Job 34
21st Century King James Version
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 for 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 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 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.”
Job 34
English Standard Version
Elihu Asserts God's Justice
34 Then Elihu answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men,
and give ear to me, you who know;
3 for (A)the ear tests words
as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose (B)what is right;
let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, ‘I am (C)in the right,
and (D)God has taken away my right;
6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
my wound is incurable, though I am (E)without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
who (F)drinks up scoffing like water,
8 who travels in company with evildoers
and walks (G)with wicked men?
9 For (H)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 (I)do wickedness,
and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
11 For according to (J)the work of a man he will repay him,
and (K)according to his ways he will make it befall him.
12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
and (L)the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave him charge over the earth,
and who (M)laid on him[a] the whole world?
14 If he should (N)set his heart to it
and (O)gather to himself his (P)spirit and his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together,
and man would (Q)return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
17 (R)Shall one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18 who (S)says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’
19 who (T)shows no partiality to princes,
nor regards the rich (U)more than the poor,
for (V)they are all the work of his hands?
20 In a moment (W)they die;
at (X)midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
and the mighty are taken away by (Y)no human hand.
21 “For his eyes are on (Z)the ways of a man,
and he sees all his (AA)steps.
22 There is no (AB)gloom or (AC)deep darkness
where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For God[b] has no need to consider a man further,
that he should go before God in (AD)judgment.
24 He (AE)shatters the mighty without investigation
and sets (AF)others in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works,
he (AG)overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness
in a place for all to see,
27 because they turned aside from (AH)following him
and had no regard for any of his ways,
28 so that they (AI)caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
and he (AJ)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 anyone said to God,
‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;
32 (AK)teach me what I do not see;
if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
33 Will he then make repayment to suit you,
because you reject it?
For you must choose, and not I;
therefore (AL)declare what you know.[c]
34 Men of understanding will say to me,
and the wise man who hears me will say:
35 ‘Job (AM)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 (AN)claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”
Giobbe 34
La Nuova Diodati
34 Elihu riprese a parlare e disse:
2 «Ascoltate, o saggi, le mie parole, e voi, dotti, prestatemi orecchio!
3 Poiché l'orecchio esamina le parole, come il palato assapora i cibi.
4 Scegliamo noi stessi ciò che è giusto, riconosciamo fra noi ciò che è buono.
5 Poiché Giobbe ha detto: Sono giusto ma Dio ha tolto via la mia giustizia.
6 Dovrei mentire contro la mia giustizia? La mia ferita è incurabile, benché sia senza peccato".
7 Chi è come Giobbe, che beve la derisione come l'acqua,
8 che cammina in compagnia dei malfattori e vada assieme ai malvagi?
9 Poiché ha detto: "Non giova nulla all'uomo riporre il proprio diletto in DIO
10 Ascoltatemi dunque, o uomini di senno! Lungi da Dio l'iniquità e dall'Onnipotente la malvagità!
11 Poiché egli rende all'uomo secondo le sue opere e fa trovare a ognuno il salario della sua condotta.
12 Certamente Dio non compie il male e l'Onnipotente non sovverte la giustizia.
13 Chi gli ha affidato la cura della terra, o chi lo ha costituito sul mondo intero?
14 Se Dio dovesse decidere in cuor suo di ritirare a sé il suo Spirito e il suo soffio,
15 ogni carne perirebbe assieme, e l'uomo ritornerebbe in polvere,
16 Se hai intendimento, ascolta questo, porgi orecchio a ciò che ti dico.
17 Uno che odia la giustizia potrebbe governare? Osi tu condannare il Giusto, il Potente?
18 Lui che dice a un re, "Sei spregevole" e ai principi: "Siete malvagi".
19 Ma egli non usa alcuna parzialità con i grandi né considera il ricco piú del povero, perché sono tutti opera delle sue mani.
20 In un attimo, essi muoiono nel cuore della notte la gente è scossa e scompare, i potenti son portati via senza mano d'uomo.
21 Poiché egli tiene gli occhi sulle vie dell'uomo, e vede tutti i suoi passi.
22 Non vi sono tenebre né ombra di morte, dove possano nascondersi i malfattori.
23 Dio infatti non ha bisogno di osservare a lungo un uomo prima di farlo comparire davanti a sé in giudizio.
24 Egli fiacca i potenti senza fare inchiesta e ne mette altri al loro posto.
25 Poiché conosce le loro opere, li abbatte nella notte e sono distrutti;
26 li colpisce come gente malvagia alla vista di tutti.
27 perché si sono allontanati da lui senza prestare attenzione alle sue vie,
28 fino a far giungere a lui il grido a del povero, perché egli ode il grido degli afflitti.
29 Quando Dio dà tranquillità, chi lo condannerà? Quando nasconde il suo volto, chi potrà vederlo, sia contro un'intera nazione o un sol uomo,
30 per impedire all'empio di regnare e al popolo di essere preso da lacci?
31 Può uno dire a Dio: "Io porto la mia pena non farò piú il male;
32 mostrami ciò che non riesco a vedere; se ho commesso qualche iniquità, non lo farò piú"?
33 Dovrebbe egli ricompensare in base alle tue condizioni, perché tu rifiuti il suo giudizio? Tu devi scegliere e non io; perciò di ciò che sai.
34 La gente assennata, come ogni uomo saggio che mi ascolta, mi dirà:
35 "Giobbe parla senza intendimento, le sue parole sono prive di sapienza
36 Sia dunque Giobbe provato sino alla fine, perché le sue risposte sono come quelle degli uomini malvagi,
37 perché aggiunge al suo peccato la ribellione, batte le mani in mezzo a noi e moltiplica le sue parole contro Dio».
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The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Copyright © 1991 by La Buona Novella s.c.r.l.