34
Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice
1 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Hear my words, you wise men,
And listen to me, you who know.
3 “For AJob 12:11the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 “Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, ‘AJob 13:18; 33:9I am righteous,
But BJob 27:2God has taken away my right;
6 1Or Although I am right I am accounted a liarShould I lie concerning my right?
7 “What man is like Job,
Who AJob 15:16drinks up derision like water,
8 Who goes AJob 22:15in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9 “For he has said, ‘AJob 21:15; 35:3; Ps 50:18It profits a man nothing
When he 1Or takes delight in Godis pleased with God.’
10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to AGen 18:25; Deut 32:4; Job 8:3; 34:12; Rom 9:14do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 “For He pays a man according to AJob 34:25; Ps 62:12; Prov 24:12; Jer 32:19; Ezek 33:20; Matt 16:27; Rom 2:6; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 22:12his work,
And makes 1Lit a manhim find it according to his way.
12 “Surely, AJob 34:10God will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 “Who AJob 38:4gave Him authority over the earth?
And who BJob 38:5has laid on Him the whole world?
14 “If He should 1Lit set His mind on Himselfdetermine to do so,
If He should AJob 12:10; Ps 104:29; Eccl 12:7gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,
15 All AGen 7:21; Job 9:22flesh would perish together,
And man would BGen 3:19; Job 10:9return to dust.
16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17 “Shall A2 Sam 23:3; Job 34:30one who hates justice rule?
And BJob 40:8will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18 Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;
19 Who shows no ALev 19:15; Deut 10:17; 2 Chr 19:7; Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11; Gal 2:6; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25; 1 Pet 1:17partiality to princes
Nor regards the rich above the poor,
For they all are the BJob 10:3work of His hands?
20 “In a moment they die, and AEx 12:29; Job 34:25; 36:20at midnight
People are shaken and pass away,
And BJob 12:19the mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For AJob 24:23; 31:4; Prov 5:21; 15:3; Jer 16:17His eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 “There is APs 139:11, 12; Amos 9:2, 3no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 “He breaks in pieces AJob 12:19mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 “Therefore He AJob 34:11knows their works,
And BJob 34:20He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 “He APs 9:5; 11:5strikes them like the wicked
1Lit In the place of the ones seeingIn a public place,
27 Because they A1 Sam 15:11turned aside from following Him,
And BJob 21:14had no regard for any of His ways;
28 So that they caused AJob 35:9; James 5:4the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And that He might BEx 22:23; Job 22:27hear the cry of the afflicted—
29 When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?
And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him,
That is, in regard to both nation and man?—
30 So that AJob 5:15; 20:5; 34:17; Prov 29:2-12godless men would not rule
Nor be snares of the people.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastisement;
I will not offend anymore;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have AJob 33:27done iniquity,
I will not do it again’?
For you must choose, and not I;
Therefore declare what you know.
34 “Men of understanding will say to me,
And a wise man who hears me,
35 ‘Job AJob 35:16; 38:2speaks without knowledge,
And his words are without wisdom.
36 ‘Job ought to be tried 1Or to the endto the limit,
Because he answers AJob 22:15like wicked men.
37 ‘For he adds AJob 23:2rebellion to his sin;
He BJob 27:23claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.’ ”
134:6 Or Although I am right I am accounted a liar
234:6 Lit arrow
A34:9 Job 21:15; 35:3; Ps 50:18
134:9 Or takes delight in God
A34:10 Gen 18:25; Deut 32:4; Job 8:3; 34:12; Rom 9:14
A34:11 Job 34:25; Ps 62:12; Prov 24:12; Jer 32:19; Ezek 33:20; Matt 16:27; Rom 2:6; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 22:12
134:11 Lit a man
134:14 Lit set His mind on Himself
A34:14 Job 12:10; Ps 104:29; Eccl 12:7
A34:19 Lev 19:15; Deut 10:17; 2 Chr 19:7; Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11; Gal 2:6; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25; 1 Pet 1:17
A34:20 Ex 12:29; Job 34:25; 36:20
A34:21 Job 24:23; 31:4; Prov 5:21; 15:3; Jer 16:17
A34:22 Ps 139:11, 12; Amos 9:2, 3
134:26 Lit In the place of the ones seeing
A34:30 Job 5:15; 20:5; 34:17; Prov 29:2-12
134:36 Or to the end