Job 34

1Then Elihu answered:

2“Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you who have knowledge.

3For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.

4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

5For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, but God has taken away my justice.

6Though I am right, I am counted a liar; the arrow in me is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

7What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,

8who keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?

9For he has said, ‘It does a man no good to take delight in God.’

10So listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to do wrong.

11For he repays a person for what he has done; he brings on each one what his ways deserve.

12Surely God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

13Who put him in charge of the earth? Who laid the whole world on him?

14If he were to set his heart on it and gather back to himself his spirit and his breath,

15all flesh would perish together, and human beings would return to dust.

16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I am saying.

17Can one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the one who is righteous and mighty?

18Does anyone say to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked men’?

19He shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.

20In a moment they die; at midnight people are shaken and pass away; the mighty are removed, but not by a human hand.

21For his eyes are on a person’s ways; he sees every step he takes.

22There is no darkness, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide.

23For he does not need to consider a person any further, that he should come before God in judgment.

24He shatters the mighty without an inquiry and sets others in their place.

25So he knows their deeds; he overthrows them in the night, and they are crushed.

26He strikes them down as wicked men where others can see,

27because they turned aside from following him and paid no attention to any of his ways,

28and so they brought the cry of the poor before him, and he hears the cry of the afflicted.

29When he keeps quiet, who can condemn him? When he hides his face, who can see him? He is over nation and individual alike,

30so that the godless may not reign, and those who ensnare the people may not rule.

31For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne my punishment; I will not offend anymore.

32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again’?

33Should he repay on your terms, when you have rejected it? You must choose, not I; so tell us what you know.

34Men of understanding will say to me, and any wise man who hears me:

35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’

36I wish Job were tested to the limit for answering like wicked men.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”