123 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
123 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
Elihu Asserts God's Justice
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# Chapter 34
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1. Then Elihu answered and said:
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2. "Hear my words, you wise men,
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and give ear to me, you who know;
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3. for the ear tests words
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as the palate tastes food.
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4. Let us choose what is right;
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let us know among ourselves what is good.
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5. For Job has said, 'I am in the right,
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and God has taken away my right;
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6. in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
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my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'
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7. What man is like Job,
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who drinks up scoffing like water,
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8. who travels in company with evildoers
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and walks with wicked men?
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9. For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing
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that he should take delight in God.'
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10. "Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:
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far be it from God that he should do wickedness,
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and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
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11. For according to the work of a man he will repay him,
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and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
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12. Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
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and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
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13. Who gave him charge over the earth,
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and who laid on him the whole world?
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14. If he should set his heart to it
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and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,
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15. all flesh would perish together,
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and man would return to dust.
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16. "If you have understanding, hear this;
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listen to what I say.
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17. Shall one who hates justice govern?
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Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
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18. who says to a king, 'Worthless one,'
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and to nobles, 'Wicked man,'
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19. who shows no partiality to princes,
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nor regards the rich more than the poor,
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for they are all the work of his hands?
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20. In a moment they die;
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at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
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and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
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21. "For his eyes are on the ways of a man,
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and he sees all his steps.
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22. There is no gloom or deep darkness
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where evildoers may hide themselves.
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23. For God has no need to consider a man further,
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that he should go before God in judgment.
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24. He shatters the mighty without investigation
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and sets others in their place.
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25. Thus, knowing their works,
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he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
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26. He strikes them for their wickedness
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in a place for all to see,
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27. because they turned aside from following him
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and had no regard for any of his ways,
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28. so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
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and he heard the cry of the afflicted--
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29. When he is quiet, who can condemn?
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When he hides his face, who can behold him,
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whether it be a nation or a man?--
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30. that a godless man should not reign,
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that he should not ensnare the people.
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31. "For has anyone said to God,
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'I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;
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32. teach me what I do not see;
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if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?
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33. Will he then make repayment to suit you,
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because you reject it?
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For you must choose, and not I;
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therefore declare what you know.
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34. Men of understanding will say to me,
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and the wise man who hears me will say:
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35. 'Job speaks without knowledge;
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his words are without insight.'
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36. Would that Job were tried to the end,
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because he answers like wicked men.
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37. For he adds rebellion to his sin;
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he claps his hands among us
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and multiplies his words against God."
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