Job 34
1599 Geneva Bible
34 5 Elihu chargeth Job, that he called himself righteous. 12 He showeth that God is just in his judgments. 24 God destroyeth the mighty. 30 By him the hypocrite reigneth.
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, ye [a]wise men, and hearken unto me ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth the words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us seek [b]judgment among us, and let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken [c]away my judgment.
6 Should I lie in my [d]right? my wound of the arrow is [e]grievous without my sin.
7 What man is like Job, that drinketh [f]scornfulness like water?
8 Which goeth in the [g]company of them that work iniquity, and walketh with wicked men?
9 For he hath said, It [h]profiteth a man nothing that he should [i]walk with God.
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of wisdom, God forbid that wickedness should be in God, and iniquity in the Almighty.
11 For he will render unto man according to his work, and cause everyone to find according to his way.
12 And certainly God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 Whom (A)hath he appointed over the earth besides himself? or who hath placed the whole world?
14 If [j]he set his heart upon man, and gather unto himself his spirit [k]and his breath,
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.
16 And if thou hast understanding, hear this, and hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Shall he that hateth judgment, [l]govern? and wilt thou judge him wicked that is most just?
18 Wilt thou say unto a king, Thou art [m]wicked? or to princes, Ye are ungodly?
19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, and regardeth not the rich, more than the poor? for they be all the work of his hands.
20 They shall die suddenly, [n]and the people shall be troubled at midnight, [o]and they shall pass forth and take away the mighty 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, that the workers of iniquity might be hid therein.
23 For he will not lay on man so much, that he should [p]enter into judgment with God.
24 He shall break the mighty without [q]seeking, and shall set up others in their stead.
25 Therefore shall he declare their [r]works: he shall turn the [s]night, and they shall be destroyed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the places of the [t]seers,
27 Because they have turned back from him, and would not consider all his ways:
28 So that they have caused the voice of the poor to [u]come unto him, and he hath heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 And when he giveth quietness, who can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who can behold him, whether it be upon nations, or upon a man only?
30 Because the [v]hypocrite doth reign, and because the people are snared.
31 Surely it appertaineth unto God [w]to say, I have pardoned, I will not destroy.
32 [x]But if I see not, teach thou me: if I have done wickedly, I will do no more.
33 Will he perform the thing through [y]thee? for thou hast reproved [z]it, because that thou hast chosen, and not I: now speak what thou knowest.
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35 Job hath not spoken of knowledge, neither were his words according to wisdom.
36 I desire that Job may be [aa]tried, unto the end, touching the answers for wicked men.
37 For he [ab]addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
Footnotes
- Job 34:2 Which are esteemed wise of the world.
- Job 34:4 Let us examine the matter uprightly.
- Job 34:5 That is, hath afflicted me without measure.
- Job 34:6 Should I say, I am wicked, being an innocent?
- Job 34:6 I am sorer punished, than my sin deserveth.
- Job 34:7 Which is compelled to receive thy reproach and scorns of many for his foolish words.
- Job 34:8 Meaning, that Job was like to the wicked, because he seemed not to glorify God and submit himself to his judgments.
- Job 34:9 He wresteth Job’s words who said that God’s children are ofttimes punished in this world, and the wicked go free.
- Job 34:9 That is, live godly, as Gen. 5:22.
- Job 34:14 To destroy him.
- Job 34:14 The breath of life which he gave man.
- Job 34:17 If God were not just, how could he govern the world?
- Job 34:18 If man of nature fear to speak evil of such as have power, then much more ought they to be afraid to speak evil of God.
- Job 34:20 When they look not for it.
- Job 34:20 The messengers of visitation that God shall send.
- Job 34:23 God doth not afflict man above measure, so that he should have occasion to contend with him.
- Job 34:24 For all his creatures are at hand to serve him, so that he needeth not to seek for any other army.
- Job 34:25 Make them manifest that they are wicked.
- Job 34:25 Declare the things that were hid.
- Job 34:26 Meaning, openly in the sight of all men.
- Job 34:28 By their cruelty and extortion.
- Job 34:30 When tyrants sit in the throne of justice which under pretence of executing justice are but hypocrites and oppress the people, it is a sign that God hath drawn back his countenance of favor from that place.
- Job 34:31 Only it belongeth to God to moderate his corrections, and not unto man.
- Job 34:32 Thus Elihu speaketh in the person of God, as it were mocking Job, because he would be wiser than God.
- Job 34:33 Will God use thy counsel in doing his works?
- Job 34:33 Thus he speaketh in the person of God, as though Job should choose and refuse affliction at his pleasure.
- Job 34:36 That he may speak as much as he can, that we may answer him and all the wicked that shall use such arguments.
- Job 34:37 He standeth stubbornly in the maintenance of his cause.
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
Complete Jewish Bible
34 Elihu continued speaking:
2 “Hear my words, you sages!
Listen to me, you who know so much!
3 For the ear tests words,
just as the palate tastes food.
4 Let’s choose for ourselves what is just;
let’s decide among ourselves what is good.
5 For Iyov says, ‘I am in the right,
but God is denying me justice.
6 Against justice, I am considered a liar;
my wound is mortal, though I committed no crime.’
7 “Is there a man like Iyov,
who drinks in scoffing like water,
8 who keeps company with evildoers
and goes with wicked men,
9 since he thinks, ‘It profits a person nothing
to be in accord with God’?
10 “So listen to me, you men with sense!
Far be it from God to do anything wicked!
11 For he pays people back for what they do
and sees that each gets what his conduct deserves.
12 It is certain that God does nothing wicked;
Shaddai will not pervert justice.
13 Did someone else put him in charge of the earth?
Who else established the entire world?
14 If he were to take back man’s heart to himself,
if he gathered to himself his spirit and breath;
15 all flesh would instantly perish,
everyone would return to dust.
16 “If you have any sense, [Iyov,] hear this;
listen to what I am saying.
17-18 Should a hater of justice be in control?
If you wouldn’t tell a king, ‘You’re a scoundrel!’
or nobles, ‘You are wicked men!’
then you shouldn’t condemn the Just and Mighty One,
19 who is neither partial toward princes
nor favors the rich over the poor,
since they all are the work of his hands.
20 They may die in a moment, in the middle of the night —
the people are shaken and pass away,
the mighty are removed without human hands.
21 For he keeps watch on a person’s ways;
he sees his every step.
22 There is no darkness, no death-like gloom,
where wrongdoers can hide;
23 for he doesn’t give warning to people
when they must appear before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without needing to investigate
and sets up others in their place.
25 Therefore, aware of what they are doing,
he overturns them by night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as if they were common criminals
in the open sight of others,
27 because they turned away from following him
and gave no thought to any of his ways,
28 thereby bringing before him the cries of the poor;
and he hears the cries of the oppressed.
29 “But if God is silent, who can accuse him;
if he hides his face, who can see him?
He may do this to nations and persons alike,
30 so that godless men will not become kings,
and the people will not be lured into traps.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have been chastised without having offended;
32 teach me what I have failed to see;
and if I have done wrong, I will do it no more’?
33 Must his rewards meet your approval?
Well, you are the one who doesn’t like them,
so you, not I, should pick the alternative;
come on, say what you think!
34 Intelligent people will tell me,
every wise man who hears me will say,
35 ‘Iyov is speaking without thinking;
his words lack discernment.’
36 “I wish Iyov would be kept on trial forever,
because he answers like wicked men.
37 For now to his sin he adds rebellion;
he [mockingly] claps his hands among us
and keeps adding to his words against God.”
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