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34 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

Hear my words, O ye chachamim; and give ear unto me, ye that have da’as.

For the ozen trieth words, as the mouth tasteth food.

Let us choose for ourselves what is mishpat (right); let us know among ourselves what is tov.

For Iyov hath said, I am innocent; and El hath taken away my mishpat (right).

I declare the mishpat (case) against me a lie; though without peysha, my arrow wound is incurable.

What gever is like Iyov, who drinketh up the scorn [of his friends] like mayim?

Who goeth in chaverah with the po’alei aven (workers of iniquity, evildoers), and walketh with anshei resha.

For he hath said, It profiteth a gever nothing that he should please Elohim.

10 Therefore pay heed unto me ye anashei levav (men of understanding); far be it from El, that He should do evil, and from Shaddai, that He should do wrong.

11 For the po’al adam (work of a man) shall He repay unto him, and make every man to find according to the man’s ways.

12 Yea, surely El will not do wickedly, neither will Shaddai pervert mishpat (justice).

13 Who hath given Him right to rule the earth? Or who hath appointed Him over the tevel?

14 If He should so determine, if He gather unto Himself His Ruach and His Neshamah,

15 All basar would perish together, and adam would return unto aphar.

16 If now thou hast binah, hear this: pay heed to the kol (voice) of my words.

17 Shall even one that hateth mishpat (right) govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is Tzaddik and Kabir (the Mighty One)?

18 Is it fit to say to a melech, Thou art beli’ya’al? And to nobles, Ye are rasha.

19 Who shows no partiality to sarim (princes), nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they all are the ma’aseh (work) of His hands.

20 In a moment shall they die, and at chatzot lailah the people shall be shaken, and pass away, and the mighty shall be taken away without human hand.

21 For His eyes are upon the darkhei ish and He seeth all his goings.

22 There is no choshech, nor tzalmavet, where the po’alei aven (evildoers) may hide themselves.

23 For He does not need to consider an ish further for anyone to go before El in mispat (judgment).

24 He shall break in pieces kabirim (mighty men) without investigation, and sets acherim (others) in their place.

25 Therefore He knoweth their works, and He overthroweth them in the lailah, so that they are crushed.

26 He striketh them as resha’im in the open sight of others;

27 Because they turned back from following Him, and would not regard any of His drakhim;

28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry of the aniyim.

29 When He giveth quietness, who then can condemn? When He hideth His panim, who then can behold Him? Whether it be a nation, or an individual only?

30 That the chanef (hypocrite) reign not, nor those who ensnare the people.

31 For has anyone said unto El, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more;

32 Teach Thou me what I see not; im (if) I have done iniquity, I will do no more?

33 Will He then recompense to suit you, just because you disavow it? Thou must choose, not I; therefore speak that of which thou hast da’as.

34 Let anshei levav (men of understanding) say to me, and let a gever chacham who pays heed unto me say,

35 Iyov hath spoken without da’as, and his words were without seichel.

36 Iyov ought to be tried unto the limit, because his answers are those of anshei aven.

37 For he addeth peysha unto his chattat, he clappeth his hands [shaking fist at G-d] among us, and multiplieth his words against El.

34 Then Elihu said:

“Hear my words, you wise men;
    listen to me,(A) you men of learning.
For the ear tests words
    as the tongue tastes food.(B)
Let us discern for ourselves what is right;(C)
    let us learn together what is good.(D)

“Job says, ‘I am innocent,(E)
    but God denies me justice.(F)
Although I am right,
    I am considered a liar;(G)
although I am guiltless,(H)
    his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’(I)
Is there anyone like Job,
    who drinks scorn like water?(J)
He keeps company with evildoers;
    he associates with the wicked.(K)
For he says, ‘There is no profit
    in trying to please God.’(L)

10 “So listen to me,(M) you men of understanding.(N)
    Far be it from God to do evil,(O)
    from the Almighty to do wrong.(P)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;(Q)
    he brings on them what their conduct deserves.(R)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,(S)
    that the Almighty would pervert justice.(T)
13 Who appointed(U) him over the earth?
    Who put him in charge of the whole world?(V)
14 If it were his intention
    and he withdrew his spirit[a](W) and breath,(X)
15 all humanity would perish(Y) together
    and mankind would return to the dust.(Z)

16 “If you have understanding,(AA) hear this;
    listen to what I say.(AB)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?(AC)
    Will you condemn the just and mighty One?(AD)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles,(AE) ‘You are wicked,’(AF)
19 who shows no partiality(AG) to princes
    and does not favor the rich over the poor,(AH)
    for they are all the work of his hands?(AI)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;(AJ)
    the people are shaken and they pass away;
    the mighty are removed without human hand.(AK)

21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;(AL)
    he sees their every step.(AM)
22 There is no deep shadow,(AN) no utter darkness,(AO)
    where evildoers can hide.(AP)
23 God has no need to examine people further,(AQ)
    that they should come before him for judgment.(AR)
24 Without inquiry he shatters(AS) the mighty(AT)
    and sets up others in their place.(AU)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,(AV)
    he overthrows them in the night(AW) and they are crushed.(AX)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness(AY)
    where everyone can see them,
27 because they turned from following him(AZ)
    and had no regard for any of his ways.(BA)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
    so that he heard the cry of the needy.(BB)
29 But if he remains silent,(BC) who can condemn him?(BD)
    If he hides his face,(BE) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,(BF)
30     to keep the godless(BG) from ruling,(BH)
    from laying snares for the people.(BI)

31 “Suppose someone says to God,
    ‘I am guilty(BJ) but will offend no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;(BK)
    if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’(BL)
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
    when you refuse to repent?(BM)
You must decide, not I;
    so tell me what you know.

34 “Men of understanding declare,
    wise men who hear me say to me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;(BN)
    his words lack insight.’(BO)
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
    for answering like a wicked man!(BP)
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
    scornfully he claps his hands(BQ) among us
    and multiplies his words(BR) against God.”(BS)

Footnotes

  1. Job 34:14 Or Spirit