Capítulo 34

1 - Moreover Elihu answered and said,

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

3 - For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.

4 - Let us choose for us that which is right: Let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 - For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:

6 - Notwithstanding my right I am [accounted] a liar; My wound is incurable, [though I am] without transgression.

7 - What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scoffing like water,

8 - Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?

9 - For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.

10 - Therefore 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.

11 - For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 - Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

13 - Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?

14 - If he set his heart upon himself, [If] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15 - All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.

16 - If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.

17 - Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous [and] mighty?-

18 - [Him] that saith to a king, [Thou art] vile, [Or] to nobles, [Ye are] wicked;

19 - That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth 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 without hand.

21 - For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.

22 - There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 - For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

24 - He breaketh in pieces mighty men [in ways] past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.

25 - Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26 - He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;

27 - Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:

28 - So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.

29 - When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether [it be done] unto a nation, or unto a man:

30 - That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.

31 - For hath any said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:

32 - That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

33 - Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.

34 - Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:

35 - Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.

36 - Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.

37 - For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.