Job 34

Elihu Calls for Attention

1 Then Elihu spoke again:

2 “Listen up, you wise men; pay attention, you who know.

3 The ear tests words like the tongue tastes food.

4 Let us choose justice for ourselves; let us know what is good together.

Elihu Calls Out Job’s Words

5 For Job said, ‘I am righteous, but God’s denied me justice.

6 Though I am right, I get called a liar; my wound’s incurable, though I have done no wrong.’

7 Is there anyone like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,

8 Who hangs out with evildoers and walks with wicked men,

9 He says, ‘It does not profit a man to delight in God.’”

God Is Just

10 “So listen to me, men of understanding: Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.

11 He repays everyone for what they do; He makes them reap what they have sown.

12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.

13 Who put Him in charge of the earth, Who assigned Him the whole world,

14 If He set His heart on man and took back His spirit and breath,

15 All humanity would perish together, and mankind would return to dust.”

God Rules Over All

16 “If you got understanding, hear this; listen to what I say:

17 Can someone who hates justice govern, Will you condemn the righteous and mighty One,

18 Is He not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked’,

19 He shows no favoritism to princes, does not prefer the rich over the poor, because all of them are the work of His hands.

20 They die in a moment, at midnight; the people tremble and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hands.”

God Sees Everything

21 “God’s eyes are on a man’s ways; He sees every step he takes.

22 No darkness or shadow thick enough to hide evildoers from Him.

23 He does not need to examine a man long before bringing him to judgment.

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

25 Because He knows their deeds, He overturns them in the night and they are crushed.

26 He strikes them down for their wickedness where people can see,

27 Because they turned away from following Him and paid no attention to His ways.

28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, so He heard the cry of the needy.

29 But when He is silent, who can condemn Him, When He hides His face, who can see Him, Yet He still rules over nations and men alike.

30 He keeps godless men from ruling, from laying traps for the people.”

Elihu Tells Job to Repent

31 “Suppose someone says to God, ‘I am guilty but will not sin anymore.

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

33 Should God reward you on your terms when you reject His, You must choose, not me. So speak what you know.

34 Men of understanding will tell me, wise men who hear me say,

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

36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the end, for answering like wicked men.

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