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Job 34

King James Version

1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said, 2 Hear my words, O ye wise men ; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. 4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. 5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. 6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. 7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? 8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. 9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. 10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. 11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. 13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? 14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; 15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. 16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. 17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? 18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? 19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. 20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. 21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. 22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23 For he will not lay upon man more than right ; that he should enter into judgment with God. 24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. 25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed. 26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; 27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: 28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. 29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: 30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. 31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement , I will not offend any more : 32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. 33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. 34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. 35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. 36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. 37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God. 

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain.
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Job 34

English Standard Version



1 Then Elihu answered and said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know; 3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. (Job 12:11) 4 Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good. (1Th 5:21) 5 For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right; (Job 27:2; Job 33:9) 6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ (Job 33:9) 7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water, (Job 15:16) 8 who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men? (Ps 1:1) 9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.’ (Job 9:22; Job 9:30; Job 21:7; Job 21:15; Job 24:1; Job 35:3; Mal 3:14) 10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. (Ge 18:25; De 32:4; 2Ch 19:7; Job 36:23; Ps 92:15; Ro 9:14) 11 For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him. (Ps 62:12; Pr 24:12; Jer 17:10; Jer 32:19; Eze 33:20; Mt 16:27; Ro 2:6; 2Co 5:10; 1Pe 1:17; Re 22:12) 12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice. (Job 8:3) 13 Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him[1] the whole world? (Job 38:4) 14 If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, (Job 2:3; Job 32:8; Ps 104:29; Ps 146:4) 15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. (Job 10:9) 16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say. 17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, (Ge 18:25) 18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’ (Ex 22:28) 19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? (De 10:17; 2Ch 19:7; Job 31:15; Ac 10:34; Ro 2:11; Ga 2:6; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25; Jas 2:5; 1Pe 1:17) 20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. (Ex 11:4; Job 21:13; Job 27:20; Job 36:20; La 4:6; Da 8:25) 21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. (Job 14:16; Job 31:4) 22 There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves. (Job 3:5; Ps 139:12; Am 9:2; Heb 4:13) 23 For God[2] has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment. (Job 14:3) 24 He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. (Job 8:19; Ps 2:9) 25 Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed. (Pr 12:7) 26 He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see, 27 because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways, (1Sa 15:11; Ps 28:5; Isa 5:12) 28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted— (Ge 18:20; Ex 3:7; Ex 22:23; Job 35:9; Isa 32:17; Jas 5:4) 29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?— 30 that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. 31 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more; 32 teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’? (Job 35:11; Job 36:22; Ps 19:12; Ps 86:11) 33 Will he then make repayment to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.[3] (Job 33:32) 34 Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say: 35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.’ (Job 35:16) 36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men. 37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” (Job 27:23) 

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The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.