Parallel Bible results for "job 34"

Job 34

The Complete Jewish Bible CJB

1 Elihu continued speaking:

2 "Hear my words, you sages! Listen to me, you who know so much!

3 For the ear tests words, just as the palate tastes food.

4 Let's choose for ourselves what is just; let's decide among ourselves what is good.

5 For Iyov says, 'I am in the right, but God is denying me justice.

6 Against justice, I am considered a liar; my wound is mortal, though I committed no crime.'

7 "Is there a man like Iyov, who drinks in scoffing like water,

8 who keeps company with evildoers and goes with wicked men,

9 since he thinks, 'It profits a person nothing to be in accord with God'?

10 "So listen to me, you men with sense! Far be it from God to do anything wicked!

11 For he pays people back for what they do and sees that each gets what his conduct deserves.

12 It is certain that God does nothing wicked; Shaddai will not pervert justice.

13 Did someone else put him in charge of the earth? Who else established the entire world?

14 If he were to take back man's heart to himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and breath;

15 all flesh would instantly perish, everyone would return to dust.

16 "If you have any sense, [Iyov,] hear this; listen to what I am saying.

17 Should a hater of justice be in control? If you wouldn't tell a king, 'You're a scoundrel!'or nobles, 'You are wicked men!'then you shouldn't condemn the Just and Mighty One,

18

19 who is neither partial toward princes nor favors the rich over the poor, since they all are the work of his hands.

20 They may die in a moment, in the middle of the night -the people are shaken and pass away, the mighty are removed without human hands.

21 For he keeps watch on a person's ways; he sees his every step.

22 There is no darkness, no death-like gloom, where wrongdoers can hide;

23 for he doesn't give warning to people when they must appear before God in judgment.

24 He shatters the mighty without needing to investigate and sets up others in their place.

25 Therefore, aware of what they are doing, he overturns them by night, and they are crushed.

26 He strikes them as if they were common criminals in the open sight of others,

27 because they turned away from following him and gave no thought to any of his ways,

28 thereby bringing before him the cries of the poor; and he hears the cries of the oppressed.

29 "But if God is silent, who can accuse him; if he hides his face, who can see him? He may do this to nations and persons alike,

30 so that godless men will not become kings, and the people will not be lured into traps.

31 "For has anyone said to God, 'I have been chastised without having offended;

32 teach me what I have failed to see; and if I have done wrong, I will do it no more'?

33 Must his rewards meet your approval? Well, you are the one who doesn't like them, so you, not I, should pick the alternative; come on, say what you think!

34 Intelligent people will tell me, every wise man who hears me will say,

35 'Iyov is speaking without thinking; his words lack discernment.'

36 "I wish Iyov would be kept on trial forever, because he answers like wicked men.

37 For now to his sin he adds rebellion; he [mockingly] claps his hands among us and keeps adding to his words against God."

New Living Translation NLT

1 Then Elihu said:

2 “Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.

3 Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’

4 So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

5 For Job also said, ‘I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.

6 I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’

7 “Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk?

8 He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men.

9 He has even said, ‘Why waste time trying to please God?’

10 “Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.

11 He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.

12 Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.

13 Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?

14 If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,

15 all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.

16 “Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.

17 Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?

18 For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’ and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’

19 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.

20 In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

21 “For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do.

22 No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes.

23 We don’t set the time when we will come before God in judgment.

24 He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place.

25 He knows what they do, and in the night he overturns and destroys them.

26 He strikes them down because they are wicked, doing it openly for all to see.

27 For they turned away from following him. They have no respect for any of his ways.

28 They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention. He hears the cries of the needy.

29 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.

30 He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.

31 “Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I will sin no more’?

32 Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’?

33 “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.

34 After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say,

35 ‘Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.’

36 Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked.

37 For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God.”