34 Elihu fortsatte. Han sade:

Hör mina ord, ni som är visa,
    lyssna till mig, ni som vet,
(A) för örat prövar orden
    liksom gommen prövar smaken.
Låt oss avgöra vad som är rätt,
    tillsammans förstå
        vad som är gott,
(B) för Job har sagt: ”Jag är rättfärdig,
    men Gud har berövat mig
        min rätt.
(C) Trots att jag har rätt
        står jag som lögnare.
    Jag är dödsskjuten
        fast jag är utan skuld.”

(D) Finns en man som Job,
    som dricker hån som vatten,
(E) som slår följe med ogärningsmän
    och vandrar
        med gudlösa människor?
(F) Han säger ju:
    ”Det hjälper inte en människa
        att hålla sig väl med Gud.”

10 (G) Lyssna därför på mig,
        ni förståndiga män!
    Skulle Gud göra orätt,
        den Allsmäktige något
            orättfärdigt?
11 (H) Nej, han ger åt människan
        efter hennes gärningar
    och låter var och en få
        efter sin väg.
12 (I) Gud gör sannerligen inget orätt,
    den Allsmäktige
        förvränger inte rätten.
13 Vem satte honom
        att ta hand om jorden,
    vem lade hela världen på honom?
14 Om han bara tänkte på sig själv
    och tog tillbaka sin ande,
        sin livsfläkt,
15 (J) då skulle allt levande förgås
    och människorna vända åter
        till stoft.

16 Har du insikt, så hör detta,
    lyssna till vad jag säger.
17 (K) Ska den härska som hatar rättvisa?
    Eller fördömer du
        den störste i rättfärdighet,
18 han som säger ”Skurk!” till en kung
    och ”Skyldig!” till furstar,
19 (L) han som inte är partisk för furstar
    och inte aktar den rike
        mer än den fattige,
    eftersom de alla är
        hans händers verk?

20 (M) De dör plötsligt, mitt i natten.
        Folk bävar och förgås,
    de mäktiga rycks bort
        men inte genom människohand,
21 (N) för Guds ögon följer var mans vägar
    och ser alla hans steg.
22 (O) Det finns inget mörker
        och ingen djup skugga
    där ogärningsmän kan gömma sig.
23 Gud behöver inte betrakta
        en människa länge
    innan hon kan ställas till doms
        inför honom.
24 (P) Han krossar mäktiga män
        utan rannsakan
    och insätter andra i deras ställe.
25 Ja, han känner deras gärningar,
    han störtar dem om natten
        och de krossas.
26 Han straffar dem som förbrytare,
    öppet, där människor ser det,
27 eftersom de vek av ifrån honom
    och inte gav akt
        på alla hans vägar.
28 (Q) Det fick de fattiga
        att ropa till honom,
    och han hörde
        de nödställdas klagan.
29 När han är tyst,
        vem kan då fördöma?
    När han döljer sitt ansikte,
        vem kan då se honom,
    vare sig ett folk
        eller en enskild människa?
30 Han låter inga gudlösa regera
    eller bli snaror för folket.

31 Har någon sagt till Gud:
    ”Jag tar mitt straff,
        jag vill inte synda mer.
32 Lär mig du vad jag inte ser.
    Har jag gjort orätt
        vill jag inte göra så mer.”
33 Ska Gud löna dig
        efter din önskan,
    du som har förkastat honom?
        Du måste välja, inte jag.
            Säg vad du menar!
34 Kloka män kommer att säga,
    visa män som lyssnar till mig:
35 ”Job talar utan insikt,
    hans ord är utan vishet.”
36 Låt Job prövas till det yttersta,
    för han försvarar sig
        som ogärningsmän.
37 (R) Han lägger uppror till sin synd,
    han klappar händerna mot oss
        och hopar sina ord mot Gud.

34 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

10 Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

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

23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26 He striketh 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 cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Elihu Asserts God's Justice

34 Then Elihu answered and said:

“Hear my words, you wise men,
    and give ear to me, you who know;
for (A)the ear tests words
    as the palate tastes food.
Let us choose (B)what is right;
    let us know among ourselves what is good.
For Job has said, ‘I am (C)in the right,
    and (D)God has taken away my right;
in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
    my wound is incurable, though I am (E)without transgression.’
What man is like Job,
    who (F)drinks up scoffing like water,
who travels in company with evildoers
    and walks (G)with wicked men?
For (H)he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
    that he should take delight in God.’

10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:
    far be it from God that he should (I)do wickedness,
    and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
11 For according to (J)the work of a man he will repay him,
    and (K)according to his ways he will make it befall him.
12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
    and (L)the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave him charge over the earth,
    and who (M)laid on him[a] the whole world?
14 If he should (N)set his heart to it
    and (O)gather to himself his (P)spirit and his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together,
    and man would (Q)return to dust.

16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
    listen to what I say.
17 (R)Shall one who hates justice govern?
    Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18 who (S)says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
    and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’
19 who (T)shows no partiality to princes,
    nor regards the rich (U)more than the poor,
    for (V)they are all the work of his hands?
20 In a moment (W)they die;
    at (X)midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
    and the mighty are taken away by (Y)no human hand.

21 “For his eyes are on (Z)the ways of a man,
    and he sees all his (AA)steps.
22 There is no (AB)gloom or (AC)deep darkness
    where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For God[b] has no need to consider a man further,
    that he should go before God in (AD)judgment.
24 He (AE)shatters the mighty without investigation
    and sets (AF)others in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works,
    he (AG)overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness
    in a place for all to see,
27 because they turned aside from (AH)following him
    and had no regard for any of his ways,
28 so that they (AI)caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
    and he (AJ)heard the cry of the afflicted—
29 When he is quiet, who can condemn?
    When he hides his face, who can behold him,
    whether it be a nation or a man?—
30 that a godless man should not reign,
    that he should not ensnare the people.

31 “For has anyone said to God,
    ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;
32 (AK)teach me what I do not see;
    if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
33 Will he then make repayment to suit you,
    because you reject it?
For you must choose, and not I;
    therefore (AL)declare what you know.[c]
34 Men of understanding will say to me,
    and the wise man who hears me will say:
35 ‘Job (AM)speaks without knowledge;
    his words are without insight.’
36 Would that Job were tried to the end,
    because he answers like wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
    he (AN)claps his hands among us
    and multiplies his words against God.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 34:13 Hebrew lacks on him
  2. Job 34:23 Hebrew he
  3. Job 34:33 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain