Job 34:1-37 VOICE

[1] Job remained silent, so Elihu continued. [2] Elihu: Hear my words, you men of wisdom; listen to me, learned ones: [3] Our ears are capable of testing wisdom of words the way the roofs of our mouths are capable of tasting food. [4] Let us form a council here then, and decide among us what is right; let us come together to know what is good in all of this. [5] After all, Job has told us, "I am innocent, but God has denied my right to a fair hearing. [6] Though I am right, should I lie and claim to be wrong? No. Let me put it to you simply: I am gravely wounded as by an arrow, but I am innocent." [7] What other man is comparable to Job? He drinks disdain like water. [8] He is not like the one who runs with the workers of wickedness and associates himself with evil people. [9] In fact he even suggests, "A person receives no benefit from pleasing God." [10] Elihu: So, you men whose hearts have embraced wisdom, listen to me: far be it from God to commit evil acts; and from the Highest One to engage in wrongdoing! [11] For He is like an employer who pays workers according to what they have done; He makes sure the rewards they receive match their conduct. [12] Oh, unimaginable thought-that God would cause evil! The Highest One does not pervert justice! [13] Who designated Him as earth's overseer? Who placed Him in charge of the entire world? [14] If He made it His aim to do so, if He recalled to Himself His spirit and His breath, [15] All living creatures would expire as one and humankind would return to the dust from which He formed them. [16] If you are one of understanding, hear this! Listen to what I am saying! [17] Can one who despises justice also govern? And are you willing to render condemnation on the Righteous and Mighty One? [18] Is He not the One who says to the king, "You are worthless," and to the exalted nobility, "You are depraved." [19] Is He not the One who refuses favoritism to royalty and who will not put rich above poor? After all, they are all the creations of His very own hands. [20] All of a sudden, in the middle of the night, people perish; they are shaken, and then they pass away; the strong and mighty, apart from any human hand, are taken. [21] For God's eyes are on the paths people choose; He surveys each of their steps. [22] There is no darkness, no gloomy shadow in which wrongdoers may hide themselves from Him. [23] God does not need to scrutinize people further or bring them before Him for judgment. [24] Without need of a lengthy investigation, He breaks even the mighty into pieces, and installs others to replace them. [25] And this is because He is already acquainted with their actions. When the seemingly sudden midnight hour rolls over, they are crushed beneath it. [26] He strikes down people as if they were wicked- front and center-a display for all to see [27] Simply because they turned from following Him, because they no longer considered His ways. [28] As a result of their injustice, the poor cried out to Him And as you ought to know well, He always hears the cries of the needy, of the oppressed peoples. [29] If God remains silent, who is fit to raise his voice against Him? If He chooses to hide His face, who is able to see Him? This goes for a nation or an individual; all are the same. [30] A person estranged from God must be prevented from ruling over any nation and from laying snares for the downfall of a people. [31] Has anyone then said to God, "I have carried punishment, but I will not offend again. [32] Teach me and fill in my blind spots, and if I have done wrong, I will stop and do what is right." [33] Is God obliged to reward you on your terms for your personal revolt against Him? You must decide that, not I. Tell me, if you know what you believe, [34] People who comprehend such things, wise folk who hear me say, [35] "Job speaks without knowledge; his harangues are devoid of insight." [36] May God try Job to the bitter end, for he responds as the wicked do [37] And he keeps adding to his sins; he claps his hands in rebellion in our very midst, and he multiplies his offensive words against God.