Job 34

1Elihu answered and said,

2Hear my words, wise ones, and give ear to me, you who know.

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

4Let us choose justice for ourselves; let us know among ourselves what is good.

5For Job claims, “I am in the right, but God has deprived me of justice.”

6Against my right I am a liar; my wound is incurable without transgression.

7Who is a man like Job, who drinks scorn like water?

8who travels in fellowship with workers of evil and walks with wicked men.

9For he has said, "A man gains nothing by delighting himself with God."

10Therefore, men of understanding, listen to me: far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty injustice.

11For he repays a man's deed to him, and causes every man to find according to his path.

12Surely God does no wrong, nor does the Almighty distort justice.

13Who appointed him over the earth? Or who set the whole world?

14If he directs his heart to himself, if he gathers his spirit and his breath to himself,

15All flesh would expire together, and man would return to dust.

16If you have understanding, hear this; give ear to the voice of my words.

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

18Who says to a king, "Worthless!" or to nobles, "Guilty!"?

19who shows no partiality to princes, nor prefers the rich to the poor, for all are his handiwork.

20In a moment they die, and at midnight people shake and pass away, while the mighty are taken away not by hand.

21For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.

22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where doers of evil may hide.

23For he does not examine a man any further to bring him before God in judgment.

24He shatters the mighty without examination and raises others in their place.

25Therefore he recognizes their deeds and overthrows them at night, so they are crushed.

26He strikes them like the wicked in the sight of onlookers.

27because they so turned aside from following him and did not consider any of his ways

28to bring the cry of the poor to him, and he hears the cry of the afflicted.

29When he brings quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can regard him? Alike to a nation or to a man.

30so that a hypocritical man does not reign and ensnare the people.

31Surely, has anyone said to God, "I have borne; I will not offend."

32Apart from what I behold, instruct me; if I have committed iniquity, I will not do it again.

33Will he repay it to suit you, for you refused? For you choose, and not I—what do you know? Speak.

34Men with understanding will say to me, and every wise man who hears me.

35Job speaks without knowledge, and his words lack prudence.

36My desire is that Job be tested to the end because of his answers like wicked men.

37For he adds transgression to his sin, claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.