Job 34 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Elihu Accuses Job of Arrogance

Job 34:1

Job 34:1Then Elihu said:

Job 34:2

Job 34:2“Listen to me, you wise men.
Pay attention, you who have knowledge.

Job 34:3

Job 34:3Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears
just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’

Job 34:4

Job 34:4So let us discern for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.

Job 34:5

Job 34:5For Job also said, ‘I am innocent,
but God has taken away my rights.

Job 34:6

Job 34:6I am innocent, but they call me a liar.
My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’

Job 34:7

Job 34:7“Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job,
with his thirst for irreverent talk?

Job 34:8

Job 34:8He chooses evil people as companions.
He spends his time with wicked men.

Job 34:9

Job 34:9He has even said, ‘Why waste time
trying to please God?’

Job 34:10

Job 34:10“Listen to me, you who have understanding.
Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin!
The Almighty can do no wrong.

Job 34:11

Job 34:11He repays people according to their deeds.
He treats people as they deserve.

Job 34:12

Job 34:12Truly, God will not do wrong.
The Almighty will not twist justice.

Job 34:13

Job 34:13Did someone else put the world in his care?
Who set the whole world in place?

Job 34:14

Job 34:14If God were to take back his spirit
and withdraw his breath,

Job 34:15

Job 34:15all life would cease,
and humanity would turn again to dust.

Job 34:16

Job 34:16“Now listen to me if you are wise.
Pay attention to what I say.

Job 34:17

Job 34:17Could God govern if he hated justice?
Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?

Job 34:18

Job 34:18For he says to kings, ‘You are wicked,’
and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’

Job 34:19

Job 34:19He 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.

Job 34:20

Job 34:20In a moment they die.
In the middle of the night they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.

Job 34:21

Job 34:21“For God watches how people live;
he sees everything they do.

Job 34:22

Job 34:22No darkness is thick enough
to hide the wicked from his eyes.

Job 34:23

Job 34:23We don’t set the time
when we will come before God in judgment.

Job 34:24

Job 34:24He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone,
and he sets up others in their place.

Job 34:25

Job 34:25He knows what they do,
and in the night he overturns and destroys them.

Job 34:26

Job 34:26He strikes them down because they are wicked,
doing it openly for all to see.

Job 34:27

Job 34:27For they turned away from following him.
They have no respect for any of his ways.

Job 34:28

Job 34:28They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention.
He hears the cries of the needy.

Job 34:29

Job 34:29But 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.

Job 34:30

Job 34:30He prevents the godless from ruling
so they cannot be a snare to the people.

Job 34:31

Job 34:31“Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned,
but I will sin no more’?

Job 34:32

Job 34:32Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me.
If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’?

Job 34:33

Job 34:33“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.

Job 34:34

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

Job 34:35

Job 34:35‘Job speaks out of ignorance;
his words lack insight.’

Job 34:36

Job 34:36Job, you deserve the maximum penalty
for the wicked way you have talked.

Job 34:37

Job 34:37For you have added rebellion to your sin;
you show no respect,
and you speak many angry words against God.”

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