Job 34:1-22 ▼

1 And Elihu answers and says:

2 “Hear, O wise men, my words, || And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.

3 For the ear tries words, || And the palate tastes to eat.

4 Let us choose judgment for ourselves, || Let us know among ourselves what [is] good.

5 For Job has said, I have been righteous, || And God has turned aside my right,

6 Against my right do I lie? My arrow [is] mortal—without transgression.

7 Who [is] a man like Job? He drinks scoffing like water,

8 And he has traveled for company || With workers of iniquity, || So as to go with men of wickedness.

9 For he has said, It does not profit a man || When he delights himself with God.

10 Therefore, O men of heart, listen to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, || And [from] the Mighty to do perverseness,

11 For He repays the work of man to him, || And according to the path of each He causes him to find.

12 Indeed, truly, God does not do wickedly, || And the Mighty does not pervert judgment.

13 Who has inspected for Himself the earth? And who has placed all the habitable world?

14 If He sets His heart on him, || [If] He gathers His Spirit and His breath to Himself,

15 All flesh expires together, || And man returns to dust.

16 And if [there is] understanding, hear this, || Give ear to the voice of my words.

17 Indeed, does one hating justice govern? Or do you condemn the Most Just?

18 Who has said to a king, Worthless, || To princes, Wicked?

19 That has not accepted the person of princes, || Nor has known the rich before the poor, || For all of them [are] a work of His hands.

20 [In] a moment they die, || And at midnight people shake, || And they pass away, || And they remove the mighty without hand.

21 For His eyes [are] on the ways of each, || And He sees all his steps.

22 There is no darkness nor death-shade, || For workers of iniquity to be hidden there;