Parallel Bible results for "job 34"

Job 34

Common English Bible CEB

1 Elihu continued:

2 Hear my words, wise ones; knowledgeable ones, listen to me,

3 for the ear tests words like the palate tastes food.

4 Let's choose for us what's right; let's determine among ourselves what's good;

5 for Job has said, "I'm innocent; God has denied my just cause;

6 because of my cause I'm thought a liar; my wound from an arrow is incurable, even though I didn't rebel."

7 Who is a man like Job? He drinks mockery like water

8 and travels a path with wrongdoers, walking with evil persons.

9 Indeed he said, "No one is rewarded for delighting in God."

10 Therefore, intelligent ones, hear me; far be it from God to do evil and the Almighty to sin,

11 for he repays people based on what they do, paying back everyone according to their ways.

12 Surely God doesn't act wickedly; the Almighty doesn't distort justice.

13 Who placed earth in his care, and who gave him dominion over the entire world?

14 If he were to decide to do it— to gather his spirit and breath back to himself—

15 all flesh would die together, and humans would return to dust.

16 But if you have understanding, hear this; pay attention to the sound of my words.

17 Will one who hates justice rule; will you condemn the most righteous one?

18 Will you say to a king, "Worthless!" to royalty, "Evil!"

19 Who shows no favor to princes nor regards the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of God's hands?

20 In the middle of the night they suddenly die; people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are removed, not by a human hand.

21 God's eyes are on human ways, and he sees all their steps.

22 There's no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves;

23 surely no time is set for a person to appear before God in judgment.

24 He shatters the mighty without examining them; makes others take their place.

25 Thus he regards their deeds, overturns them at night, and they are crushed.

26 He strikes them because of their wickedness at a place where people can see it.

27 Because they turned from following him and didn't value all his ways,

28 causing the cry of the poor to reach him, he hears the cry of the afflicted.

29 Still, if he remains quiet, who can condemn; if he hides his face, who can see him?

30 He prevents a lawless person from ruling, from capturing people.

31 Has Job said to God, "I have borne punishment; I won't sin again?

32 You teach me what I can't see; if I've sinned, I won't do it again."

33 Will he repay you because you reject sin, for you must choose, not I; declare what you know.

34 Smart people say to me, the wise who hear me,

35 "Job speaks without knowledge; his words aren't astute."

36 I wish Job would be tested to the limit because he responds like evil people.

37 He adds rebellion to his sin; mocks us openly and adds to his words against God.

The Message Bible MSG

1 Elihu continued:

2 "So, my fine friends - listen to me, and see what you think of this.

3 Isn't it just common sense - as common as the sense of taste -

4 To put our heads together and figure out what's going on here?

5 "We've all heard Job say, 'I'm in the right, but God won't give me a fair trial.

6 When I defend myself, I'm called a liar to my face. I've done nothing wrong, and I get punished anyway.'

7 Have you ever heard anything to beat this? Does nothing faze this man Job?

8 Do you think he's spent too much time in bad company, hanging out with the wrong crowd,

9 So that now he's parroting their line: 'It doesn't pay to try to please God'?

10 "You're veterans in dealing with these matters; certainly we're of one mind on this. It's impossible for God to do anything evil; no way can the Mighty One do wrong.

11 He makes us pay for exactly what we've done - no more, no less. Our chickens always come home to roost.

12 It's impossible for God to do anything wicked, for the Mighty One to subvert justice.

13 He's the one who runs the earth! He cradles the whole world in his hand!

14 If he decided to hold his breath,

15 every man, woman, and child would die for lack of air. God Is Working Behind the Scenes

16 "So, Job, use your head; this is all pretty obvious.

17 Can someone who hates order, keep order? Do you dare condemn the righteous, mighty God?

18 Doesn't God always tell it like it is, exposing corrupt rulers as scoundrels and criminals?

19 Does he play favorites with the rich and famous and slight the poor? Isn't he equally responsible to everybody?

20 Don't people who deserve it die without notice? Don't wicked rulers tumble to their doom? When the so-called great ones are wiped out, we know God is working behind the scenes.

21 "He has his eyes on every man and woman. He doesn't miss a trick.

22 There is no night dark enough, no shadow deep enough, to hide those who do evil.

23 God doesn't need to gather any more evidence; their sin is an open-and-shut case.

24 He deposes the so-called high and mighty without asking questions, and replaces them at once with others.

25 Nobody gets by with anything; overnight, judgment is signed, sealed, and delivered.

26 He punishes the wicked for their wickedness out in the open where everyone can see it,

27 Because they quit following him, no longer even thought about him or his ways.

28 Their apostasy was announced by the cry of the poor; the cry of the afflicted got God's attention. Because You Refuse to Live on God's Terms

29 "If God is silent, what's that to you? If he turns his face away, what can you do about it? But whether silent or hidden, he's there, ruling,

30 so that those who hate God won't take over and ruin people's lives.

31 "So why don't you simply confess to God? Say, 'I sinned, but I'll sin no more.

32 Teach me to see what I still don't see. Whatever evil I've done, I'll do it no more.'

33 Just because you refuse to live on God's terms, do you think he should start living on yours? You choose. I can't do it for you. Tell me what you decide.

34 "All right-thinking people say - and the wise who have listened to me concur -

35 'Job is an ignoramus. He talks utter nonsense.'

36 Job, you need to be pushed to the wall and called to account for wickedly talking back to God the way you have.

37 You've compounded your original sin by rebelling against God's discipline, Defiantly shaking your fist at God, piling up indictments against the Almighty One."