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Job 34
Common English Bible
Job 34
Common English Bible
34 Elihu continued:
2 Hear my words, wise ones;
knowledgeable ones, listen to me,
3 for the ear tests words
like the palate tastes food.
4 Let’s choose for us what’s right;
let’s determine among ourselves what’s good;
5 for Job has said, “I’m innocent;
God has denied my just cause;
6 because of my cause I’m thought a liar;
my wound from an arrow is incurable, even though I didn’t rebel.”
7 Who is a man like Job?
He drinks mockery like water
8 and travels a path with wrongdoers,
walking with evil persons.
9 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.
Job 34
GOD’S WORD Translation
Job 34
GOD’S WORD Translation
Elihu Continues: Listen, Everyone
34 Elihu continued to speak ⌞to Job and his friends⌟,
2 “Listen to my words, you wise men.
Open your ears to me, you intelligent men.
3 The ear tests words
like the tongue tastes food.
4 Let’s decide for ourselves what is right
and agree among ourselves as to what is good,
5 because Job has said,
‘I’m righteous, but God has taken away my rights.
6 I’m considered a liar in spite of my rights.
I’ve been wounded by a deadly arrow,
though I haven’t been disobedient.’
7 What person is like Job,
who drinks scorn like water,
8 who travels with troublemakers
and associates with evil people?
9 He says, ‘It doesn’t do any good to try to please God.’
10 “You people who have understanding, listen to me.
It is unthinkable that God would ever do evil
or that the Almighty would ever do wicked things.
11 God will repay humanity for what it has done
and will give each person what he deserves.
12 Certainly, God will never do anything evil,
and the Almighty will never pervert justice.
13 Who put him in charge of the earth?
Who appointed him to be over the whole world?
14 If he thought only of himself
and withdrew his Spirit and his breath,
15 all living beings would die together,
and humanity would return to dust.
God Is Fair
16 “If you understand, listen to this.
Open your ears to my words!
17 Should anyone who hates justice be allowed to govern?
Will you condemn the one who is righteous and mighty?
18 Should anyone ⌞even⌟ say to a king,
‘You good-for-nothing scoundrel!’
or to nobles, ‘You wicked people!’
19 The one who is righteous and mighty
does not grant special favors to princes
or prefer important people over poor people
because his hands made them all.
20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night.
People have seizures and pass away.
Mighty people are taken away but not by human hands.
21 God’s eyes are on a person’s ways.
He sees all his steps.
22 There’s no darkness or deep shadow
where troublemakers can hide.
23 He doesn’t have to set a time for a person
in order to bring him to divine judgment.
24 He breaks mighty people into pieces without examining them
and puts others in their places.
25 He knows what they do,
so he overthrows them at night, and they’re crushed.
26 In return for their evil, he strikes them in public,
27 because they turned away from following him
and didn’t consider any of his ways.
28 They forced the poor to cry out to him,
and he hears the cry of those who suffer.
29 If he keeps quiet, who can condemn him?
If he hides his face, who can see him
whether it is a nation or a single person?
30 ⌞He does this⌟ so that godless people cannot rule
and so that they cannot trap people.
31 “But suppose such a person says to God, ‘I am guilty,
I will stop my immoral behavior.
32 Teach me what I cannot see.
If I’ve done wrong, I won’t do it again.’
33 Should God reward you on your own terms since you have rejected his?
You must choose, not I.
Tell me what you know. Speak!
Elihu Makes an Appeal to God
34 “People of understanding, the wise people
who listen to me, will say,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge.
His words show no insight.’
36 “My Father, let Job be thoroughly tested
for giving answers like wicked people do.
37 He adds disobedience to his sin.
He claps his hands to insult us.
He multiplies his words against God.”
約伯記 34
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
約伯記 34
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
34 以利戶又說：
2 「各位智者，請聽我言；
明達之士，要側耳聽我的話。
3 因為耳朵辨別話語，
正如舌頭品嚐食物。
4 我們來鑒別何為正，
一起來認識何為善。
5 約伯曾說，『我是清白的，
上帝卻奪去我的公道。
6 我雖然有理，卻被認為是撒謊者；
我雖然無過，卻受到致命的創傷。』
7 有誰像約伯？
他肆意嘲諷，
8 與惡者為伍，
同壞人作伴。
9 因為他說，『人取悅上帝毫無益處。』
10 「所以明智的人啊，請聽我言，
上帝絕不會作惡，
全能者絕無不義。
11 祂按人所行的對待人，
照人所做的報應人。
12 上帝絕不會作惡，
全能者不會顛倒是非。
13 誰曾派祂治理大地，
讓祂掌管整個世界呢？
14 上帝若決定收回自己的靈和氣，
15 所有生靈將一同滅亡，
世人也將歸回塵土。
16 「你若明理，請聽我言，
側耳聽我說。
17 憎惡正義的豈可掌權？
你要譴責公義的大能者嗎？
18 祂可以稱君王為廢物，
稱權貴為惡徒。
19 祂不偏袒王侯，
也不輕貧重富，
因為他們都是祂親手造的。
20 他們夜間轉瞬死去，
百姓震顫，繼而消逝，
權貴也被剷除，非藉人手。
21 上帝鑒察世人的道路，
觀看他們的腳步。
22 沒有黑暗和陰影可供作惡者藏身。
23 祂不必再三察驗，
把人召到面前審判。
24 祂擊垮權貴無需審查，
另立他人取而代之。
25 祂知道他們的行為，
祂使他們在夜間傾覆、滅亡。
26 祂當眾擊打他們，
正如擊打惡人。
27 因為他們離棄祂，
無視祂的正道，
28 以致窮人的呼求傳到祂那裡，
祂也聽見了困苦者的呼求。
29 但祂若保持緘默，誰能定祂有罪？
祂若掩起臉來，誰能看得見祂？
個人和國家都靠祂垂顧，
30 以免不敬虔者做王，
禍國殃民。
31 「有誰對上帝說，
『我受了管教，不會再犯罪；
32 我不明白的事，求你指教我；
我若行了惡事，必不再行』？
33 難道因為你拒絕接受，
上帝就要迎合你的要求嗎？
要做抉擇的是你，而非我，
請說說你的高見。
34 明達的人和聽我發言的智者都會說，
35 『約伯所言毫無知識，
他的話沒有智慧。』
36 願約伯被試煉到底，
因為他的回答如惡人之言。
37 他的叛逆使他罪上加罪，
他在我們中間拍手譏笑，
用許多話褻瀆上帝。」
Job 34
New International Version
Job 34
New International Version
34 Then Elihu said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men;
listen to me,(A) you men of learning.
3 For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.(B)
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;(C)
let us learn together what is good.(D)
5 “Job says, ‘I am innocent,(E)
but God denies me justice.(F)
6 Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;(G)
although I am guiltless,(H)
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’(I)
7 Is there anyone like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?(J)
8 He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with the wicked.(K)
9 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
- Job 34:14 Or Spirit
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.