Job 34:1-37 GW

[1] Elihu continued to speak to Job and his friends, [2] "Listen to my words, you wise men. Open your ears to me, you intelligent men. [3] The ear tests words like the tongue tastes food. [4] Let's decide for ourselves what is right and agree among ourselves as to what is good, [5] because Job has said, 'I'm righteous, but God has taken away my rights. [6] I'm considered a liar in spite of my rights. I've been wounded by a deadly arrow, though I haven't been disobedient.' [7] What person is like Job, who drinks scorn like water, [8] who travels with troublemakers and associates with evil people? [9] He says, 'It doesn't do any good to try to please God.' [10] "You people who have understanding, listen to me. It is unthinkable that God would ever do evil or that the Almighty would ever do wicked things. [11] God will repay humanity for what it has done and will give each person what he deserves. [12] Certainly, God will never do anything evil, and the Almighty will never pervert justice. [13] Who put him in charge of the earth? Who appointed him to be over the whole world? [14] If he thought only of himself and withdrew his Spirit and his breath, [15] all living beings would die together, and humanity would return to dust. [16] "If you understand, listen to this. Open your ears to my words! [17] Should anyone who hates justice be allowed to govern? Will you condemn the one who is righteous and mighty? [18] Should anyone even say to a king, 'You good-for-nothing scoundrel!' or to nobles, 'You wicked people!' [19] The one who is righteous and mighty does not grant special favors to princes or prefer important people over poor people because his hands made them all. [20] They die suddenly in the middle of the night. People have seizures and pass away. Mighty people are taken away but not by human hands. [21] God's eyes are on a person's ways. He sees all his steps. [22] There's no darkness or deep shadow where troublemakers can hide. [23] He doesn't have to set a time for a person in order to bring him to divine judgment. [24] He breaks mighty people into pieces without examining them and puts others in their places. [25] He knows what they do, so he overthrows them at night, and they're crushed. [26] In return for their evil, he strikes them in public, [27] because they turned away from following him and didn't consider any of his ways. [28] They forced the poor to cry out to him, and he hears the cry of those who suffer. [29] If he keeps quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him whether it is a nation or a single person? [30] He does this so that godless people cannot rule and so that they cannot trap people. [31] "But suppose such a person says to God, 'I am guilty, I will stop my immoral behavior. [32] Teach me what I cannot see. If I've done wrong, I won't do it again.' [33] Should God reward you on your own terms since you have rejected his? You must choose, not I. Tell me what you know. Speak! [34] "People of understanding, the wise people who listen to me, will say, [35] 'Job speaks without knowledge. His words show no insight.' [36] "My Father, let Job be thoroughly tested for giving answers like wicked people do. [37] He adds disobedience to his sin. He claps his hands to insult us. He multiplies his words against God."