1Elihu continued,2‘Hear what I’m saying, you wise men. Listen to me, you who have learned so much.3Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn’t. And our ears tell us what’s true and what isn’t.4So let’s choose for ourselves what is right. Let’s learn together what is good.5‘Job says, “I’m not guilty of doing anything wrong. But God doesn’t treat me fairly.6Even though I’m right, he thinks I’m a liar. Even though I’m not guilty, his arrows give me wounds that can’t be healed.”7Is there anyone like Job? He accuses God as easily as he drinks water.8He’s a companion of those who do evil. He spends his time with sinful people.9He asks, “What good is it to try to please God?”10‘So listen to me, you men who have understanding. God would never do what is evil. The Mighty One would never do what is wrong.11He pays back everyone for what they’ve done. He gives them exactly what they should get.12It isn’t possible for God to do wrong. The Mighty One would never treat people unfairly.13Who appointed him to rule over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world?14If he really wanted to, he could hold back his spirit and breath.15Then everyone would die together. They would return to the dust.16‘Job, if you have understanding, listen to me. Pay attention to what I’m saying.17Can someone who hates to be fair govern? Will you bring charges against the holy and mighty God?18He says to kings, “You are worthless.” He says to nobles, “You are evil.”19He doesn’t favour princes. He treats rich people and poor people the same. His hands created all of them.20They die suddenly in the middle of the night. God strikes them down, and they pass away. Even people who are mighty are removed, but not by human hands.21‘His eyes see how people live. He watches every step they take.22There is no deep shadow or total darkness where those who do what is evil can hide.23God doesn’t need to bring charges against anyone. He knows they are guilty. So he doesn’t need to let them appear in his court to be judged.24He destroys the mighty without asking them questions in court. Then he sets others up in their places.25He knows what they do. So he crushes them during the night.26He punishes them for the sins they commit. He does it where everyone can see them.27That’s because they turned away from following him. They didn’t have respect for anything he does.28They caused poor people to cry out to him. He heard the cries of those who were in need.29But if he remains silent, who can judge him? If he turns his face away, who can see him? He rules over individual people and nations alike.30He keeps those who are ungodly from ruling. He keeps them from laying traps for others.31‘Someone might say to God, “I’m guilty of sinning, but I won’t do it anymore.32Show me my sins that I’m not aware of. If I’ve done what is wrong, I won’t do it again.”33But you refuse to turn away from your sins. So God won’t treat you the way you want to be treated. You must decide, Job. I can’t do it for you. So tell me what you know.34‘You men who have understanding have spoken. You wise men who hear me have said to me,35“Job doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The things he has said don’t make any sense.”36I wish Job would be given the hardest test possible! He answered like someone who is evil.37To his sin he adds even more sin. He claps his hands and makes fun of us. He multiplies his words against God.’
Job 34
English Standard Version
Elihu Asserts God’s Justice
1Then Elihu answered and said:2“Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;3for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. (Job 12:11)4Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good. (1Th 5:21)5For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right; (Job 27:2; Job 33:9)6in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ (Job 33:9)7What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water, (Job 15:16)8who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men? (Ps 1:1)9For 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)11For 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)12Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice. (Job 8:3)13Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him[1] the whole world? (Job 38:4)14If 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)15all 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.17Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, (Ge 18:25)18who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’ (Ex 22:28)19who 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)20In 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)22There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves. (Job 3:5; Ps 139:12; Am 9:2; Heb 4:13)23For God[2] has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment. (Job 14:3)24He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. (Job 8:19; Ps 2:9)25Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed. (Pr 12:7)26He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,27because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways, (1Sa 15:11; Ps 28:5; Isa 5:12)28so 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)29When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?—30that 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;32teach 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)33Will 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)34Men 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)36Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” (Job 27:23)