Job 34

¹After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say

²May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me

³For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste

⁴Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best

⁵For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment

⁶For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.

⁷What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water

⁸who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men

⁹For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.

¹⁰Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty

¹¹For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them

¹²For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment

¹³What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made

¹⁴But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself

¹⁵All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes

¹⁶Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence

¹⁷Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just

¹⁸He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious

¹⁹He does not accept the reputation of leaders; nor does he recognize the tyrant as he contends against the poor. For all are the work of his hands

²⁰They will die suddenly, and the people will be troubled in the middle of the night, but they will pass through it, and the violent will be taken away without a hand

²¹For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps

²²There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden

²³For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God

²⁴He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place

²⁵For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed

²⁶Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen

²⁷They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways

²⁸so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor

²⁹For, when he grants peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hides his face, who is there that can contemplate him, either among the nations, or among all men

³⁰He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people

³¹Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same

³²If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more

³³Does God require this of you because it is displeasing to you? For you were the first to speak, and not I. But if you know something better, speak

³⁴Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me

³⁵But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching

³⁶My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity

³⁷For he adds blasphemy on top of his sins; nevertheless, let him be constrained to be among us, and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches