Job 34
Darby Translation
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 ourselves what is right; 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? he drinketh up scorning like water,
8 And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from God, and wrong from the Almighty!
11 For a man's work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to [his] way.
12 Yea, surely, God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment.
13 Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world?
14 If he only thought of himself, [and] gathered unto him his spirit and his breath,
15 All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.
16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words!
17 Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just?
18 Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked?
19 [How then to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich man more than the poor? for they are all the work of his hands.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight the people are convulsed and pass away; and the strong are taken away without hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before God in judgment.
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead;
25 Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth [them] in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,
27 Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none 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 will disturb? and when he hideth [his] face, who shall behold him? and this towards a nation, or towards a man alike;
30 That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.
31 For hath he said unto God, I bear [chastisement], I will not offend;
32 What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more?
33 Shall he recompense according to thy mind? for thou hast refused [his judgment]; for thou so choosest, and not I; speak then what thou knowest.
34 Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence.
36 Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of [his] answers after the manner of evil men!
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
Job 34
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
34 Then Elihu continued and 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 being right I am counted a liar;
my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.”
7 Who is there like Job,
who drinks up scoffing like water,
8 who goes in company with evildoers
and walks with the wicked?
9 For he has said, “It profits one nothing
to take delight in God.”
10 ‘Therefore, hear me, you who have sense,
far be it from God that he should do wickedness,
and from the Almighty[a] that he should do wrong.
11 For according to their deeds he will repay them,
and according to their ways he will make it befall them.
12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
and the Almighty[b] will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave him charge over the earth
and who laid on him[c] the whole world?
14 If he should take back his spirit[d] to himself,
and gather to himself his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together,
and all mortals 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 one who is righteous and mighty,
18 who says to a king, “You scoundrel!”
and to princes, “You wicked men!”;
19 who shows no partiality to nobles,
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 mortals,
and he sees all their steps.
22 There is no gloom or deep darkness
where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For he has not appointed a time[e] for anyone
to go before God in judgement.
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
while others look on,
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 an individual?—
30 so that the godless should not reign,
or those who ensnare the people.
31 ‘For has anyone said to God,
“I have endured punishment; 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 pay back to suit you,
because you reject it?
For you must choose, and not I;
therefore declare what you know.[f]
34 Those who have sense will say to me,
and the wise who hear me will say,
35 “Job speaks without knowledge,
his words are without insight.”
36 Would that Job were tried to the limit,
because his answers are those of the wicked.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
he claps his hands among us,
and multiplies his words against God.’
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.”
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New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
