Job 34Job34

Berean Standard BibleKing James Version

1. Elihu Confirms God’s Justice

2. 1BSBThen Elihu continued:KJVKJV: Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
3. 2BSB“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.KJVKJV: Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
4. 3BSBFor the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.KJVKJV: For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
5. 4BSBLet us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.KJVKJV: Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
6. 5BSBFor Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.KJVKJV: For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
7. 6BSBWould I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’KJVKJV: Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
8. 7BSBWhat man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?KJVKJV: What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
9. 8BSBHe keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.KJVKJV: Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
10. 9BSBFor he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’KJVKJV: For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
11. 10BSBTherefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.KJVKJV: Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
12. 11BSBFor according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.KJVKJV: For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
13. 12BSBIndeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.KJVKJV: Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
14. 13BSBWho gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?KJVKJV: Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
15. 14BSBIf He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,KJVKJV: If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
16. 15BSBall flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.KJVKJV: All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
17. 16BSBIf you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.KJVKJV: If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
18. 17BSBCould one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,KJVKJV: Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
19. 18BSBwho says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’KJVKJV: Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
20. 19BSBwho is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.KJVKJV: How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
21. 20BSBThey die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.KJVKJV: In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
22. 21BSBFor His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.KJVKJV: For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
23. 22BSBThere is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.KJVKJV: There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
24. 23BSBFor God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.KJVKJV: For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
25. 24BSBHe shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.KJVKJV: He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
26. 25BSBTherefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.KJVKJV: Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
27. 26BSBHe strikes them for their wickedness in full view,KJVKJV: He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
28. 27BSBbecause they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.KJVKJV: Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
29. 28BSBThey caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.KJVKJV: So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
30. 29BSBBut 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,KJVKJV: When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
31. 30BSBthat godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.KJVKJV: That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
32. 31BSBSuppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.KJVKJV: Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
33. 32BSBTeach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’KJVKJV: That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
34. 33BSBShould God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed Him? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.KJVKJV: Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
35. 34BSBMen of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:KJVKJV: Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
36. 35BSB‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’KJVKJV: Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
37. 36BSBIf only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.KJVKJV: My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
38. 37BSBFor he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”KJVKJV: For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.