Job, 34

1. Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

1. Elihu continued speaking:

2. Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

2. Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you who know.

3. For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

3. The ear tests the word, as the palate tastes the food.

4. Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what [is] good.

4. Let us discern what is right, learn between us what is good.

5. For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

5. Job has said, "I am innocent, but God denies me justice

6. Should I lie against my right? my wound [is] incurable without transgression.

6. and disregards my right. Though guiltless, my wound is hopeless."

7. What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh up scorning like water?

7. What man is like Job, who drinks in blasphemies like water?

8. Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

8. He keeps company with evildoers and follows the path of wicked men.

9. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

9. For has he not said, "It does not profit a man if he tries to please 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.

10. So hear me, you men of understanding, far be it from God to do evil, far from the Almighty to do wrong!

11. For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to [his] ways.

11. Rather, he repays man for what he has done; he gives him what his conduct deserves.

12. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

12. How unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice!

13. Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

13. Who gave him charge over the earth? Who else laid out the whole world?

14. If he set his heart upon man, [if] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

14. If he were to take back his spirit, to withdraw his breath to himself,

15. All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

15. all flesh would perish together and man would return to dust.

16. If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

16. If you have any intelligence, listen, Job, hear what I say.

17. Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

17. Can an enemy of justice govern? Or do you condemn him who is mighty and just,

18. [Is it fit] to say to a king, [Thou art] wicked? [and] to princes, [Ye are] ungodly?

18. who says to kings, "You are worthless," and to nobles, "You are wicked,"

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.

19. who is impartial to princes and favors not the rich over the poor, for they are all his handiwork?

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.

20. They die in a moment, even at midnight; people are shaken and pass away. Without effort he removes a tyrant.

21. For his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

21. His eyes are upon the ways of men, and he sees their every step.

22. [There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

22. For him there is no dense darkness where evildoers can hide.

23. For he will not lay upon man more [than right]; that he should enter into judgment with God.

23. He forewarns no man of his time to come before God in judgment.

24. He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

24. He shatters the mighty without inquiry, and sets in his place another strongman.

25. Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth [them] in the night, so that they are destroyed.

25. Because he knows their evil deeds, he turns at night and crushes them.

26. He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

26. He punishes them for their wickedness in a judgment that men witness.

27. Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

27. For they had turned away from him, heeded none 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.

28. and oppressed the poor so much that their cries of suffering reached him.

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:

29. If he remains silent, who stirs him up? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he watches man and nation alike,

30. That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

30. and restrains those who mislead the people.

31. Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:

31. If a wicked man says to God, "I was misguided but will offend no more.

32. [That which] I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

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

33. In such a case, do you think God will punish? Speak, you who reject his decisions and think you know more than I do; tell us what you know.

34. Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

34. Men of understanding, wise men who hear my views will say to me:

35. Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words [were] without wisdom.

35. "Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.

36. My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men.

36. Let Job be tried to the utmost for answering as wicked men do!

37. For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

37. To his sin he adds rebellion by scornfully brushing off our arguments and multiplying his words against God."