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Job 34 (AMP)

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¹ ELIHU ANSWERED (continued his discourse) and said, ² Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who have 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 righteous, but God has taken away my right; 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 proportion his pay, and He will cause every man to find according to his ways. ¹² Truly God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice. ¹³ Who put in charge over the earth? Or who laid on Him the whole world? ¹⁴ If should set His heart upon him and withdraw His spirit and His breath to Himself, ¹⁵ All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust. 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 Who says to a king, You are worthless and vile, or to princes and nobles, You are ungodly and evil? ¹⁹ 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 hand. ²¹ For eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. ²² There is no darkness nor thick gloom where the evildoers may hide themselves. ²³ sets before man no appointed time, that he should appear before in judgment. ²⁴ He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry and in ways past finding out and sets others in their stead. 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, ²⁸ So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and He heard the cry of the afflicted. ²⁹ When He gives quietness (peace and security from oppression), who then can condemn? When He hides His face , who then can behold Him , 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 ; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more? ³³ Should recompense 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 , ³⁵ That Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom and insight. ³⁶ he be tried to the end because of his answering like wicked men! ³⁷ For he adds rebellion to his unacknowledged sin; he claps his hands among us, and he multiplies his words of accusation against God.