Job 34
34
1Elihu continued:
2Hear my words, wise ones;
knowledgeable ones, listen to me,
3for the ear tests words
like the palate tastes food.
4Let’s choose for us what’s right;
let’s determine among ourselves what’s good;
5for Job has said, “I’m innocent;
God has denied my just cause;
6because of my cause I’m thought a liar;
my wound from an arrow is incurable, even though I didn’t rebel.”
7Who is a man like Job?
He drinks mockery like water
8and travels a path with wrongdoers,
walking with evil persons.
9Indeed he said, “No one is rewarded
for delighting in God.”
10Therefore, intelligent ones, hear me;
far be it from God to do evil
and the Almighty to sin,
11for he repays people based on what they do,
paying back everyone according to their ways.
12Surely God doesn’t act wickedly;
the Almighty doesn’t distort justice.
13Who placed earth in his care,
and who gave him dominion over the entire world?
14If he were to decide to do it—
to gather his spirit and breath back to himself—
15all flesh would die together,
and humans would return to dust.
16But if you have understanding, hear this;
pay attention to the sound of my words.
17Will one who hates justice rule;
will you condemn the most righteous one?
18Will you say to a king, “Worthless!”
to royalty, “Evil!”
19Who shows no favor to princes
nor regards the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of God’s hands?
20In the middle of the night they suddenly die;
people are shaken and pass away.
The mighty are removed, not by a human hand.
21God’s eyes are on human ways,
and he sees all their steps.
22There’s no darkness, no deep darkness,
where evildoers can hide themselves;
23surely no time is set for a person
to appear before God in judgment.
24He shatters the mighty without examining them;
makes others take their place.
25Thus he regards their deeds,
overturns them at night, and they are crushed.
26He strikes them because of their wickedness
at a place where people can see it.
27Because they turned from following him
and didn’t value all his ways,
28causing the cry of the poor to reach him,
he hears the cry of the afflicted.
29Still, if he remains quiet, who can condemn;
if he hides his face, who can see him?
30He prevents a lawless person from ruling,
from capturing people.
31Has Job said to God,
“I have borne punishment; I won’t sin again?
32You teach me what I can’t see;
if I’ve sinned, I won’t do it again.”
33Will he repay you because you reject sin,
for you must choose, not I;
declare what you know.
34Smart people say to me,
the wise who hear me,
35“Job speaks without knowledge;
his words aren’t astute.”
36I wish Job would be tested to the limit
because he responds like evil people.
37He adds rebellion to his sin;
mocks us openly
and adds to his words against God.
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Job 34: CEB
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