Job 34

¹Moreover Elihu answered and said, ²Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. ³For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth meat. ⁴Let us choose for us that which is right: let us know among ourselves what is good. ⁵For Job hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right: ⁶Notwithstanding my right I am accounteda liar; my wound is incurable, though I amwithout transgression. ⁷What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? ⁸Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. ⁹For he hath said, it profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. ¹⁰Therefore 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. ¹¹For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. ¹²Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. ¹³Who gave him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? ¹⁴If he set his heart upon man, ifhe gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; ¹⁵All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. ¹⁶If now thou hastunderstanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. ¹⁷Shall even one that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is just andmighty? ¹⁸Is it fitto say to a king, Thou artvile? orto nobles, Ye arewicked? ¹⁹How much less tohim that respecteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. ²⁰In a moment they die, even at midnight; the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand. ²¹For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he seeth all his goings. ²²There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. ²³For he needeth not further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment. ²⁴He breaketh in pieces mighty men in wayspast finding out, and setteth others in their stead. ²⁵Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed. ²⁶He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; ²⁷Because they turned aside from following him, and would not have regard to any of his ways: ²⁸So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted. ²⁹When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be doneunto a nation, or unto a man, alike: ³⁰That the godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people. ³¹For hath any said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: ³²That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more? ³³Shall his recompence be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? for thou must choose, and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. ³⁴Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me: ³⁵Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom. ³⁶Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men. ³⁷For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.