Jó 34

¹ And Elihu commenced, and said,

² Hear, O ye wise men, my words; and ye that have knowledge, give ear unto me.

³ For the ear proveth words, as the palate tasteth the food.

⁴ Let us choose for ourselves what is just: let us acknowledge between ourselves what is good.

⁵ For Job hath said, "I am righteous; and God hath taken away justice from me.

⁶ Should I lie concerning the justice due me? incurable is my wound from the arrow I bear in me without any transgression."

⁷ What man is there like Job, who drinketh scorning like water,

⁸ And is on the road to keep company with the wrong–doers, and to walk with men of wickedness?

⁹ For he hath said, "It profiteth a man nothing when he acteth according to the pleasure of God."

¹⁰ Therefore ye men of sense hearken unto me: far is it from God to practise wickedness; and from the Almighty to do wrong!

¹¹ For the work of a son of earth doth he recompense unto him, and according to the path of man doth he permit things to occur to him.

¹² Yea, surely God will not condemn unjustly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.

¹³ Who hath given him a charge concerning the earth? or who hath intrusted him the whole world?

¹⁴ If he were to set his heart upon man, he would gather unto himself his spirit and his breath:

¹⁵ All flesh would perish together, and the son of earth would return again unto dust.

¹⁶ If then thou wishest to understand, hear this: give ear to the sound of my words.

¹⁷ Is it possible that he who hateth justice should govern? or wilt thou condemn the righteous mighty One?

¹⁸ Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art worthless? and to princes, Ye are wicked?

¹⁹ Whereas he is one that showeth no favor to chieftains, and distinguisheth not the rich before the indigent; for all of them are the work of his hands.

²⁰ In a moment will they die, and in the midst of the night; people are moved, and pass away: and the mighty will be removed without a human hand.

²¹ For big eyes are upon the ways of man, and all his steps doth he see.

²² There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the evil–doers can hide themselves.

²³ For he need not direct his attention a long time upon man, that he should enter into judgment before God.

²⁴ He breaketh down mighty men without long searching, and placeth others in their stead.

²⁵ For the reason that he knoweth their deeds: therefore he overturneth them in the night, and they are crushed.

²⁶ Among wicked men doth he strike them, in the place where many see them:

²⁷ Because they have departed from following him, and have not considered all his ways.

²⁸ Bringing before them the cry of the indigent, and the cry of the afflicted which he had to hear.

²⁹ When he now granteth rest, who will condemn him! and when he hideth his face, who can behold him? whether it be against a nation, or against one man, it is the same:

³⁰ That no hypocritical man may reign, that such shall not be a mare to the people.

³¹ For truly it is only fitting to say unto God, "I bear cheerfully, I will not do any wrong;

³² What I cannot see myself, do thou truly teach me; if I have done what is unjust, I will do so no more."

³³ Should he then according to thy view send a recompense, because thou hast rejected him? "Because thou must choose, and not I?" and what thou knowest, do speak.

³⁴ Men of sense will say unto me, and every wise man who heareth me,

³⁵ That Job hath not spoken with knowledge, and that his words are without intelligence.

³⁶ Oh that Job may therefore be probed continually, in order to give answers against sinful men.

³⁷ For he addeth unto his sin transgression: among us he uttereth too many loud words, and multiplieth his speeches against God.