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Job 34, RSV

34:1 Then Eli'hu said:

34:2 "Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;

34:3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.

34:4 Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.

34:5 For Job has said, `I am innocent, and God has taken away my right;

34:6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

34:7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,

34:8 who goes in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men?

34:9 For he has said, `It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.'

34:10 "Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding, far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.

34:11 For according to the work of a man he will requite him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.

34:12 Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.

34:13 Who gave him charge over the earth and who laid on him the whole world?

34:14 If he should take back his spirit to himself, and gather to himself his breath,

34:15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.

34:16 "If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.

34:17 Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,

34:18 who says to a king, `Worthless one,' and to nobles, `Wicked man';

34:19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?

34:20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

34:21 "For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.

34:22 There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.

34:23 For he has not appointed a time for any man to go before God in judgment.

34:24 He shatters the mighty without investigation, and sets others in their place.

34:25 Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.

34:26 He strikes them for their wickedness in the sight of men,

34:27 because they turned aside from following him, and had no regard for any of his ways,

34:28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted --

34:29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man? --

34:30 that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people.

34:31 "For has any one said to God, `I have borne chastisement; I will not offend any more;

34:32 teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

34:33 Will he then make requital to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.

34:34 Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:

34:35 `Job speaks without knowledge, his words are without insight.'

34:36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.

34:37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God."

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