Job 34
Revised Standard Version
Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
34 Then Eli′hu said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men,
and give ear to me, you who know;
3 for the ear tests words
as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose what is right;
let us determine among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, ‘I am innocent,
and God has taken away my right;
6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
who drinks up scoffing like water,
8 who goes in company with evildoers
and walks with wicked men?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
that he should take delight in God.’
10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding,
far be it from God that he should do wickedness,
and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
11 For according to the work of a man he will requite him,
and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave him charge over the earth
and who laid on him[a] the whole world?
14 If he should take back his spirit[b] to himself,
and gather to himself his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together,
and man would return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
17 Shall one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
and to nobles, ‘Wicked man’;
19 who shows no partiality to princes,
nor regards the rich more than the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
20 In a moment they die;
at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
21 “For his eyes are upon the ways of a man,
and he sees all his steps.
22 There is no gloom or deep darkness
where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For he has not appointed a time[c] for any man
to go before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without investigation,
and sets others in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works,
he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness
in the sight of men,
27 because they turned aside from following him,
and had no regard for any of his ways,
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
and he heard the cry of the afflicted—
29 When he is quiet, who can condemn?
When he hides his face, who can behold him,
whether it be a nation or a man?—
30 that a godless man should not reign,
that he should not ensnare the people.
31 “For has any one said to God,
‘I have borne chastisement; I will not offend any more;
32 teach me what I do not see;
if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
33 Will he then make requital to suit you,
because you reject it?
For you must choose, and not I;
therefore declare what you know.[d]
34 Men of understanding will say to me,
and the wise man who hears me will say:
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge,
his words are without insight.’
36 Would that Job were tried to the end,
because he answers like wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
he claps his hands among us,
and multiplies his words against God.”
Job 34
American Standard Version
34 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, ye wise men;
And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words,
As the palate tasteth food.
4 Let us choose for us that which is right:
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous,
And God hath taken away my right:
6 [a]Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar;
[b]My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
7 What man is like Job,
Who drinketh up scoffing like water,
8 Who 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 [c]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 will he render unto him,
And cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly,
Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who gave him a charge over the earth?
Or who hath [d]disposed the whole world?
14 [e]If he set his heart upon [f]himself,
If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 All flesh shall perish together,
And man shall turn again unto dust.
16 [g]If now thou hast understanding, hear this:
Hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Shall even one that hateth justice govern?
And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty?—
18 [h]Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile,
Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;
19 That respecteth 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 they die, [i]even at midnight;
The people are shaken and pass away,
And the mighty are taken away without hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And he seeth all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he needeth not further to consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men [j]in ways past finding out,
And setteth others in their stead.
25 Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works;
And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are [k]destroyed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men
[l]In the open sight of others;
27 Because they turned aside from following him,
And would not have regard in any of his ways:
28 [m]So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him,
And he heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn?
And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?
Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:
30 That the godless man reign not,
That there be none to ensnare the people.
31 For hath any said unto God,
I have borne chastisement, [n]I will not offend any more:
32 That which I see not teach thou me:
If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
33 Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it?
For thou must choose, and not I:
Therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 Men of understanding will say unto me,
Yea, every wise man that heareth me:
35 Job speaketh without knowledge,
And his words are without wisdom.
36 Would that Job were tried unto the end,
Because of his answering like wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin;
He clappeth his hands among us,
And multiplieth his words against God.
Footnotes
- Job 34:6 Or, Should I lie against my right?
- Job 34:6 Hebrew Mine arrow.
- Job 34:9 Or, consent with. See Ps. 50:18.
- Job 34:13 Or, laid upon him
- Job 34:14 According to another reading, If he cause his heart to return unto himself.
- Job 34:14 Or, man. Hebrew him.
- Job 34:16 Or, Only understand
- Job 34:18 The Hebrew as pointed reads Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art vile? Or, to nobles, Ye are wicked?
- Job 34:20 Or, and at midnight the people etc.
- Job 34:24 Or, without inquisition
- Job 34:25 Hebrew crushed.
- Job 34:26 Hebrew In the place of beholders.
- Job 34:28 Or, That they might cause . . . And that he might hear
- Job 34:31 Or, though I offend not
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)