Job - Chapter 34 | American Standard Version

  • 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 {cf15i accounted} a liar; My wound is incurable, {cf15i 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, {cf15i 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 {cf15i 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 {cf15i and} mighty? -
  • 18. {cf15i Him} that saith to a king, {cf15i Thou art} vile, {cf15i Or} to nobles, {cf15i 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 {cf15i 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 {cf15i 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 {cf15i chastisement}, I will not offend {cf15i 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.
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