# Job 34 (New King James Version)
Elihu Proclaims God's Justice

##### Chapter 34
###### 1 Elihu further answered and said:

###### 2 "Hear my words, you wise _men;_  
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.  

###### 3 For the ear tests words  
As the palate tastes food.  

###### 4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;  
Let us know among ourselves what _is_ good.

###### 5 "For Job has said, 'I am righteous,  
But God has taken away my justice;  

###### 6 Should I lie concerning my right?  
My wound _is_ incurable, _though I am_ without transgression.'  

###### 7 What man _is_ like Job,  
_Who_ drinks scorn like water,  

###### 8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,  
And walks with wicked men?  

###### 9 For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing  
That he should delight in God.'

###### 10 "Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:  
Far be it from God _to do_ wickedness,  
And _from_ the Almighty to _commit_ iniquity.  

###### 11 For He repays man _according to_ his work,  
And makes man to find a reward according to _his_ way.  

###### 12 Surely God will never do wickedly,  
Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.  

###### 13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?  
Or who appointed _Him over_ the whole world?  

###### 14 If He should set His heart on it,  
_If_ He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,  

###### 15 All flesh would perish together,  
And man would return to dust.

###### 16 "If _you have_ understanding, hear this;  
Listen to the sound of my words:  

###### 17 Should one who hates justice govern?  
Will you condemn _Him who is_ most just?  

###### 18 _Is it fitting_ to say to a king, '_You are_ worthless,'  
_And_ to nobles, '_You are_ wicked'?  

###### 19 Yet He is not partial to princes,  
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;  
For they _are_ all the work of His hands.  

###### 20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night;  
The people are shaken and pass away;  
The mighty are taken away without a hand.

###### 21 "For His eyes _are_ on the ways of man,  
And He sees all his steps.  

###### 22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death  
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.  

###### 23 For He need not further consider a man,  
That he should go before God in judgment.  

###### 24 He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,  
And sets others in their place.  

###### 25 Therefore He knows their works;  
He overthrows _them_ in the night,  
And they are crushed.  

###### 26 He strikes them as wicked _men_  
In the open sight of others,  

###### 27 Because they turned back from Him,  
And would not consider any of His ways,  

###### 28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;  
For He hears the cry of the afflicted.  

###### 29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?  
And when He hides _His_ face, who then can see Him,  
Whether _it is_ against a nation or a man alone?--  

###### 30 That the hypocrite should not reign,  
Lest the people be ensnared.

###### 31 "For has _anyone_ said to God,  
'I have borne _chastening;_  
I will offend no more;  

###### 32 Teach me _what_ I do not see;  
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more'?  

###### 33 Should He repay _it_ according to your _terms,_  
_Just_ because you disavow it?  
You must choose, and not I;  
Therefore speak what you know.

###### 34 "Men of understanding say to me,  
Wise men who listen to me:  

###### 35 'Job speaks without knowledge,  
His words _are_ without wisdom.'  

###### 36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,  
Because _his_ answers _are like_ those of wicked men!  

###### 37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;  
He claps _his hands_ among us,  
And multiplies his words against God."