Job 34 — Elihu Defends God's Justice

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 us that which is right: Let us know among ourselves what is good.💡

5For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:💡

6Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.💡

7What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scoffing like water,💡

8Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?💡

9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.💡

10Therefore 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.💡

11For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.💡

12Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.💡

13Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?💡

14If he set his heart upon himself, If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;💡

15All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.💡

16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.💡

17Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty?—💡

18Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile, Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;💡

19That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.💡

20In a moment they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without hand.💡

21For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.💡

22There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.💡

23For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.💡

24He breaketh in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.💡

25Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.💡

26He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;💡

27Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:💡

28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.💡

29When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:💡

30That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.💡

31For hath any said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:💡

32That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?💡

33Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.💡

34Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:💡

35220 speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.💡

36Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.💡

37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.💡