Job 34
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 34
1 Then Elihu answered and said:[a]
2 Hear my discourse, you that are wise;
you that have knowledge, listen to me!
3 For the ear tests words,
as the palate tastes food.(A)
4 Let us choose what is right;
let us determine among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, “I am innocent,
but God has taken away what is my right.(B)
6 I declare the judgment on me to be a lie;
my arrow-wound is incurable, sinless though I am.”(C)
7 What man is like Job?
He drinks in blasphemies like water,
8 Keeps company with evildoers
and goes along with the wicked,
9 When he says, “There is no profit
in pleasing God.”(D)
10 Therefore, you that have understanding, hear me:
far be it from God to do wickedness;
far from the Almighty to do wrong!(E)
11 Rather, he requites mortals for their conduct,
and brings home to them their way of life.(F)
12 Surely, God cannot act wickedly,
the Almighty cannot pervert justice.(G)
13 Who gave him charge over the earth,
or who set all the world in its place?(H)
14 If he were to set his mind to it,
gather to himself his spirit and breath,
15 All flesh would perish together,
and mortals return to dust.(I)
16 Now you[b]—understand, hear this!
Listen to the words I speak!
17 Can an enemy of justice be in control,
will you condemn the supreme Just One,
18 Who says to a king, “You are worthless!”
and to nobles, “You are wicked!”
19 Who neither favors the person of princes,
nor respects the rich more than the poor?
For they are all the work of his hands;(J)
20 in a moment they die, even at midnight.(K)
People are shaken, and pass away,
the powerful are removed without lifting a hand;
21 For his eyes are upon our ways,
and all our steps he sees.
22 There is no darkness so dense
that evildoers can hide in it.
23 For no one has God set a time
to come before him in judgment.
24 Without inquiry he shatters the mighty,(L)
and appoints others in their place,
25 Thus he discerns their works;
overnight they are crushed.
26 [c]Where the wicked are, he strikes them,
in a place where all can see,
27 Because they turned away from him
and did not understand his ways at all:
28 And made the cry of the poor reach him,
so that he heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 If he is silent, who then can condemn?
If he hides his face, who then can behold him,
whether nation or individual?
30 Let an impious man not rule,
nor those who ensnare their people.
31 Should anyone say to God,
“I accept my punishment; I will offend no more;
32 What I cannot see, teach me:
if I have done wrong, I will do so no more,”
33 Would you then say that God must punish,
when you are disdainful?
It is you who must choose, not I;
speak, therefore, what you know.
34 Those who understand will say to me,
all the wise who hear my views:
35 “Job speaks without knowledge,
his words make no sense.(M)
36 Let Job be tested to the limit,
since his answers are those of the impious;
37 For he is adding rebellion to his sin
by brushing off our arguments
and addressing many words to God.”
Footnotes
- 34:1 Elihu replies, although no one else has spoken. This connective phrase (see also 35:1 and 36:1) may indicate that these speeches of Elihu are a secondary addition to the book (see note on 32:2).
- 34:16 Now you: Elihu turns to Job and addresses him directly.
- 34:26, 29–30 The extant Hebrew text of these verses is obscure.
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
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.”
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