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.”
Job 34
New Life Version
Elihu Keeps On Speaking
34 Then Elihu said, 2 “Hear my words, you wise men. Listen to me, you who know. 3 For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food. 4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good. 5 For Job has said, ‘I am right and good, but God has taken away my right. 6 Would I lie about my right? I have been hurt so that I cannot be healed, but I have done no wrong.’ 7 What man is like Job, who drinks up words against him like water? 8 He goes among those who do wrong, and walks with sinful men. 9 For he has said, ‘A man gets nothing by trying to please God.’
10 “So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do what is sinful, and from the All-powerful to do wrong. 11 For He pays a man by the work he does. He will see that a man is paid for what he does. 12 For sure God will not do wrong. The All-powerful will not turn what is right into sin. 13 Who gave Him the power over the earth? Who gave Him the whole world to take care of? 14 If He should take back His spirit and His breath, 15 all flesh would die together, and man would return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this. Listen to what I say. 17 Should one who hates what is right be the one to rule? Will you say that He Who is right and good and strong is guilty? 18 Who says to a king, ‘You are of no worth,’ and to rulers, ‘You are sinful’? 19 Who shows no favor to princes, or thinks of the rich as more important than the poor? They are all the work of His hands. 20 In a short time they die. At midnight the people are shaken and pass away. And the powerful are taken away by no human hand.
21 “For God’s eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. 22 There is no darkness or shadow where sinners can hide themselves. 23 For God does not need to set a time for man to go before Him and be judged. 24 He breaks powerful men in pieces without asking any reason, and puts others in their place. 25 For He knows their works. He puts them down in the night, and they are crushed. 26 God punishes them for their sin where everyone can see them. 27 Because they turned aside from following Him. They did not care about any of His ways. 28 So they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him. And He heard the cry of those in need. 29 When He keeps quiet, who can say He is wrong? When He hides His face, who can see Him? But He is over both nation and man. 30 So men without God should not rule and should not be a trap for the people.
31 “For has any one said to God, ‘I have suffered punishment, and will not cause any more trouble? 32 Teach me what I cannot see. If I have sinned, I will do it no more’? 33 Will God ask what you want to do, when you will not do what He says? You must decide, and not I. So tell what you know. 34 Men of understanding will say to me, and wise men who hear me say, 35 ‘Job speaks without much learning. His words are without wisdom. 36 Job should be tried to the end, because he answers like sinful men. 37 To his sin he adds a strong will against God. Making fun he claps his hands among us, and speaks many words against God.’”
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.