Job 34
Elihu continued in his argument saying;
Hear my words, you sages,
You who have knowledge, give ear to me.
For the ear tests words,
As the palate tastes food.
Let us discern ourselves what I right,
Let us discover ourselves what is good.
For Job has stated, ‘I am in the right,
But God has deprived me of justice.
In spite of being right, I am held to be a liar,
My arrow wound incurable, though I am without transgression.’
Is there anyone like Job,
Lapping up blasphemy like water.
Who keeps company with evil doers,
Associates of the wicked.
For Job has said, ‘It does a person no good,
To be in favor with God.’
Therefore, you with discernment, listen to me.
Far be it from El – wickedness,
From Shaddai – any wrong.
For according to one’s actions, God renders unto them,
According to one’s ways, God ordains their destiny.
Indeed, in truth, God never acts wickedly,
Shaddai does not pervert justice.
Who entrusted the earth to Him?
Who gave him charge over the whole world?
If He should withdraw His Spirit,
Gather His breath to Himself,
All flesh would expire together,
All people turn back to dust.
Therefore, to have understanding, hear this;
Listen to me voice my words.
Shall one who hates justice govern?
Who would condemn the righteous and mighty?
Would call the king, ‘An evil doer, a scoundrel.’;
Or the noble, ‘wicked’.
Who shows no partiality to nobles,
Nor favors the rich over the poor,
As though they are all the work of God’s hands?
In an instant they die, in the middle of the night,
A people shaken up and passing away,
The mighty removed by no human hand.
For God’s eyes are on a mortal’s ways,
He sees every step.
There is no darkness or deep shadow,
Where workers of iniquity may hide,
For it is not proper for men to appoint the time,
When they are to appear before God for judgment.
He smashes the mighty without limit,
Sets up others in their stead.
Thus, He destroys their works,
Overturns them in the night,
And they are crushed.
For their wickedness, He strikes them,
In a place others can see.
Because they turned aside from Him,
And did not grasp any of His ways.
Thus bringing to Him the cry of the poor,
And causing Him to hear the cry of the afflicted.
When he grants peace, who can condemn?
When He hides His face, who can behold?
Whether it be a nation or an individual.
He permits a godless man to rule,
Because of the sins of the people.
Indeed, you (Job) should say this to God,
‘I have borne (my just punishment),
I will offend no more.
Apart from what I see,
You must teach me.
What I have done wrong,
I will do no more,’
Should God mete out justice on your terms?
Whether you refuse or whether you chose – Not I.
What do you know? – Declare!
Those who are discerning will say to me,
The wise who listen to me will declare:
‘Job speaks without knowledge,
His words without insight.
Would that Job were tried to the end.
For responding like the wicked.
For he continually adds to his sin,
He increases his impiety among us,
As he multiplies his words against God.’
Job 323