Job 34:1-20
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 34
1Then Elihu continued and said,
2'Hear my words, you wise men, And listen to me, you who understand.
3For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.
4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; Let us understand among ourselves what is good.
5For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my right;
6 Should I lie about my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without wrongdoing.’
7What man is like Job, Who drinks up derision like water,
8Who goes in company with the workers of injustice, And walks with wicked people?
9For he has said, ‘It is of no use to a man When he becomes friends with God.’
10'Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11For He repays a person for his work, And lets things happen in correspondence to a man’s behavior.
12God certainly will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13Who gave Him authority over the earth? And who has placed the whole world on Him?
14If He were to determine to do so, If He were to gather His spirit and His breath to Himself,
15 Humanity would perish together, And mankind would return to dust.
16'But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words.
17Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18Who says to a king, ‘You worthless one,’ To nobles, ‘You wicked one’;
19Who shows no partiality to the prominent, Nor regards the rich as above the poor, Since they are all the work of His hands?
20In a moment they die, and at midnight People are shaken and pass away, And the powerful are taken away without a hand.
King James Version
Chapter 34
1Furthermore Elihu answered and said, 2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 34
1Then Elihu continued, saying:
2Hear my words, you wise ones, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.
3Doesn’t the ear test words as the palate tastes food?
4Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good.
5For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression."
7What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water.
8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
9For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God’s friend."
10Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly.
11For he repays a person according to his deeds, and he gives him what his conduct deserves.
12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13Who gave him authority over the earth? Who put him in charge of the entire world?
14If he put his mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath he gave,
15every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say.
17Could one who hates justice govern the world? Will you condemn the mighty Righteous One,
18who says to a king, "Worthless man!" and to nobles, "Wicked men!"?
19God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands.
New Living Translation
Chapter 34
1Then Elihu said:
2'Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.
3Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’
4So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5For Job also said, ‘I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.
6I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’
7'Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk?
8He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men.
9He has even said, ‘Why waste time trying to please God?’
10'Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.
11He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.
12Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.
13Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?
14If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,
15all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.
16'Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.
17Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?
18For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’ and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’
19He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.
20In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
English Standard Version
Chapter 34
1Then Elihu answered and said:
2"Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;
3for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.
4Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.
5For Job has said, ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;
6in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,
8who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?
9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.’
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 do wrong.
11For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
12Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him the whole world?
14If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,
15all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.
16"If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.
17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’
19who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
20In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
New International Version
Chapter 34
1Then Elihu said:
2"Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.
3For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.
4Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5"Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God denies me justice.
6Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’
7Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water?
8He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked.
9For he says, ‘There is no profit in trying to please God.’
10"So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
11He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
12It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.
13Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world?
14If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath,
15all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16"If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.
17Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
18Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
New King James Version
Chapter 34
1Elihu further answered and said:
2“Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.
4Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;
6 Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7What man is like Job, Who drinks scorn like water,
8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?
9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God.’
10“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.
16“If you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words:
17 Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just?
18 Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘ You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘ You are wicked’?
19Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands.
20In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a hand.
