Job 34
1 Elihu replied:
2 “Listen to my words, you who are wise; pay attention to me, you who know.
3 For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose what is right for ourselves; let us determine among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job said, ‘I am righteous, and God has taken away my right.
6 Despite my right, I am treated as a liar; my wound is incurable, though I have done no wrong.’
7 What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water?
8 He keeps company with those who do evil and walks with wicked men.
9 For he said, ‘There is no benefit for a man in taking pleasure in God.’
10 So listen to me, you who have understanding: Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to act unjustly!
11 For he repays a person according to what he does, and brings upon each one what his way deserves.
12 Indeed, God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.”
13 “Who appointed him over the earth? Who placed the whole world under his care?
14 If he were to turn his heart toward himself, he could gather back his spirit and breath.
15 All flesh would perish together, and mankind would return to the dust.
16 If you have understanding, hear this; pay attention to the sound of my words.
17 Can one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the Just and Mighty One?
18 Is it right to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’ or to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19 He shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people shake and pass away, and the mighty are removed without a hand.
21 For his eyes are on each person’s ways, and he sees all their steps.
22 There is no darkness or shadow of death where evildoers can hide.
23 For he does not set a time for anyone to appear before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without investigation and puts others in their place.
25 Therefore he knows their deeds; he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.”
26 “He strikes them down as wicked men, where everyone can see,
27 because they turned away from following him and paid no attention to any of his ways.
28 They caused the cry of the poor to reach him, and he hears the cry of the oppressed.
29 If he is silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? It is the same with a nation or with a person.
30 He does this so that a godless man will not reign, one who sets traps for the people.
31 For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne my punishment; I will do evil no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will do it no more’?
33 Should he repay you on your terms, since you have rejected his way? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
34 Men of understanding will tell me, and the wise man who listens to me will say:
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge, and his words lack good sense.’
36 May Job be tested to the end, because his answers are like those of evildoers!
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
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