Chapter 34

¹Moreover Elihu answered and said, ²Hear my words, ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. ³For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food. ⁴Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good! ⁵For Job hath said, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my judgment: ⁶Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression. ⁷What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water, ⁸And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. ⁹For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God. ¹⁰Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from God, and wrong from the Almighty! ¹¹For a man`s work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to [his] way. ¹²Yea, surely, God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment. ¹³Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world? ¹⁴If he only thought of himself, [and] gathered unto him his spirit and his breath, ¹⁵All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust. ¹⁶If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words! ¹⁷Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just? ¹⁸Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked? ¹⁹[How then to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich man more than the poor? for they are all the work of his hands. ²⁰In a moment they die, even at midnight the people are convulsed and pass away; and the strong are taken away without hand. ²¹For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps. ²²There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. ²³For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before God in judgment. ²⁴He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead; ²⁵Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth [them] in the night, and they are crushed. ²⁶He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others, ²⁷Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways; ²⁸So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. ²⁹When he giveth quietness, who then will disturb? and when he hideth [his] face, who shall behold him? and this towards a nation, or towards a man alike; ³⁰That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared. ³¹For hath he said unto God, I bear [chastisement], I will not offend; ³²What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more? ³³Shall he recompense according to thy mind? for thou hast refused [his judgment]; for thou so choosest, and not I; speak then what thou knowest. ³⁴Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me: ³⁵Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence. ³⁶Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of [his] answers after the manner of evil men! ³⁷For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.