XXXIV

MOREOVER Elihu answered and said,

[2] Hear my words, ye wise men;

And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. [3] For the ear trieth words,

As the palate tasteth food.

[4] Let us choose for us that which is right:

Let us know among ourselves what is good.

[5] For Job hath said, I am righteous,

And God hath taken away my right:

[6] Notwithstanding' my right I am accounted a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

[7] What man is like Job,

Who drinketh up scoffing like water,

[8] Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?

[9] 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 will he render unto him,

And cause every man to find according to his ways. [12] Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

[13] Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?

[14] If he set his heart upon himself,"

If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; [15] All flesh shall perish together,

And man shall turn again unto dust.

1 Or, Should I lie against my right?
Or, consent with. See Ps. 50. 18.
According to another reading, If he
Ör, man. Heb. him.

self.

Heb. Mine arrow.

Or, laid upon him.

cause his heart to return unto him

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

[17] Shall even one that hateth justice govern?

And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty?

[18] Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile,
Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;

[19] That respecteth 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 they die, even at midnight;
The people are shaken and pass away,

And the mighty are taken away without hand.

[21] For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.

[22] There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,

Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. [23] For he needeth not further to consider a man,

That he should go before God in judgment.

10

[24] He breaketh in pieces mighty men in1 ways past find

ing out,

And setteth others in their stead.

[25] Therefore he taketh knowledge of 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 aside from following him,

And would not have regard to any of his ways:

[28] So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him,

And he heard the cry of the afflicted.

[29] When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn?

And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?
Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:

Or, Only understand.

The Heb. as pointed reads, Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art vile? Or to nobles, Ye are wicked? Or, and at midnight the people &c. 11 Heb. crushed. 12 Heb. In the place might cause... and that he might hear.

10 Or, without inquisition. of beholders. 13 Or, That they

[30] That the godless man reign not,

That there be none to ensnare the people.

[31] For hath any 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 it no more?

[33] Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it?

For thou must choose, and not I:
Therefore speak what thou knowest.

[34] Men of understanding will say unto me,
Yea, every wise man that heareth me:
[35] Job speaketh without knowledge,

And his words are without wisdom.

[36] Would that Job were tried unto the end,
Because of his answering like wicked men.
[37] For he addeth rebellion unto his sin;
He clappeth his hands among us,
And multiplieth his words against God.

[1]

XXXV

MOREOVER Elihu answered and said,

[2] Thinkest thou this to be thy right,

Or sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God's, [3] That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? And, What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?

[4] I will answer thee,

And thy companions with thee.

[5] Look unto the heavens, and see;

And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

[6] If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

[7] If thou be righteous, what givest thou him?

Or what receiveth he of thy hand?

14 Or, though I offend not.

HC-Vol. 44 (5)

[8] Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art;

And thy righteousness may profit a son of man.

[9] By reason of the multitude of oppressions they ery out;

They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty. [10] But none saith, Where is God my Maker,

Who giveth songs in the night;

[11] Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens? [12] There they cry, but none giveth answer,

Because of the pride of evil men.

[13] Surely God will not hear an empty cry, Neither will the Almighty regard it.

[14] How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not,

The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him! [15] But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance;

[16] Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge.

XXXVI

[1] ELIHU also proceeded, and said,

[2] Suffer1 me a little, and I will show thee;

For I have yet somewhat to say on God's hehalf.

[3] I will fetch my knowledge from afar,

And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

[4] For truly my words are not false:

One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. [5] Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding. [6] He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted their right.

1 Or, but he answereth not. "Or, thou beholdest him not! The cause is before him; therefore wait thou for him. Or, Thou sayest, He doth not greatly regard arrogance. 1 Heb. Wait for. a Heb. there are yet words for God.

Thus doth &c.

Heb. heart.

[7] He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne

He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.

[8] And if they be bound in fetters,

And be taken in the cords of affliction;

[9] Then he showeth them their work,

And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

[10] He openeth also their ear to instruction,

And commandeth that they return from iniquity. [11] If they hearken and serve him,

They shall spend their days in prosperity,

And their years in pleasures.*

[12] But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword,

And they shall die without knowledge.

[13] But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them.

[14] They die in youth,

And their life perisheth among the unclean." [15] He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.

[16] Yea, he would have allured thee out" of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.

[17] But thou art" full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold on thee.

[18] For" let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.

[19] Will thy cry avail, that thou be not in distress, Or all the forces of thy strength?

[20] Desire not the night,

When peoples are" cut off in their place.

Or, weapons.

Or, pleasantness. 5 • Heb. Or, like. Or, sodomites. See Deut. 23. 17. 19 Or, by adversity. 11 Heb. out of the mouth of. Or, Because there is wrath, beware lest thou be ficiency. 14 Heb. go up.

Their soul dieth.