Job 34 (ARST) · Opened

1Then Elihu continued to speak, and he said,Then Elihu continued:

2“I want everyone who is wise to hear what I am about to say. I want everyone who knows a lot to listen to me.“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.

3I want you to listen carefully to me because when people hear others speak, they need to decide whether what the others are saying is right or wrong. They do this just as people taste food to decide whether it is good or bad.For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.

4I would like all of us to decide together who is right, Job or his friends. I would like us to find out together what is a good way to understand his situation.Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

5We need to consider this carefully together because Job has said,‘I am innocent, but God has not judged me fairly.’For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

6Job has said he would not lie about whether he has done what is right. He has spoken as if God had shot him with an arrow and wounded him so badly that he will die, even though he is innocent.Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

7I have not heard anyone else speak the way Job does. People drink water to satisfy their thirst, and mocking God seems to satisfy Job.What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?

8His friends are people who do what is wrong. He spends time with wicked people.He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.

9We know that this is true about him because he has said,‘It is useless for people to want to please God.’For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’

10So, all of you who understand things well, listen to me! God would never consider doing anything that was wicked! No, Shaddai would never consider doing anything that was wrong!Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

11We can be confident that God treats people fairly because we can see that he rewards or punishes people properly for what they have done. God gives people what they deserve for the manner in which they have lived.For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

12No, God never does anything wicked. Shaddai always treats people fairly.Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

13God did not need anyone to give him the authority to rule the people who live on the earth. He did not need anyone to put him in control of all the people in the world.Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?

14If God ever thought only about himself and not also about the world he created, if God ever stopped keeping people and animals alive,If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,

15then every living thing would die immediately, and the bodies of people would soon become soil again.all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

16So, Job, if you truly want to understand, then listen carefully to what I am about to say.If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

17God could certainly not hate what is right and still rule the world. So you really cannot say that God, who is righteous and powerful, has done something wrong.Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,

18God tells some kings that they are worthless, and he says to some officials that they are wicked.who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

19God does not treat rulers better than he treats other people. God does not treat rich people more respectfully than he treats poor people. After all, God created all people.who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.

20If people use their power to oppress others, God punishes them by killing them. Those people are not expecting to have troubles and die, and humans do not kill them, but God kills them very quickly.They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

21God punishes oppressive people because he sees everything that people do. God is aware of each individual action that a person does.For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.

22Wicked people can not escape from God by hiding in places where it is very dark.There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

23Now God does not need to examine a person further before passing judgment on that person.For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.

24God does not need to investigate what people have done. He knows whether important people have done wrong, and he destroys them if they have. He then appoints others to take their places.He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.

25Because he already knows what they have done, he removes them quickly and gets rid of them.Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

26God kills them because of the wicked things that they have done. Many people see him do it.He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,

27God kills them because they stopped doing what he wanted them to do and did not pay attention to his commands.because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.

28They mistreated poor people. Those poor people prayed to God for help, and God answered their prayers.They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

29Yet even if God decides not to punish wicked people right away, no one can criticize him. If God does not reveal what he is doing, no one can understand it. God controls every nation and every person.But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,

30God makes sure that those who rule honor him. He makes sure that rulers do not oppress the people whom they rule.that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.

31Suppose someone says to God,‘I recognize that I am suffering because I have sinned. I do not want to sin any longer.Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.

32Please show me what sins I have committed. I will stop doing anything that is evil.’Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’

33If a person said that to God, do you think that God would continue to punish him? Now you have been saying that God does not treat people fairly, so it is important for you to decide what you think God would do. I will not suggest the answer myself. We would like to hear you say what you think about this.Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed Him? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.

34{ But unfortunately, I believe that} when people who have good sense and people who are wise hear my question and your answer, they will say to me,Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:

35‘Job is speaking ignorantly. What he says does not make sense.’‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’

36It would be good if God put Job on trial and investigated every last detail of his case. God should do that because Job has been speaking just as wicked people speak.If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.

37God should put Job on trial because in addition to sinning, he is saying that God does not treat people fairly. Knowing that we were watching, he clapped his hands to insult God. He has made long speeches to say that God has punished him unjustly.”For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

Job 34

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Job 34

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