83 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
83 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
# 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.” |