1 Elihu continued speaking, and said: ISV — Job 34:1
2 “Listen to what I have to say, you wise men! Pay attention to me, you educated people! ISV — Job 34:2
3 Since the ear tests words like a palate tastes food, ISV — Job 34:3
4 let’s choose what’s right for us. Let’s consider among ourselves what is good.” ISV — Job 34:4
5 Now this is Job’s claim: ‘Even though I’m innocent, God has stopped treating me righteously. ISV — Job 34:5
6 Have I lied concerning the justice that I deserve? a34:6 Lit. concerning my justice My wound b34:6 Or cut is incurable, though transgression cannot be attributed to me.’ ISV — Job 34:6
7 “What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water, ISV — Job 34:7
8 traffics in those who practice evil, and walks with wicked people? ISV — Job 34:8
9 Because he says, ‘There’s no profit for a man to find joy with God.’” c34:9 Cf. Mal 3:14 ISV — Job 34:9
10 “Therefore you men of understanding, d34:10 Lit. heart listen to me! Far be it for God to practice wickedness, or the Almighty to do what is wrong, ISV — Job 34:10
11 because he repays a person for his behavior; and according to a person’s e34:11 Lit. man conduct, he lets it happen to f34:11 Lit. it find him. ISV — Job 34:11
12 Truly, God doesn’t practice wickedness, and the Almighty doesn’t pervert justice. ISV — Job 34:12
13 Who entrusted the earth to him? Who made him responsible for the entire inhabited world? ISV — Job 34:13
14 If he were to decide to do so, that is, to take back to himself g34:14 The Heb. lacks to himself his spirit and breath of life, h34:14 The Heb. lacks of life ISV — Job 34:14
15 every living thing would die all at once, i34:15 Lit. die together and mankind would return to dust.” ISV — Job 34:15
16 If you have j34:16 The Heb. lacks you have understanding, listen to this! Pay attention to what I have to say: ISV — Job 34:16
17 Can one who hates justice really govern? And if God k34:17 Lit. he is righteous and mighty, can you condemn him? l34:17 The Heb. lacks him ISV — Job 34:17
18 Can one say to a king, ‘You’re vile!’ or to nobles, ‘You’re wicked!’? ISV — Job 34:18
19 Who isn’t partial to m34:19 Lit. Who doesn’t lift the faces of princes? Who doesn’t give preference to the nobles over the poor? Nevertheless, all of them are his handiwork. ISV — Job 34:19
20 “They die suddenly, in the middle of the night; people suffer seizures and pass away; even valiant men can be taken away— and not by human hands. ISV — Job 34:20
21 Yes, Job, n34:21 The Heb. lacks Job his eyes constantly watch the behavior of human beings; he carefully observes their every step. ISV — Job 34:21
22 There’s no such thing as darkness to him— not even deep darkness— that can conceal those who practice evil. ISV — Job 34:22
23 He won’t examine mankind further, that they would go before God to judgment. ISV — Job 34:23
24 He shatters valiant men without a need to investigate, and he raises others in their place. ISV — Job 34:24
25 Thus he acknowledges their behavior, and overcomes them; when night time comes, they are crushed. ISV — Job 34:25
26 “He strikes o34:26 Or slaps the wicked among them in a place where they can be seen ISV — Job 34:26
27 because they’ve abandoned their pursuit of him and had no respect for any of his ways. ISV — Job 34:27
28 As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him and he has heard the cry of the afflicted. ISV — Job 34:28
29 “If he remains silent, who will condemn him? If he conceals his face, who can see him? He watches over both nation and individual alike, ISV — Job 34:29
30 to keep the godless man from reigning or laying a snare for the people.” ISV — Job 34:30
31 “Has anyone ever really told God, ‘I’ve endured, p34:31 Or carry and I won’t act corruptly anymore. ISV — Job 34:31
32 What I don’t see, instruct me! If I’ve done anything evil, I won’t repeat it!’ ISV — Job 34:32
33 “Should you not be paid back, since you have rejected him? You do the choosing! I won’t! Tell us what you know! ISV — Job 34:33
34 “Men of understanding, speak to me! Are any of you men wise? Then listen to me! ISV — Job 34:34
35 Job has been speaking from his own ignorance, and what he has to say lacks insight! ISV — Job 34:35
36 Oh, how Job needs to be given a full court trial, as a rebuke to those who practice evil, ISV — Job 34:36
37 because he has been adding rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, q34:37 i.e. as a gesture of disrespect and keeps on ranting against God.” ISV — Job 34:37