Job 34:1-37 LSB

[1] Then Elihu answered and said, [2] “Hear my speech, you wise men, And give ear to me, you who know. [3] “For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food. [4] “Let us choose for ourselves what is just; Let us know among ourselves what is good. [5] “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has removed my justice; [6] Should I lie concerning my justice? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ [7] “What man is like Job, Who drinks up mocking like water, [8] But he travels in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men? [9] “For he has said, ‘It is of no use to a man When he is pleased with God.’ [10] “Therefore, listen to me, you men with a heart of wisdom. Far be it from God to do injustice, And from the Almighty to do wrong. [11] “For He pays a man according to his work, And makes him find it according to his way. [12] “Truly, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice. [13] “Who appointed Him with authority over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world? [14] “If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, [15] All flesh would breathe its last together, And man would return to dust. [16] “But if you have understanding, hear this; Give ear to the sound of my speech. [17] “Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One, [18] Who says to a king, ‘Vile one,’ To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’; [19] Who shows no partiality to princes Nor recognizes the rich above the poor, For they all are the work of His hands? [20] “In a moment they die, and at midnight People are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without a hand. [21] “For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps. [22] “There is no darkness or shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. [23] “For He does not need to consider a man further, That he should go before God in judgment. [24] “He breaks in pieces mighty men without searching anything out, And sets others in their place. [25] “Therefore He recognizes their labors, And He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed. [26] “He strikes them like the wicked In a public place, [27] Because they turned aside from following Him, And had no insight from any of His ways; [28] So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted. [29] So if He keeps quiet, who then can condemn? So if He hides His face, who then can perceive Him? He is above both nation and man altogether, [30] So that godless men would not rule Nor be snares of the people. [31] “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have borne chastisement; I will not work destructively anymore; [32] Instruct me what I do not behold; If I have done injustice, I will not do it again’? [33] “Shall He repay on your terms, because you have rejected it? For you must choose, and not I; Therefore say what you know. [34] “Men with a heart of wisdom will say to me, And a wise man who hears me, [35] ‘Job speaks without knowledge, And his words are without insight. [36] ‘Job ought to be tested to the limit Because he answers like wicked men. [37] ‘For he adds transgression to his sin; He strikes his hands together among us, And multiplies his words against God.’”