Job 34

1And Elihu made answer and said,

1And Eliu continued his discourse, and said:

2Give ear, you wise, to my words; and you who have knowledge, give attention to me;

2Hear ye, wise men, my words, and ye learned, hearken to me:

3For words are tested by the ear, as food is tasted by the mouth.

3For the ear trieth words, and the mouth discerneth meats by the taste.

4Let us make the decision for ourselves as to what is right; let us have the knowledge among ourselves of what is good.

4Let us choose to us judgment, and let us see among ourselves what is the best.

5For Job has said, I am upright, and it is God who has taken away my right;

5For Job hath said: I am just, and God hath overthrown my judgment.

6Though I am right, still I am in pain; my wound may not be made well, though I have done no wrong.

6For in judging me there is a lie: my arrow is violent without any sin.

7What man is like Job, a man who freely makes sport of God,

7What man is there like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

8And goes in the company of evil-doers, walking in the way of sinners?

8Who goeth in company with them that work iniquity, and walketh with wicked men?

9For he has said, It is no profit to a man to take delight in God.

9For he hath said: Man shall not please God, although he run with him.

10Now then, you wise, take note; you men of knowledge, give ear to me. Let it be far from God to do evil, and from the Ruler of all to do wrong.

10Therefore, ye men of understanding, hear me: far from God be wickedness, and iniquity from the Almighty.

11For he gives to every man the reward of his work, and sees that he gets the fruit of his ways.

11For he will render to a man his work, and according to the ways of every one he will reward them.

12Truly, God does not do evil, and the Ruler of all is not a false judge.

12For in very deed God will not condemn without cause, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13Who put the earth into his care, or made him responsible for the world?

13What other hath he appointed over the earth? or whom hath he set over the world which he made?

14If he made his spirit come back to him, taking his breath into himself again,

14If he turn his heart to him, he shall draw his spirit and breath unto himself.

15All flesh would come to an end together, and man would go back to the dust.

15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return into ashes.

16If you are wise, take note of this; give ear to the voice of my words.

16If then thou hast understanding, hear what is said, and hearken to the voice of my words.

17How may a hater of right be a ruler? and will you say that the upright Ruler of all is evil?

17Can he be healed that loveth not judgment? and how dost thou so far condemn him that is just?

18He who says to a king, You are an evil-doer; and to rulers, You are sinners;

18Who saith to the king: Thou art an apostate: who calleth rulers ungodly:

19Who has no respect for rulers, and who gives no more attention to those who have wealth than to the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.

19Who accepteth not the persons of princes: nor hath regarded the tyrant, when he contended against the poor man: for all are the work of his hands.

20Suddenly they come to an end, even in the middle of the night: the blow comes on the men of wealth, and they are gone, and the strong are taken away without the hand of man.

20They shall suddenly die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and they shall pass, and take away the violent without hand.

21For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.

21For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he considereth all their steps.

22There is no dark place, and no thick cloud, in which the workers of evil may take cover.

22There is no darkness, and there is no shadow of death, where they may be hid who work iniquity.

23For he does not give man a fixed time to come before him to be judged.

23For it is no longer in the power of man to enter into judgment with God.

24He sends the strong to destruction without searching out their cause, and puts others in their place.

24He shall break in pieces many and innumerable, and shall make others to stand in their stead.

25For he has knowledge of their works, overturning them in the night, so that they are crushed.

25For he knoweth their works: and therefore he shall bring night on them, and they shall be destroyed.

26The evil-doers are broken by his wrath, he puts his hand on them with force before the eyes of all onlookers.

26He hath struck them, as being wicked, in open sight.

27Because they did not go after him, and took no note of his ways,

27Who as it were on purpose have revolted from him, and would not understand all his ways:

28So that the cry of the poor might come up to him, and the prayer of those in need come to his ears.

28So that they caused the cry of the needy to come to him, and he heard the voice of the poor.

29...

29For when he granteth peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hideth his countenance, who is there that can behold him, whether it regard nations, or all men?

30...

30Who maketh a man that is a hypocrite to reign for the sins of the people.

31...

31Seeing then I have spoken of God, I will not hinder thee in thy turn.

32...

32If I have erred, teach thou me: if I have spoken iniquity, I will add no more.

33...

33Doth God require it of thee, because it hath displeased thee? for thou begannest to speak, and not I: but if thou know any thing better, speak.

34Men of knowledge, and all wise men, hearing me, will say,

34Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man hearken to me.

35Job's words do not come from knowledge; they are not the fruit of wisdom.

35But Job hath spoken foolishly, and his words sound not discipline.

36May Job be tested to the end, because his answers have been like those of evil men.

36My father, let Job be tried even to the end: cease not from the man of iniquity.

37For in addition to his sin, he is uncontrolled in heart; before our eyes he makes sport of God, increasing his words against him.

37Because he addeth blasphemy upon his sins, let him be tied fast in the mean time amongst us: and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.