The Book of Job

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- Chapter 34 -

Elihu proclaims God's righteousness

After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say:

May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me.

For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste.

Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best.

For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment.

For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.”

What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water,

who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men?

For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.”

Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.

For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them.

For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment.

What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made?

But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself.

All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes.

Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence.

Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just?

He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious.

He does not accept the reputation of leaders; nor does he recognize the tyrant as he contends against the poor. For all are the work of his hands.

They will die suddenly, and the people will be troubled in the middle of the night, but they will pass through it, and the violent will be taken away without a hand.(a)

(b)

For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps.

There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden.

For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God.

He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place.

For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed.

Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen.(c)

They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways,

so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor.

For, when he grants peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hides his face, who is there that can contemplate him, either among the nations, or among all men?

He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people.

Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same.

If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more.

Does God require this of you because it is displeasing to you? For you were the first to speak, and not I. But if you know something better, speak.

Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me.

But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching.

My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity.

For he adds blasphemy on top of his sins; nevertheless, let him be constrained to be among us, and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.

Footnotes

(a)34:20 In the Bible, the expression, ‘without a hand’ (absque manu) generally refers to situations where God accomplishes something without making use of human intervention, i.e. by angelic or divine intervention. In this verse, they take away the violent without human assistance. They could refer to angels, but since the subject of the sentence is not specified, the translation avoids specifying the subject by converting the phrase to passive tense.(Conte)

(b)34:20 This verse refers to the Three Days of Darkness, when many will die, and many will be troubled in the midst of darkness (or, in the middle of night), but they will survive and pass through the darkness, and then they will find that the violent have been taken away without human intervention, without a hand.(Conte)

(c)34:26 Or, “Just as the impious do, he has struck them in plain view.” The impious strike others unjustly in plain view, for they have such influence over society that they can strike and not be held accountable themselves. But God will strike them in the same way, in plain view of the whole world.(Conte)

Elihu proclaims God's righteousness

Moreover Elihu answered,

“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.

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

For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right.

Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’

What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,

who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?

For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’

“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.

For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?

If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,

all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

“If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,

who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?

He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of his hands.

In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.

“For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.

There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,

so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.

When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,

that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:

‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’

I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”