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34 Elihu continued:

Hear my words, wise ones;
        knowledgeable ones, listen to me,
    for the ear tests words
        like the palate tastes food.
Let’s choose for us what’s right;
    let’s determine among ourselves what’s good;
    for Job has said, “I’m innocent;
        God has denied my just cause;
    because of my cause I’m thought a liar;
        my wound from an arrow is incurable, even though I didn’t rebel.”
Who is a man like Job?
    He drinks mockery like water
    and travels a path with wrongdoers,
        walking with evil persons.
Indeed he said, “No one is rewarded
    for delighting in God.”
10 Therefore, intelligent ones, hear me;
    far be it from God to do evil
    and the Almighty to sin,
11     for he repays people based on what they do,
        paying back everyone according to their ways.
12 Surely God doesn’t act wickedly;
    the Almighty doesn’t distort justice.
13 Who placed earth in his care,
    and who gave him dominion over the entire world?
14 If he were to decide to do it—
    to gather his spirit and breath back to himself—
15         all flesh would die together,
        and humans would return to dust.

16 But if you have understanding, hear this;
    pay attention to the sound of my words.
17 Will one who hates justice rule;
    will you condemn the most righteous one?
18 Will you say to a king, “Worthless!”
    to royalty, “Evil!”
19 Who shows no favor to princes
        nor regards the rich over the poor,
    for they are all the work of God’s hands?
20     In the middle of the night they suddenly die;
        people are shaken and pass away.
    The mighty are removed, not by a human hand.
21 God’s eyes are on human ways,
    and he sees all their steps.
22 There’s no darkness, no deep darkness,
    where evildoers can hide themselves;
23     surely no time is set for a person
    to appear before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without examining them;
    makes others take their place.
25 Thus he regards their deeds,
    overturns them at night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them because of their wickedness
    at a place where people can see it.
27 Because they turned from following him
        and didn’t value all his ways,
28         causing the cry of the poor to reach him,
    he hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 Still, if he remains quiet, who can condemn;
    if he hides his face, who can see him?
30 He prevents a lawless person from ruling,
    from capturing people.

31 Has Job said to God,
    “I have borne punishment; I won’t sin again?
32 You teach me what I can’t see;
    if I’ve sinned, I won’t do it again.”
33 Will he repay you because you reject sin,
    for you must choose, not I;
    declare what you know.
34 Smart people say to me,
        the wise who hear me,
35     “Job speaks without knowledge;
        his words aren’t astute.”
36 I wish Job would be tested to the limit
    because he responds like evil people.
37 He adds rebellion to his sin;
    mocks us openly
    and adds to his words against God.

34 Then Elihu said:

“Hear my words, you wise men;
    listen to me,(A) you men of learning.
For the ear tests words
    as the tongue tastes food.(B)
Let us discern for ourselves what is right;(C)
    let us learn together what is good.(D)

“Job says, ‘I am innocent,(E)
    but God denies me justice.(F)
Although I am right,
    I am considered a liar;(G)
although I am guiltless,(H)
    his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’(I)
Is there anyone like Job,
    who drinks scorn like water?(J)
He keeps company with evildoers;
    he associates with the wicked.(K)
For he says, ‘There is no profit
    in trying to please God.’(L)

10 “So listen to me,(M) you men of understanding.(N)
    Far be it from God to do evil,(O)
    from the Almighty to do wrong.(P)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;(Q)
    he brings on them what their conduct deserves.(R)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,(S)
    that the Almighty would pervert justice.(T)
13 Who appointed(U) him over the earth?
    Who put him in charge of the whole world?(V)
14 If it were his intention
    and he withdrew his spirit[a](W) and breath,(X)
15 all humanity would perish(Y) together
    and mankind would return to the dust.(Z)

16 “If you have understanding,(AA) hear this;
    listen to what I say.(AB)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?(AC)
    Will you condemn the just and mighty One?(AD)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles,(AE) ‘You are wicked,’(AF)
19 who shows no partiality(AG) to princes
    and does not favor the rich over the poor,(AH)
    for they are all the work of his hands?(AI)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;(AJ)
    the people are shaken and they pass away;
    the mighty are removed without human hand.(AK)

21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;(AL)
    he sees their every step.(AM)
22 There is no deep shadow,(AN) no utter darkness,(AO)
    where evildoers can hide.(AP)
23 God has no need to examine people further,(AQ)
    that they should come before him for judgment.(AR)
24 Without inquiry he shatters(AS) the mighty(AT)
    and sets up others in their place.(AU)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,(AV)
    he overthrows them in the night(AW) and they are crushed.(AX)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness(AY)
    where everyone can see them,
27 because they turned from following him(AZ)
    and had no regard for any of his ways.(BA)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
    so that he heard the cry of the needy.(BB)
29 But if he remains silent,(BC) who can condemn him?(BD)
    If he hides his face,(BE) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,(BF)
30     to keep the godless(BG) from ruling,(BH)
    from laying snares for the people.(BI)

31 “Suppose someone says to God,
    ‘I am guilty(BJ) but will offend no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;(BK)
    if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’(BL)
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
    when you refuse to repent?(BM)
You must decide, not I;
    so tell me what you know.

34 “Men of understanding declare,
    wise men who hear me say to me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;(BN)
    his words lack insight.’(BO)
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
    for answering like a wicked man!(BP)
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
    scornfully he claps his hands(BQ) among us
    and multiplies his words(BR) against God.”(BS)

Footnotes

  1. Job 34:14 Or Spirit