Job 34 – read and compare multiple versions
Job 34
[1] Moreover Elihu answered,
[2] “Hear my words, you wise men.
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
[3] For the ear tries words,
as the palate tastes food.
[4] Let us choose for us that which is right.
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
[5] For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,
God has taken away my right.
[6] Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar.
My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’
[7] What man is like Job,
who drinks scorn like water,
[8] who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
and walks with wicked men?
[9] For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
that he should delight himself with God.’ [10] “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:
far be it from God, that he should do wickedness,
from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
[11] For the work of a man he will render to him,
and cause every man to find according to his ways.
[12] Yes surely, God will not do wickedly,
neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
[13] Who put him in charge of the earth?
Or who has appointed him over the whole world?
[14] If he set his heart on himself,
if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
[15] all flesh would perish together,
and man would turn again to dust. [16] “If now you have understanding, hear this.
Listen to the voice of my words.
[17] Should even one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
[18] who says to a king, ‘Vile!’
or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
[19] He doesn’t respect the persons of princes,
nor respect 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.
The mighty are taken away without a hand. [21] “For his eyes are on the ways of a man.
He sees all his goings.
[22] There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,
where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
[23] For he doesn’t need to consider a man further,
that he should go before God in judgment.
[24] He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out,
and sets others in their place.
[25] Therefore he takes knowledge of their works.
He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
[26] He strikes them as wicked men
in the open sight of others;
[27] because they turned away from following him,
and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
[28] so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him.
He heard the cry of the afflicted.
[29] When he gives quietness, who then can condemn?
When he hides his face, who then can see him?
He is over a nation or a man alike,
[30] that the godless man may not reign,
that there be no one to ensnare the people. [31] “For has any said to God,
‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
[32] Teach me that which I don’t see.
If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
[33] Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it?
For you must choose, and not I.
Therefore speak what you know.
[34] Men of understanding will tell me,
yes, every wise man who hears me:
[35] ‘Job speaks without knowledge.
His words are without wisdom.’
[36] I wish that Job were tried to the end,
because of his answering like wicked men.
[37] For he adds rebellion to his sin.
He claps his hands among us,
and multiplies his words against God.”
[2] “Hear my words, you wise men.
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
[3] For the ear tries words,
as the palate tastes food.
[4] Let us choose for us that which is right.
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
[5] For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,
God has taken away my right.
[6] Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar.
My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’
[7] What man is like Job,
who drinks scorn like water,
[8] who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
and walks with wicked men?
[9] For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
that he should delight himself with God.’ [10] “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:
far be it from God, that he should do wickedness,
from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
[11] For the work of a man he will render to him,
and cause every man to find according to his ways.
[12] Yes surely, God will not do wickedly,
neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
[13] Who put him in charge of the earth?
Or who has appointed him over the whole world?
[14] If he set his heart on himself,
if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
[15] all flesh would perish together,
and man would turn again to dust. [16] “If now you have understanding, hear this.
Listen to the voice of my words.
[17] Should even one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
[18] who says to a king, ‘Vile!’
or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
[19] He doesn’t respect the persons of princes,
nor respect 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.
The mighty are taken away without a hand. [21] “For his eyes are on the ways of a man.
He sees all his goings.
[22] There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,
where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
[23] For he doesn’t need to consider a man further,
that he should go before God in judgment.
[24] He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out,
and sets others in their place.
[25] Therefore he takes knowledge of their works.
He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
[26] He strikes them as wicked men
in the open sight of others;
[27] because they turned away from following him,
and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
[28] so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him.
He heard the cry of the afflicted.
[29] When he gives quietness, who then can condemn?
When he hides his face, who then can see him?
He is over a nation or a man alike,
[30] that the godless man may not reign,
that there be no one to ensnare the people. [31] “For has any said to God,
‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
[32] Teach me that which I don’t see.
If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
[33] Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it?
For you must choose, and not I.
Therefore speak what you know.
[34] Men of understanding will tell me,
yes, every wise man who hears me:
[35] ‘Job speaks without knowledge.
His words are without wisdom.’
[36] I wish that Job were tried to the end,
because of his answering like wicked men.
[37] For he adds rebellion to his sin.
He claps his hands among us,
and multiplies his words against God.”