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JobChapter 34

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Then Elihu spoke again:
Hear my words, you who are wise; listen to me, you who have knowledge.
For the ear weighs words as the palate tastes food.
Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
For Job has said, "I am innocent, yet God has denied me justice."
"Though I am in the right, I am called a liar; though I am without transgression, my wound will not heal."
What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
who keeps company with evildoers and walks with the wicked?
For he says, "A man gains nothing by taking delight in God."
So listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wrong, from the Almighty to act unjustly.
He repays a man for what he does and brings upon him what his ways deserve.
Truly, God will never act wickedly; the Almighty will never pervert justice.
Who put him in charge of the earth? Who entrusted to him the whole world?
If he were to set his heart on it and withdraw his spirit and breath,
all flesh would perish together, and man would return to the dust.
If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say.
Can one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the Righteous One, the Mighty One,
who says to a king, "You are worthless," and to nobles, "You are wicked";
who shows no partiality to princes and no preference for the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
In a moment they die; in the middle of the night a people is shaken and passes away; the mighty are removed by no human hand.
For his eyes are on the ways of a man; he sees his every step.
There is no darkness, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide.
God has no need to examine a man further, or bring him before him for judgment.
He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
Because he takes note of their deeds, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
He strikes them down for their wickedness where everyone can see,
because they turned away from following him and had no regard for any of his ways.
They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted.
But if he keeps silent, who can condemn? If he hides his face, who can behold him? Yet he is over nation and man alike,
to keep the godless from ruling and from laying snares for the people.
Suppose a man says to God, "I have borne my punishment; I will offend no more.
Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again."
Should God then repay you on your own terms, since you refuse to repent? For you must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
Men of understanding will say to me, and any wise man who hears me will agree:
"Job speaks without knowledge; his words show no insight."
If only Job were tested to the limit for answering like a wicked man!
For to his sin he adds rebellion; he claps his hands in scorn among us and multiplies his words against God.
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