Job 34

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 seenISV — 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