Job 34

Elihu Confirms God’s Justice

1 Then Elihu continued:

2 “Hear my words, O wise men; ‡ 1Co 14:20Pro 1:51Co 10:15

give ear to me, O men of learning.

3 For the ear tests words ‡ Job 12:111Co 2:15Heb 5:14Job 33:2Job 31:30Job 6:30

as the mouth tastes food.

4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; ‡ 1Th 5:211Co 6:2-5Gal 2:11-14Isa 11:2-5Jdg 19:30Jdg 20:7Jhn 7:24Job 34:36 +1

let us learn together what is good.

5 For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, ‡ Job 27:2Job 33:9Job 16:17Job 32:1Job 10:7Job 11:4Job 29:14Job 9:17

yet God has deprived me of justice.

6 Would I lie about my case? ‡ Job 6:4Job 16:13Job 27:4-6

My wound is incurable,

though I am without transgression.’

7 What man is like Job, ‡ Job 15:16Deu 29:19Pro 1:22Pro 4:17

who drinks up derision like water?

8 He keeps company with evildoers ‡ Psa 1:11Co 15:33Pro 13:20Psa 26:4Psa 50:18Pro 1:15Pro 2:12Psa 73:12-15 +5

and walks with wicked men.

9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing ‡ Job 21:14-16Job 35:3Mal 3:14Job 9:22-23Job 27:10Job 9:30-31Psa 37:4Job 21:30 +1

that he should delight in God.’

10 Therefore listen to me, ‡ Rom 9:14Deu 32:42Ch 19:7Job 8:3Jas 1:13Gen 18:25Job 36:23Psa 92:15 +7

O men of understanding.

Far be it from God to do wrong,

and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

11 For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; ‡ 2Co 5:10Rom 2:6Rev 22:12Mat 16:27Psa 62:12Jer 32:19Gal 6:7-81Pe 1:17 +4

according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

12 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, ‡ Job 8:3Psa 11:7Psa 145:17Hab 1:12-13

and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

13 Who gave Him charge over the earth? ‡ 1Ch 29:11Isa 40:13-14Rom 11:34-36Dan 4:35Job 36:23Job 38:4-41Job 40:8-11Pro 8:23-30

Who appointed Him over the whole world?

14 If He were to set His heart to it ‡ Psa 104:29Job 7:17Job 9:4Isa 24:22

and withdraw His Spirit and breath,

15 all flesh would perish together ‡ Gen 3:19Ecc 12:7Isa 57:16Isa 27:4Job 10:9Job 30:23Job 9:22Psa 90:3-10

and mankind would return to the dust.

16 If you have understanding, hear this; ‡ Job 12:3Job 13:2-6

listen to my words.

17 Could one who hates justice govern? ‡ 2Sa 23:3Gen 18:25Job 40:8Rom 9:14Rom 3:5-7Job 1:222Sa 19:21

Will you condemn the just and mighty One,

18 who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ ‡ Exo 22:28Pro 17:26Rom 13:7Act 23:3Act 23:5Jud 1:82Pe 2:101Pe 2:17

and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

19 who is not partial to princes ‡ Deu 10:17Act 10:34Jas 2:5Rom 2:11Col 3:251Pe 1:172Ch 19:7Eph 6:9 +15

and does not favor rich over poor?

For they are all the work of His hands.

20 They die in an instant, ‡ Psa 73:191Sa 25:37-391Sa 26:101Th 5:22Pe 2:3Act 12:23Dan 2:34Dan 5:30 +13

in the middle of the night.

The people convulse and pass away;

the mighty are removed without human hand.

21 For His eyes are on the ways of a man, ‡ Pro 15:3Job 31:4Jer 16:17Pro 5:21Jer 32:19Psa 139:23Gen 16:13Jer 17:10 +3

and He sees his every step.

22 There is no darkness or deep shadow ‡ Heb 4:13Amo 9:2-3Pro 10:29Psa 139:11-12Jer 23:24Job 3:51Co 4:5Isa 29:15 +7

where the workers of iniquity can hide.

23 For God need not examine a man further ‡ Dan 9:7-9Ezr 9:13Psa 119:137Rom 9:20Isa 42:3Jer 2:5Job 11:11Job 11:6 +4

or have him approach for judgment.

24 He shatters the mighty without inquiry ‡ Dan 2:21Psa 113:7-8Psa 2:9Psa 72:4Psa 94:51Ki 14:141Ki 14:7-81Sa 2:30-36 +7

and sets up others in their place.

25 Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; ‡ Hos 7:2Job 34:201Th 5:2Amo 8:7Isa 15:1Isa 66:18Psa 33:15Rev 20:12 +1

He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

26 He strikes them for their wickedness ‡ Psa 58:10-111Ti 5:201Ti 5:242Sa 12:11-12Deu 13:9-11Deu 21:21Exo 14:30Isa 66:24 +2

in full view,

27 because they turned aside from Him ‡ 1Sa 15:11Psa 28:5Isa 5:12Heb 10:392Ti 4:10Act 15:38Hag 2:15-19Isa 1:3 +5

and had no regard for any of His ways.

28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, ‡ Jas 5:4Exo 3:7Job 35:9Exo 3:9Psa 12:5Exo 22:23-27Job 29:12-13Exo 2:23-24 +4

and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

29 But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? ‡ Job 23:13Isa 26:3Jhn 14:27Psa 27:9Rom 8:31-34Isa 32:17Php 4:7Psa 30:7 +10

When He hides His face, who can see Him?

Yet He watches over both man and nation,

30 that godless men should not rule ‡ Pro 29:2-121Ki 12:28-302Ki 21:92Th 2:4-11Hos 13:11Hos 5:11Job 34:21Mic 6:16 +4

or lay snares for the people.

31 Suppose someone says to God, ‡ Job 33:27Mic 7:9Dan 9:7-14Ezr 9:13-14Jer 31:18-19Job 40:3-5Job 42:6Lev 26:41 +1

‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.

32 Teach me what I cannot see; ‡ Psa 32:8Psa 139:23-24Psa 19:12Psa 25:4-5Psa 143:8-10Job 10:2Job 35:11Pro 28:13 +4

if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’

33 Should God repay you on your own terms ‡ Job 33:32Isa 45:9Job 34:11Pro 11:31Psa 135:62Th 1:6-7Heb 11:26Heb 2:2 +9

when you have disavowed His?

You must choose, not I;

so tell me what you know.

34 Men of understanding will declare to me, ‡ 1Co 10:15Job 34:10Job 34:16Job 34:2Job 34:4

and the wise men who hear me will say:

35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; ‡ Job 35:16Job 38:2Job 13:2Job 15:2Job 42:3

his words lack insight.’

36 If only Job were tried to the utmost ‡ Jas 5:11Job 12:6Job 21:7Job 22:15Job 23:16Job 24:1Job 34:8-9Psa 17:3 +1

for answering like a wicked man.

37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; ‡ Job 27:231Sa 15:23Isa 1:19-20Job 11:2-3Job 23:2Job 35:16Job 35:2-3Job 42:7 +1

he claps his hands among us

and multiplies his words against God.”