Job 34
Living Bible
34 Elihu continued:
2 “Listen to me, you wise men. 3 We can choose the sounds we want to listen to; we can choose the taste we want in food, 4 and we should choose to follow what is right. But first of all we must define among ourselves what is good. 5 For Job has said, ‘I am innocent, but God says I’m not. 6 I am called a liar, even though I am innocent. I am horribly punished, even though I have not sinned.’
7-8 “Who else is as arrogant as Job? He must have spent much time with evil men, 9 for he said, ‘Why waste time trying to please God?’
10 “Listen to me, you with understanding. Surely everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! 11 Rather, he punishes the sinners. 12 There is no truer statement than this: God is never wicked or unjust. 13 He alone has authority over the earth and dispenses justice for the world. 14 If God were to withdraw his Spirit, 15 all life would disappear and mankind would turn again to dust.
16 “Listen now and try to understand. 17 Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the Almighty Judge? 18 Are you going to condemn this God who says to kings and nobles, ‘You are wicked and unjust’? 19 For he doesn’t care how great a man may be, and doesn’t pay any more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all. 20 In a moment they die, and at midnight great and small shall suddenly pass away, removed by no human hand.
21 “For God carefully watches the goings on of all mankind; he sees them all. 22 No darkness is thick enough to hide evil men from his eyes, 23 so there is no need to wait for some great crime before a man is called before God in judgment. 24 Without making a big issue over it, God simply shatters the greatest of men and puts others in their places. 25 He watches what they do and in a single night he overturns them, destroying them, 26 or openly strikes them down as wicked men. 27 For they turned aside from following him, 28 causing the cry of the poor to come to the attention of God. Yes, he hears the cries of those being oppressed. 29-30 Yet when he chooses not to speak, who can criticize? Again, he may prevent a vile man from ruling, thus saving a nation from ruin, and he can depose an entire nation just as easily.
31 “Why don’t people exclaim to their God, ‘We have sinned, but we will stop,’ 32 or ‘We know not what evil we have done; only tell us, and we will cease at once’?
33 “Must God tailor his justice to your demands? Must he change the order of the universe to suit your whims? The answer must be obvious even to you! 34-35 Anyone even half bright will agree with me that you, Job, are speaking like a fool. 36 You should be given the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked about God. 37 For now you have added rebellion, arrogance, and blasphemy to your other sins.”
Job 34
New King James Version
Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
34 Elihu further answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men;
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 (A)For 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 (C)God has taken away my justice;
6 (D)Should I lie concerning my right?
My [a]wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
(E)Who drinks [b]scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9 For (F)he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
That he should delight in God.’
10 “Therefore listen to me, you [c]men of understanding:
(G)Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 (H)For 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 (I)pervert 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 (J)gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 (K)All 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 (L)Should one who hates justice govern?
Will you (M)condemn Him who is most just?
18 (N)Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’
And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19 Yet He (O)is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For (P)they are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, (Q)in the middle of the night;
The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For(R) His eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 (S)There is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 (T)He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
27 Because they (U)turned back from Him,
And (V)would not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they (W)caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He (X)hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should He repay it according to your terms,
Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I;
Therefore speak what you know.
34 “Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to me:
35 ‘Job(Y) speaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom.’
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
37 For he adds (Z)rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
