34:1  ELIHU ANSWERED (continued his discourse) and said,

34:2  Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who have [so much] knowledge.

34:3  For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.

34:4  Let us choose for ourselves that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

34:5  For Job has said, I am [innocent and uncompromisingly] righteous, but God has taken away my right;

34:6  Would I lie against my right? Yet, notwithstanding my right, I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

34:7  What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing {and} scorning like water,

34:8  Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity and walks with wicked men?

34:9  For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God {and} consent to Him.

34:10  Therefore hear me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God that He should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that He should commit iniquity.

34:11  For according to the deeds of a man God will [exactly] proportion his pay, and He will cause every man to find [recompense] according to his ways.

34:12  Truly God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

34:13  Who put [God] in charge over the earth? Or who laid on Him the whole world?

34:14  If [God] should set His heart upon him [man] and withdraw His [life-giving] spirit and His breath [from man] to Himself,

34:15  All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

34:16  If now you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

34:17  Is it possible that an enemy of right should govern? And will you condemn Him Who is just {and} mighty?

34:18  [God] Who says to a king, You are worthless {and} vile, or to princes {and} nobles, You are ungodly {and} evil?

34:19  [God] is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of His hands.

34:20  In a moment they die; even at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no [human] hand.

34:21  For [God's] eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.

34:22  There is no darkness nor thick gloom where the evildoers may hide themselves.

34:23  [God] sets before man no appointed time, that he should appear before [Him] in judgment.

34:24  He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry [before a jury] {and} in ways past finding out and sets others in their stead.

34:25  Therefore He takes knowledge of their works, and He overturns them in the night, so that they are crushed {and} destroyed.

34:26  God strikes them down as wicked men in the open sight of beholders,

34:27  Because they turned aside from Him and would not consider {or} show regard for any of His ways,

34:28  So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and He heard the cry of the afflicted.

34:29  When He gives quietness (peace and security from oppression), who then can condemn? When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make Him gracious], whether it be a nation or a man by himself?--

34:30  That the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

34:31  For has anyone said to God, I have borne my chastisement; I will not offend any more;

34:32  Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned]; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

34:33  Should [God's] recompense [for your sins] be as you will it, when you refuse to accept it? For you must do the choosing, and not I; therefore say what is your truthful conclusion.

34:34  Men of understanding will tell me, indeed, every wise man who hears me [will agree],

34:35  That Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom {and} insight.

34:36  [Would that Job's afflictions be continued and] he be tried to the end because of his answering like wicked men!

34:37  For he adds rebellion [in his unsubmissive, defiant attitude toward God] to his unacknowledged sin; he claps his hands [in open mockery and contempt of God] among us, and he multiplies his words of accusation against God.