Job Chapter 34 (NIV)

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undefined Then Elihu said:

undefined “Hear my words, you wise men;listen to me, you men of learning.

undefined For the ear tests wordsas the tongue tastes food.

undefined Let us discern for ourselves what is right;let us learn together what is good.

undefined “Job says, ‘I am innocent,but God denies me justice.

undefined Although I am right,I am considered a liar;although I am guiltless,his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’

undefined What man is like Job,who drinks scorn like water?

undefined He keeps company with evildoers;he associates with wicked men.

undefined For he says, ‘It profits a man nothingwhen he tries to please God.’

undefined “So listen to me, you men of understanding.Far be it from God to do evil,from the Almighty to do wrong.

undefined He repays a man for what he has done;he brings upon him what his conduct deserves.

undefined It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,that the Almighty would pervert justice.

undefined Who appointed him over the earth?Who put him in charge of the whole world?

undefined If it were his intentionand he withdrew his spirit and breath,

undefined all mankind would perish togetherand man would return to the dust.

undefined “If you have understanding, hear this;listen to what I say.

undefined Can he who hates justice govern?Will you condemn the just and mighty One?

undefined Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

undefined who shows no partiality to princesand does not favor the rich over the poor,for they are all the work of his hands?

undefined They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;the people are shaken and they pass away;the mighty are removed without human hand.

undefined “His eyes are on the ways of men;he sees their every step.

undefined There is no dark place, no deep shadow,where evildoers can hide.

undefined God has no need to examine men further,that they should come before him for judgment.

undefined Without inquiry he shatters the mightyand sets up others in their place.

undefined Because he takes note of their deeds,he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

undefined He punishes them for their wickednesswhere everyone can see them,

undefined because they turned from following himand had no regard for any of his ways.

undefined They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,so that he heard the cry of the needy.

undefined But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?If he hides his face, who can see him?Yet he is over man and nation alike,

undefined to keep a godless man from ruling,from laying snares for the people.

undefined “Suppose a man says to God,‘I am guilty but will offend no more.

undefined Teach me what I cannot see;if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’

undefined Should God then reward you on your terms,when you refuse to repent?You must decide, not I;so tell me what you know.

undefined “Men of understanding declare,wise men who hear me say to me,

undefined ‘Job speaks without knowledge;his words lack insight.’

undefined Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmostfor answering like a wicked man!

undefined To his sin he adds rebellion;scornfully he claps his hands among usand multiplies his words against God.”

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