Job 34

Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice

1 Elihu further answered and said:

2 "Hear my words, you wise men;

Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

3 *Job 6:30; 12:11For the ear tests words

As the palate tastes food.

4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;

Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 "For Job has said, *Job 13:18; 33:9‘I am righteous,

But *Job 27:2God has taken away my justice;

6 *Job 6:4; 9:17Should I lie concerning my right?

My wound is incurable, thoughIam without transgression.’

7 What man is like Job,

*Job 15:16Who drinks scorn like water,

8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,

And walks with wicked men?

9 For *Mal. 3:14he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing

That he should delight in God.’

10 "Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:

*(Gen. 18:25; Deut. 32:4; 2 Chr. 19:7); Job 8:3; 36:23; Ps. 92:15; Rom. 9:14Far be it from God todo wickedness,

And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.

11 *Job 34:25; Ps. 62:12; (Prov. 24:12; Jer. 32:19); Ezek. 33:20; (Matt. 16:27); Rom. 2:6; (2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 22:12)For He repays man accordingto his work,

And makes man to find a reward according to his way.

12 Surely God will never do wickedly,

Nor will the Almighty *Job 8:3pervert justice.

13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?

Or who appointed Himover the whole world?

14 If He should set His heart on it,

If He should *Job 12:10; Ps. 104:29; (Eccl. 12:7)gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,

15 *(Gen. 3:19); Job 10:9; (Eccl. 12:7)All flesh would perish together,

And man would return to dust.

16 "If youhave understanding, hear this;

Listen to the sound of my words:

17 *2 Sam. 23:3; Job 34:30Should one who hates justice govern?

Will you *Job 40:8condemn Himwhois most just?

18 *Ex. 22:28Isitfitting to say to a king, ‘Youare worthless,’

And to nobles, ‘Youare wicked’?

19 Yet He *(Deut. 10:17; Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11, 12)is not partial to princes,

Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;

For *Job 31:15they are all the work of His hands.

20 In a moment they die, *Ex. 12:29; Job 34:25; 36:20in the middle of the night;

The people are shaken and pass away;

The mighty are taken away without a hand.

21 "For*(2 Chr. 16:9); Job 31:4; Ps. 34:15; (Prov. 5:21; 15:3; Jer. 16:17; 32:19) His eyes are on the ways of man,

And He sees all his steps.

22 *(Ps. 139:11, 12; Amos 9:2, 3)There is no darkness nor shadow of death

Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 For He need not further consider a man,

That he should go before God in judgment.

24 *Job 12:19; (Dan. 2:21)He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,

And sets others in their place.

25 Therefore He knows their works;

He overthrows them in the night,

And they are crushed.

26 He strikes them as wicked men

In the open sight of others,

27 Because they *1 Sam. 15:11turned back from Him,

And *Ps. 28:5; Is. 5:12would not consider any of His ways,

28 So that they *Job 35:9; James 5:4caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;

For He *(Ex. 22:23); Job 22:27hears the cry of the afflicted.

29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?

And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,

Whether itis against a nation or a man alone?—

30 That the hypocrite should not reign,

Lest the people be ensnared.

31 "For has anyone said to God,

‘I have borne chastening;

I will offend no more;

32 Teach me what I do not see;

If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?

33 Should He repay it according to your terms,

Just because you disavow it?

You must choose, and not I;

Therefore speak what you know.

34 "Men of understanding say to me,

Wise men who listen to me:

35 ‘Job*Job 35:16; 38:2 speaks without knowledge,

His words are without wisdom.’

36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,

Because his answers arelike those of wicked men!

37 For he adds *Job 7:11; 10:1rebellion to his sin;

He claps hishands among us,

And multiplies his words against God."