Job, starting at chapter 34
{34:1} Moreover Elihu answered,
{34:2} "Hear my words, you wise men.
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
{34:3} For the ear tries words,
as the palate tastes food.
{34:4} Let us choose for us that which is right.
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
{34:5} For Job has said, 'I am righteous,
God has taken away my right:
{34:6} Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar.
My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.'
{34:7} What man is like Job,
who drinks scorn 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.'
{34:10} "Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:
far be it from God, that he should do wickedness,
from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
{34:11} For the work of a man he will render to him,
and cause every man to find according to his ways.
{34:12} Yes surely, God will not do wickedly,
neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
{34:13} Who gave him a charge over the earth?
or who has appointed him over the whole world?
{34:14} If he set his heart on himself,
If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
{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 the voice of my words.
{34:17} Shall even one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?--
{34:18} Who says to a king, 'Vile!'
or to nobles, 'Wicked!'?
{34:19} Who doesn't respect the persons of princes,
nor regards 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.
The mighty are taken away without a hand.
{34:21} "For his eyes are on the ways of a man.
He sees all his goings.
{34:22} There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,
where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
{34:23} For he doesn't need to consider a man further,
that he should go before God in judgment.
{34:24} He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out,
and sets others in their place.
{34:25} Therefore he takes knowledge of their works.
He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
{34:26} He strikes them as wicked men
in the open sight of others;
{34:27} because they turned aside from following him,
and wouldn't pay attention to any of his ways,
{34:28} so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him.
He heard the cry of the afflicted.
{34:29} When he gives quietness, who then can condemn?
When he hides his face, who then can see him?
Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,
{34:30} that the godless man may not reign,
that there be no one to ensnare the people.
{34:31} "For has any said to God,
'I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
{34:32} Teach me that which I don't see.
If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?
{34:33} Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it?
For you must choose, and not I.
Therefore speak what you know.
{34:34} Men of understanding will tell me,
yes, every wise man who hears me:
{34:35} 'Job speaks without knowledge.
His words are without wisdom.'
{34:36} I wish that Job were tried to the end,
because of his answering like wicked men.
{34:37} For he adds rebellion to his sin.
He claps his hands among us,
and multiplies his words against God."
{35:1} Moreover Elihu answered,
{35:2} "Do you think this to be your right,
or do you say, 'My righteousness is more than God's,'
{35:3} That you ask, 'What advantage will it be to you?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'
{35:4} I will answer you,
and your companions with you.
{35:5} Look to the heavens, and see.
See the skies, which are higher than you.
{35:6} If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him?
If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
{35:7} If you are righteous, what do you give him?
Or what does he receive from your hand?
{35:8} Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are,
and your righteousness may profit a son of man.
{35:9} "By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out.
They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.
{35:10} But none says, 'Where is God my Maker,
who gives songs in the night,
{35:11} who teaches us more than the animals of the earth,
and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'
{35:12} There they cry, but none gives answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
{35:13} Surely God will not hear an empty cry,
neither will the Almighty regard it.
{35:14} How much less when you say you don't see him.
The cause is before him, and you wait for him!
{35:15} But now, because he has not visited in his anger,
neither does he greatly regard arrogance.
{35:16} Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk,
and he multiplies words without knowledge."
{36:1} Elihu also continued, and said,
{36:2} "Bear with me a little, and I will show you;
for I still have something to say on God's behalf.
{36:3} I will get my knowledge from afar,
and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
{36:4} For truly my words are not false.
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
{36:5} "Behold, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone.
He is mighty in strength of understanding.
{36:6} He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked,
but gives to the afflicted their right.
{36:7} He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
but with kings on the throne,
he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
{36:8} If they are bound in fetters,
and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
{36:9} then he shows them their work,
and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
{36:10} He also opens their ears to instruction,
and commands that they return from iniquity.
{36:11} If they listen and serve him,
they shall spend their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasures.
{36:12} But if they don't listen, they shall perish by the sword;
they shall die without knowledge.
{36:13} "But those who are godless in heart lay up anger.
They don't cry for help when he binds them.
{36:14} They die in youth.
Their life perishes among the unclean.
{36:15} He delivers the afflicted by their affliction,
and opens their ear in oppression.
{36:16} Yes, he would have allured you out of distress,
into a broad place, where there is no restriction.
That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
{36:17} "But you are full of the judgment of the wicked.
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
{36:18} Don't let riches entice you to wrath,
neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
{36:19} Would your wealth sustain you in distress,
or all the might of your strength?
{36:20} Don't desire the night,
when people are cut off in their place.
{36:21} Take heed, don't regard iniquity;
for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
{36:22} Behold, God is exalted in his power.
Who is a teacher like him?
{36:23} Who has prescribed his way for him?
Or who can say, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'
{36:24} "Remember that you magnify his work,
whereof men have sung.
{36:25} All men have looked thereon.
Man sees it afar off.
{36:26} Behold, God is great, and we don't know him.
The number of his years is unsearchable.
{36:27} For he draws up the drops of water,
which distill in rain from his vapor,
{36:28} Which the skies pour down
and which drop on man abundantly.
{36:29} Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds,
and the thunderings of his pavilion?
{36:30} Behold, he spreads his light around him.
He covers the bottom of the sea.
{36:31} For by these he judges the people.
He gives food in abundance.
{36:32} He covers his hands with the lightning,
and commands it to strike the mark.
{36:33} Its noise tells about him,
and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.
___
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