit
Job 34:15 Lit All flesh
Job 34:26 Lit In the place of the ones seeing
Job 34:36 Or to the end
Job 34:36 Lit of answers like

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Job 34

Elihu continues to speak ^{[ a ]}

Footnotes

Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice

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Job 34

Elihu continues to speak [ a ]

Footnotes

Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice

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Cross references

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Elihu continues to speak ^{[ a ]}