Chapter 34
1Then Elihu continued: 2“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning. 3For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food. 4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn 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, who drinks up derision like water? 8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. 9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’ 10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly. 11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences. 12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice. 13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world? 14If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath, 15all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. 16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words. 17Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One, 18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ 19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands. 20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. 21For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. 22There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide. 23For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment. 24He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place. 25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. 26He strikes them for their wickedness in full view, 27because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways. 28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted. 29But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation, 30that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people. 31Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more. 32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’ 33Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed Him? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know. 34Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say: 35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’ 36If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man. 37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
Chapter 35
1And Elihu went on to say: 2“Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’ 3For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’ 4I will reply to you and to your friends as well. 5Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you. 6If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him? 7If you are righteous, what do you give Him, or what does He receive from your hand? 8Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only a son of man. 9Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty. 10But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives us songs in the night, 11who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’ 12There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13Surely God does not listen to empty pleas, and the Almighty does not take note of it. 14How much less, then, when you say that you do not see Him, that your case is before Him and you must wait for Him, 15and further, that in His anger He has not punished or taken much notice of folly! 16So Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.”