3.4 KiB
Elihu Accuses Job of Arrogance
Chapter 34
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Then Elihu said:
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"Listen to me, you wise men.
Pay attention, you who have knowledge.
- Job said, 'The ear tests the words it hears
just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.'
- So let us discern for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.
- For Job also said, 'I am innocent,
but God has taken away my rights.
- I am innocent, but they call me a liar.
My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.'
- "Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job,
with his thirst for irreverent talk?
- He chooses evil people as companions.
He spends his time with wicked men.
- He has even said, 'Why waste time
trying to please God?'
- "Listen to me, you who have understanding.
Everyone knows that God doesn't sin!
The Almighty can do no wrong.
- He repays people according to their deeds.
He treats people as they deserve.
- Truly, God will not do wrong.
The Almighty will not twist justice.
- Did someone else put the world in his care?
Who set the whole world in place?
- If God were to take back his spirit
and withdraw his breath,
- all life would cease,
and humanity would turn again to dust.
- "Now listen to me if you are wise.
Pay attention to what I say.
- Could God govern if he hated justice?
Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?
- For he says to kings, 'You are wicked,'
and to nobles, 'You are unjust.'
- He doesn't care how great a person may be,
and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor.
He made them all.
- In a moment they die.
In the middle of the night they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.
- "For God watches how people live;
he sees everything they do.
- No darkness is thick enough
to hide the wicked from his eyes.
- We don't set the time
when we will come before God in judgment.
- He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone,
and he sets up others in their place.
- He knows what they do,
and in the night he overturns and destroys them.
- He strikes them down because they are wicked,
doing it openly for all to see.
- For they turned away from following him.
They have no respect for any of his ways.
- They cause the poor to cry out, catching God's attention.
He hears the cries of the needy.
- But if he chooses to remain quiet,
who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him,
whether an individual or a nation.
- He prevents the godless from ruling
so they cannot be a snare to the people.
- "Why don't people say to God, 'I have sinned,
but I will sin no more'?
- Or 'I don't know what evil I have done--tell me.
If I have done wrong, I will stop at once'?
- "Must God tailor his justice to your demands?
But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine.
Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.
- After all, bright people will tell me,
and wise people will hear me say,
- 'Job speaks out of ignorance;
his words lack insight.'
- Job, you deserve the maximum penalty
for the wicked way you have talked.
- For you have added rebellion to your sin;
you show no respect,
and you speak many angry words against God."