Job 34:1-22 ▼

1 Then Elihu continued, saying:

2 Hear my words, you wise ones, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.

3 Doesn’t the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

4 Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good.

5 For Job has declared, “I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

6 Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.”

7 What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water.

8 He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.

9 For he has said, “A man gains nothing when he becomes God’s friend.”

10 Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly.

11 For he repays a person according to his deeds, and he gives him what his conduct deserves.

12 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

13 Who gave him authority over the earth? Who put him in charge of the entire world?

14 If he put his mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath he gave,

15 every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

16 If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say.

17 Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,

18 who says to a king, “Worthless man! ” and to nobles, “Wicked men! ”?

19 God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.

20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort.

21 For his eyes watch over a man’s ways, and he observes all his steps.

22 There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide.