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Job 34
International Standard Version
Job 34
International Standard Version
Elihu Continues Speaking
34 Elihu continued speaking, and said:
2 “Listen to what I have to say, you wise men!
Pay attention to me, you educated people!
3 Since the ear tests words
like a palate tastes food,
4 let’s choose what’s right for us.
Let’s consider among ourselves what is good.”
Elihu Reviews Job’s Complaint against God’s Injustice
5 Now this is Job’s claim:
‘Even though I’m innocent,
God has stopped treating me righteously.
6 Have I lied concerning the justice that I deserve?[a]
My wound[b] is incurable,
though transgression cannot be attributed to me.’
7 “What man is like Job,
who drinks mockery like water,
8 traffics in those who practice evil,
and walks with wicked people?
9 Because he says, ‘There’s no profit
for a man to find joy with God.’”[c]
God is Just
10 “Therefore you men of understanding,[d] listen to me!
Far be it for God to practice wickedness,
or the Almighty to do what is wrong,
11 because he repays a person for his behavior;
and according to a person’s[e] conduct,
he lets it happen to[f] him.
12 Truly, God doesn’t practice wickedness,
and the Almighty doesn’t pervert justice.
13 Who entrusted the earth to him?
Who made him responsible for the entire inhabited world?
14 If he were to decide to do so,
that is, to take back to himself[g] his spirit and breath of life,[h]
15 every living thing would die all at once,[i]
and mankind would return to dust.”
God’s Rule is Just
16 If you have[j] understanding, listen to this!
Pay attention to what I have to say:
17 Can one who hates justice really govern?
And if God[k] is righteous and mighty, can you condemn him?[l]
18 Can one say to a king, ‘You’re vile!’
or to nobles, ‘You’re wicked!’?
19 Who isn’t partial to[m] princes?
Who doesn’t give preference to the nobles over the poor?
Nevertheless, all of them are his handiwork.
20 “They die suddenly, in the middle of the night;
people suffer seizures and pass away;
even valiant men can be taken away—
and not by human hands.
21 Yes, Job,[n] his eyes constantly watch the behavior of human beings;
he carefully observes their every step.
22 There’s no such thing as darkness to him—
not even deep darkness—
that can conceal those who practice evil.
23 He won’t examine mankind further,
that they would go before God to judgment.
24 He shatters valiant men without a need to investigate,
and he raises others in their place.
25 Thus he acknowledges their behavior, and overcomes them;
when night time comes, they are crushed.
26 “He strikes[o] the wicked among them
in a place where they can be seen
27 because they’ve abandoned their pursuit of him
and had no respect for any of his ways.
28 As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him
and he has heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 “If he remains silent, who will condemn him?
If he conceals his face, who can see him?
He watches over both nation and individual alike,
30 to keep the godless man from reigning
or laying a snare for the people.”
Elihu’s Challenge to Job
31 “Has anyone ever really told God,
‘I’ve endured,[p] and I won’t act corruptly anymore.
32 What I don’t see, instruct me!
If I’ve done anything evil, I won’t repeat it!’
33 “Should you not be paid back,
since you have rejected him?
You do the choosing! I won’t!
Tell us what you know!
Elihu’s Verdict: Job is not Wise
34 “Men of understanding, speak to me!
Are any of you men wise? Then listen to me!
35 Job has been speaking from his own ignorance,
and what he has to say lacks insight!
36 Oh, how Job needs to be given a full court trial,
as a rebuke to those who practice evil,
37 because he has been adding rebellion to his sin;
he claps his hands among us,[q]
and keeps on ranting against God.”
Footnotes
- Job 34:6 Lit. concerning my justice
- Job 34:6 Or cut
- Job 34:9 Cf. Mal 3:14
- Job 34:10 Lit. heart
- Job 34:11 Lit. man
- Job 34:11 Lit. it find
- Job 34:14 The Heb. lacks to himself
- Job 34:14 The Heb. lacks of life
- Job 34:15 Lit. die together
- Job 34:16 The Heb. lacks you have
- Job 34:17 Lit. he
- Job 34:17 The Heb. lacks him
- Job 34:19 Lit. Who doesn’t lift the faces of
- Job 34:21 The Heb. lacks Job
- Job 34:26 Or slaps
- Job 34:31 Or carry
- Job 34:37 I.e. as a gesture of disrespect
Job 34
New King James Version
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.”
Job 34
Reina-Valera 1960
Job 34
Reina-Valera 1960
Eliú justifica a Dios
34 Además Eliú dijo:
2 Oíd, sabios, mis palabras;
Y vosotros, doctos, estadme atentos.
3 Porque el oído prueba las palabras,
Como el paladar gusta lo que uno come.
4 Escojamos para nosotros el juicio,
Conozcamos entre nosotros cuál sea lo bueno.
5 Porque Job ha dicho: Yo soy justo,
Y Dios me ha quitado mi derecho.
6 ¿He de mentir yo contra mi razón?
Dolorosa es mi herida sin haber hecho yo transgresión.
7 ¿Qué hombre hay como Job,
Que bebe el escarnio como agua,
8 Y va en compañía con los que hacen iniquidad,
Y anda con los hombres malos?
9 Porque ha dicho: De nada servirá al hombre
El conformar su voluntad a Dios.
10 Por tanto, varones de inteligencia, oídme:
Lejos esté de Dios la impiedad,
Y del Omnipotente la iniquidad.
11 Porque él pagará al hombre según su obra,(A)
Y le retribuirá conforme a su camino.
12 Sí, por cierto, Dios no hará injusticia,
Y el Omnipotente no pervertirá el derecho.
13 ¿Quién visitó por él la tierra?
¿Y quién puso en orden todo el mundo?
14 Si él pusiese sobre el hombre su corazón,
Y recogiese así su espíritu y su aliento,
15 Toda carne perecería juntamente,
Y el hombre volvería al polvo.
16 Si, pues, hay en ti entendimiento, oye esto;
Escucha la voz de mis palabras.
17 ¿Gobernará el que aborrece juicio?
¿Y condenarás tú al que es tan justo?
18 ¿Se dirá al rey: Perverso;
Y a los príncipes: Impíos?
19 ¿Cuánto menos a aquel que no hace acepción de personas de príncipes.
Ni respeta más al rico que al pobre,
Porque todos son obra de sus manos?
20 En un momento morirán,
Y a medianoche se alborotarán los pueblos, y pasarán,
Y sin mano será quitado el poderoso.
21 Porque sus ojos están sobre los caminos del hombre,
Y ve todos sus pasos.
22 No hay tinieblas ni sombra de muerte
Donde se escondan los que hacen maldad.
23 No carga, pues, él al hombre más de lo justo,
Para que vaya con Dios a juicio.
24 Él quebrantará a los fuertes sin indagación,
Y hará estar a otros en su lugar.
25 Por tanto, él hará notorias las obras de ellos,
Cuando los trastorne en la noche, y sean quebrantados.
26 Como a malos los herirá
En lugar donde sean vistos;
27 Por cuanto así se apartaron de él,
Y no consideraron ninguno de sus caminos,
28 Haciendo venir delante de él el clamor del pobre,
Y que oiga el clamor de los necesitados.
29 Si él diere reposo, ¿quién inquietará?
Si escondiere el rostro, ¿quién lo mirará?
Esto sobre una nación, y lo mismo sobre un hombre;
30 Haciendo que no reine el hombre impío
Para vejaciones del pueblo.
31 De seguro conviene que se diga a Dios:
He llevado ya castigo, no ofenderé ya más;
32 Enséñame tú lo que yo no veo;
Si hice mal, no lo haré más.
33 ¿Ha de ser eso según tu parecer?
Él te retribuirá, ora rehúses, ora aceptes, y no yo;
Di, si no, lo que tú sabes.
34 Los hombres inteligentes dirán conmigo,
Y el hombre sabio que me oiga:
35 Que Job no habla con sabiduría,
Y que sus palabras no son con entendimiento.
36 Deseo yo que Job sea probado ampliamente,
A causa de sus respuestas semejantes a las de los hombres inicuos.
37 Porque a su pecado añadió rebeldía;
Bate palmas contra nosotros,
Y contra Dios multiplica sus palabras.
International Standard Version (ISV) 
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960) 
Reina-Valera 1960 ® © Sociedades Bíblicas en América Latina, 1960. Renovado © Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 1988. Utilizado con permiso. Si desea más información visite americanbible.org, unitedbiblesocieties.org, vivelabiblia.com, unitedbiblesocieties.org/es/casa/, www.rvr60.bible