Job 34-36

1Then Elihu continued:

2“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.

3For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.

4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

5For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

7What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?

8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.

9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’

10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?

14If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,

15all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

17Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,

18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.

20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

21For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.

22There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

23For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.

24He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.

25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

26He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,

27because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.

28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

29But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,

30that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.

31Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.

32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’

33Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed Him? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.

34Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:

35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’

36If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.

37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

1And Elihu went on to say:

2“Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’

3For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’

4I will reply to you and to your friends as well.

5Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you.

6If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him?

7If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand?

8Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only a son of man.

9Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.

10But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives us songs in the night,

11who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’

12There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.

13Surely God does not listen to empty pleas, and the Almighty does not take note of it.

14How much less, then, when you say that you do not see Him, that your case is before Him and you must wait for Him,

15and further, that in His anger He has not punished or taken much notice of folly!

16So Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.”

1And Elihu continued:

2“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.

3I get my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe justice to my Maker.

4For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

5Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

6He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.

7He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.

8And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,

9then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.

10He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.

11If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.

12But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

13The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.

14They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.

15God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.

16Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.

17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.

18Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.

19Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress?

20Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.

21Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.

22Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?

23Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?

24Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.

25All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.

26Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

27For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,

28which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.

29Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?

30See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.

31For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.

32He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.

33The thunder declares His presence; even the cattle regard the rising storm.