Job 34 — The Holy Bible

Elihu Proclaims God's Justice

Job 34, verse 1. Elihu continued and said:

“Hear me, O wise men who are present,

And pay close attention to what is good.

For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.

Let us choose judgment for ourselves;

Let us know among ourselves what is good.

For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,

And the Lord has taken away my judgment.’

But he spoke untruth in my judgment when he said,

‘My wound is severe, though I am without wrongdoing.’

What man is like Job,

Who drinks scorn like water?

For he says, ‘I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness,

Nor had anything in common with the workers of lawlessness,

So as to walk with ungodly men.’

For you should not say, ‘There shall be no visitation of a man,’

Whereas there is a visitation on him from the Lord.

“Therefore listen to me, you wise in heart:

May it be far from me to act in an ungodly way before the Lord

And to pervert righteousness before the Almighty.

Yes, He renders to a man as each one of them does,

And in a man's path He will find him.

Do you think the Lord will do wrong,

Or will the Almighty who made the earth pervert judgment?

Who is He who created everything under heaven

And all things therein?

If He should wish to hold and restrain His breath within Himself,

All flesh would die together,

And every mortal would return to the ground

From which he was formed.

Take heed to this, lest He warn you;

Pay close attention to the voice of His words.

Behold then the one who hates lawless things

And destroys the evil ones.

He is forever righteous.

He is ungodly who says to a king, ‘You act contrary to the law,’

And to rulers, ‘O, most ungodly one.’

Such a man is not ashamed

Before the face of an honorable man,

Nor does he know how to give honor to the great,

So as to show proper respect.

But it will prove to be in vain for them to cry out

And beg the favor of a man;

For they dealt unlawfully when they turned aside the weak.

“For He is the observer of the works of man,

And nothing of what they do escapes Him.

There is no place for the workers of lawlessness to hide themselves.

He need not further consider a man,

For the Lord gazes upon all men.

He comprehends unsearchable things,

Glorious also and extraordinary things without number.

He discloses their works;

And He will overthrow them in the night,

And they will be brought low.

He extinguishes the ungodly,

For they are visible before Him,

Because they turned aside from the law of God

And would not regard His ordinances,

So as to bring before Him the cry of the needy;

For He will hear the cry of the poor.

He will provide quietness, and who shall condemn Him?

And He will hide His face, and who shall see Him?

Whether it be done against a nation or a man jointly,

To cause a hypocrite to be king,

Because of the discontent of the people.

“For there is one that says to the Mighty One,

‘I have received blessings; I will not take in pledge;

I will see apart from myself;

Show me if I have done unrighteousness,

And I will do so no more.’

Will He not take vengeance for it from you,

Because you failed to listen to your conscience?

For you will choose, and not I;

Therefore, speak what you know.

Elihu Rebukes Job Sternly

“For this reason wise men in heart shall say this,

And a wise man listens to my word.

But Job has spoken without understanding,

And his words are without knowledge.

But learn, Job, and no longer answer like that of foolish men,

That we add not to our sins;

For lawlessness will be counted against us

If we speak many words against the Lord.”