Job, 34

¹ So E·liʹhu continued to say in reply:

² “Listen to my words, you who are wise; Hear me, you who know so much.

³ For the ear tests words Just as the tongue^*1 tastes food.

⁴ Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right; Let us decide among ourselves what is good.

⁵ For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, But God has denied me justice.

⁶ Would I lie about what my own judgment should be? My wound is incurable, though there is no transgression.’

⁷ What other man is like Job, Who drinks up derision like water?

⁸ He is in company with wrongdoers And in association with wicked men.

⁹ For he has said, ‘A man does not benefit From trying to please God.’

¹⁰ So listen to me, you men of understanding:^*1 It is unthinkable for the true God to act wickedly, For the Almighty to do wrong!

¹¹ For he will reward a man according to what he does And bring upon him the consequences of his ways.

¹² For a certainty, God does not act wickedly; The Almighty does not pervert justice.

¹³ Who put him in charge of the earth, And who appointed him over the whole world?^*1

¹⁴ If he fixes his attention^*1 on them, If he gathers their spirit and breath to himself,

¹⁵ All humans^*1 would perish together, And mankind would return to the dust.

¹⁶ So if you have understanding, pay attention to this; Listen carefully to what I say.

¹⁷ Should someone who hates justice be in control, Or would you condemn a powerful one who is righteous?

¹⁸ Would you say to a king, ‘You are good for nothing,’ Or to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?

¹⁹ There is One who does not show partiality to princes And who does not favor the rich over the poor,^*1 For they are all the work of his hands.

²⁰ They may die suddenly, in the middle of the night; They shake violently and pass away; Even the powerful are removed, but not by human hands.

²¹ For God’s eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.

²² There is no darkness or deep shadow Where wrongdoers can conceal themselves.

²³ For God has not set an appointed time for any man To appear before him in judgment.

²⁴ He breaks the powerful without needing to investigate And sets up others in their place.

²⁵ For he knows what they are doing; He overthrows them during the night, and they are crushed.

²⁶ He strikes them for their wickedness, In a place where all can see,

²⁷ Because they have turned away from following him And have no regard for any of his ways;

²⁸ They cause the poor to cry out to him, So that he hears the outcry of the helpless.

²⁹ When God remains silent, who can condemn him? When he hides his face, who can see him? Whether toward a nation or a man, the result is the same,

³⁰ So that a godless person^*1 may not rule Or lay snares for the people.

³¹ For will anyone say to God, ‘I have been punished, although I have committed no offense;

³² Teach me what I have failed to see; If I have done anything wrong, I will not do it again’?

³³ Should he reward you on your terms when you reject his judgment? You must decide, not I. So tell me what you know so well.

³⁴ Men of understanding^*1 will say to me —Any wise man who hears me—

³⁵ ‘Job speaks without knowledge, And his words lack insight.’

³⁶ Let Job be tested^*1 to the limit Because his replies are like those of wicked men!

³⁷ He adds rebellion to his sin; He scornfully claps his hands before us And multiplies his words against the true God!”