1901 American Standard Version (ASV)

Job 34

1 Elihu accuseth Job for charging God with injustice. 10 God omnipotent cannot be unjust. 31 Man must humble himself unto God. 34 Elihu reproveth Job.

 34:1 ¶ Moreover Elihu answered and said,

 34:2 Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

 34:3 For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.

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

 34:5 For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:

 34:6 Notwithstanding my right I am [accounted] a liar; My wound is incurable, [though I am] without transgression.

 34:7 What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scoffing like water,

 34:8 Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?

 34:9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.

 34:10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye 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 the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.

 34:12 Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

 34:13 Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?

 34:14 If he set his heart upon himself, [If] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

 34:15 All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.

 34:16 If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.

 34:17 Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous [and] mighty? --

 34:18 [Him] that saith to a king, [Thou art] vile, [Or] to nobles, [Ye are] wicked;

 34:19 That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth 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 without hand.

 34:21 For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.

 34:22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

 34:23 For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

 34:24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men [in ways] past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.

 34:25 Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

 34:26 He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;

 34:27 Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:

 34:28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.

 34:29 When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether [it be done] unto a nation, or unto a man:

 34:30 That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.

 34:31 For hath any said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:

 34:32 That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

 34:33 Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.

 34:34 Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:

 34:35 Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.

 34:36 Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.

 34:37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.