Job34

¹Then Elihu said:

²“Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.

³For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.

⁴Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

⁵“Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God denies me justice.

⁶Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’

⁷Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water?

⁸He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked.

⁹For he says, ‘There is no profit in trying to please God.’

¹⁰“So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.

¹¹He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves.

¹²It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.

¹³Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world?

¹⁴If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath,

¹⁵all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

¹⁶“If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.

¹⁷Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One?

¹⁸Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

¹⁹who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?

²⁰They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

²¹“His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step.

²²There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide.

²³God has no need to examine people further, that they should come before him for judgment.

²⁴Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place.

²⁵Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

²⁶He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them,

²⁷because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways.

²⁸They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy.

²⁹But if he remains silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he is over individual and nation alike,

³⁰to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people.

³¹“Suppose someone says to God, ‘I am guilty but will offend no more.

³²Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’

³³Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.

³⁴“Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me,

³⁵‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’

³⁶Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man!

³⁷To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”