Job 34

Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

1Then Elihu, the young man who had been listening, kept on speaking.

2Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

2He said, "Listen to my words, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have learned much."

3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

3The ear tests words to see if they are good. That is like the mouth tasting food.

Note"Meat" in the King James Bible means any kind of food, not just animal meat.

4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

4Let us pick out together what is right. Let us learn together what is good.

5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

5Job has said, "I have done nothing wrong, but God will not treat me fairly."

6Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

6Job said, "Would I lie about my own case? My hurt will not heal, and I did no wrong."

7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

7Is there any man like Job? He drinks up mean, mocking talk as easily as water.

8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

8He walks along with people who do evil. He keeps company with wicked men.

9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

9For Job has said, "It does a man no good to try to please God."

10Therefore 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.

10So listen to me, you men who understand. God never does wrong. The Almighty never acts unfairly.

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

11God pays a person back for what he does. Each one gets what his own ways deserve.

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

12It is true: God does not do wicked things. The Almighty never twists what is fair.

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

13Who put God in charge of the earth? Who gave him the whole world to care for?

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

14Suppose God decided to take back the spirit and breath he gives to people.

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

15Then every living thing would die at once. People would turn back into dust.

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

16If you can understand, then listen to this. Pay attention to what I am saying.

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

17Could someone who hates fairness ever rule? Will you say the fair and mighty One is wrong?

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

18Is it right to tell a king, "You are wicked"? Or to tell leaders, "You do evil"?

19How 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.

19God treats princes no better than anyone else. He does not favor rich people over poor people. He made them all.

20In 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.

20They can die in one moment. In the middle of the night people shake and are gone. Even strong men are taken away, and no human hand does it.

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

21God's eyes watch the ways people live. He sees every step a person takes.

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

22There is no dark place, not even deepest shadow, where people who do evil can hide.

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

23God does not need to study a person any longer before he judges him.

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

24He breaks powerful men, more than anyone can count. Then he puts others in their place.

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

25He knows what they have done. He turns them over in the night, and they are crushed.

26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

26He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see it.

27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

27He does this because they turned away from him. They paid no attention to his ways.

28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

28Because of them, poor people cried out to God. He heard the cry of those who were hurting.

29When 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:

29When God gives quiet, no one can bring trouble. When he hides his face, no one can see him. He does this with whole nations and with one person alone.

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

30He does this so that godless rulers do not rule and trap the people.

NoteThe old word "hypocrite" here means a person who does not care about God at all.

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

31It is right for someone to say to God, "I have taken my punishment. I will not do wrong again."

Note"Chastisement" is an old word for punishment that is meant to correct someone.

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

32"Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I will not do it again."

33Should 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.

33Should God pay you back the way you want him to? You must choose, not me. So tell me what you know.

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

34Men who understand will speak up. Wise men who hear me will agree.

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

35They will say, "Job talks without knowing. His words show no wisdom."

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

36I wish Job could be tested all the way. He answers like a wicked man.

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

37He piles rebellion on top of his sin. He claps his hands at us. He keeps saying more and more words against God.