34 Elihu answered (continued his discourse) and said,

² Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who have [so much] knowledge.

³ For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.

⁴ Let us choose for ourselves that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

⁵ For Job has said, I am [innocent and uncompromisingly] righteous, but God has taken away my right;^(A)

⁶ Would I lie against my right? Yet, notwithstanding my right, I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

⁷ What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing and scorning like water,

⁸ Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity and walks with wicked men?

⁹ For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God and consent to Him.

¹⁰ Therefore hear me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God that He should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that He should commit iniquity.

¹¹ For according to the deeds of a man God will [exactly] proportion his pay, and He will cause every man to find [recompense] according to his ways.

¹² Truly God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

¹³ Who put [God] in charge over the earth? Or who laid on Him the whole world?

¹⁴ If [God] should set His heart upon him [man] and withdraw His [life-giving] spirit and His breath [from man] to Himself,

¹⁵ All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.^(B)

¹⁶ If now you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

¹⁷ Is it possible that an enemy of right should govern? And will you condemn Him Who is just and mighty?

¹⁸ [God] Who says to a king, You are worthless and vile, or to princes and nobles, You are ungodly and evil?

¹⁹ [God] is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of His hands.

²⁰ In a moment they die; even at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no [human] hand.

²¹ For [God’s] eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.^(C)

²² There is no darkness nor thick gloom where the evildoers may hide themselves.

²³ [God] sets before man no appointed time, that he should appear before [Him] in judgment.

²⁴ He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry [before a jury] and in ways past finding out and sets others in their stead.^(D)

²⁵ Therefore He takes knowledge of their works, and He overturns them in the night, so that they are crushed and destroyed.

²⁶ God strikes them down as wicked men in the open sight of beholders,

²⁷ Because they turned aside from Him and would not consider or show regard for any of His ways,^(E)

²⁸ So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and He heard the cry of the afflicted.^(F)

²⁹ When He gives quietness (peace and security from oppression), who then can condemn? When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make Him gracious], whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—

³⁰ That the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

³¹ For has anyone said to God, I have borne my chastisement; I will not offend any more;

³² Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned]; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

³³ Should [God’s] recompense [for your sins] be as you will it, when you refuse to accept it? For you must do the choosing, and not I; therefore say what is your truthful conclusion.

³⁴ Men of understanding will tell me, indeed, every wise man who hears me [will agree],

³⁵ That Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom and insight.

³⁶ [Would that Job’s afflictions be continued and] he be tried to the end because of his answering like wicked men!

³⁷ For he adds rebellion [in his unsubmissive, defiant attitude toward God] to his unacknowledged sin; he claps his hands [in open mockery and contempt of God] among us, and he multiplies his words of accusation against God.