Elihu: Job Is Not Righteous
Job 34Moreover Elihu answered,
“Listen my words, y’all wise men. Open y’all’s ears to me, learned ones. For the ear tests words, as the palate tastes food. Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good. For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right. Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’ What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water, who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men? For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’“Therefore y’all must listen to me, men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. For ʜᴇ repays everyone for what they have done, and makes them find their way. Indeed, God will not act wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice. Who put ʜɪᴍ in charge of the earth? And who appointed ʜɪᴍ over the whole world? If ʜᴇ set his heart on something, if ʜᴇ gathered ʜɪꜱ spirit and breath, all flesh would perish together, and humanity would return to dust.
“If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words. Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the righteous and mighty One? who says to a king, ‘Worthless!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’? Hᴇ is not partial to princes, and doesn’t respect the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of ʜɪꜱ hands. In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
“For ʜɪꜱ eyes are on the ways of humanity. Hᴇ sees all their steps. There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. For ʜᴇ doesn’t need to consider a human further, that he should go before God in judgment. Hᴇ breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place. Therefore ʜᴇ takes knowledge of their works. Hᴇ overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed. Hᴇ strikes them like the wicked in the open sight of others; because they turned away from following ʜɪᴍ, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways, so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. Hᴇ heard the cry of the afflicted. When ʜᴇ remains quiet, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Hᴇ is over a nation or a man alike, that the godless person will not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more. Teach me what I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’? Should ʜɪꜱ recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know. Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me: ‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’ I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men. For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”