Job 34
¹ Moreover Elihu answered and said,
² Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
³ For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth meat.
⁴ Let us choose for us that which is right: let us know among ourselves what is good.
⁵ For Job hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right:
⁶ Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
⁷ What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
⁸ Which 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, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
¹³ Who gave 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 one that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is just and mighty?
¹⁸ Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art vile? or to nobles, Ye are wicked?
¹⁹ How much less to him that respecteth 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 they die, even at midnight; the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.
²¹ For his eyes are upon the ways of a 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 needeth not further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment.
²⁴ He breaketh in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and setteth others in their stead.
²⁵ Therefore he taketh knowledge of 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 aside from following him, and would not have regard to any of his ways:
²⁸ So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted.
²⁹ When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man, alike:
³⁰ That the godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people.
³¹ For hath any 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 it no more?
³³ Shall his recompence be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? for thou must choose, and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
³⁴ Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me:
³⁵ Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.
³⁶ Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
³⁷ For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.