The Book of Job (WEB)

34: 1Moreover Elihu answered,

 ^34:2"Hear my words, you wise men;
      Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

 ^34:3For the ear tries words,
      As the palate tastes food.

 ^34:4Let us choose for us that which is right.
      Let us know among ourselves what is good.

 ^34:5For Job has said, 'I am righteous,
      God has taken away my right:

 ^34:6Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar;
      My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.'

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

 ^34:8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
      And walks with wicked men?

 ^34:9For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing
      That he should delight himself with God.'

  ^34:10"Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:
      Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness,
      From the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

 ^34:11For the work of a man will he render to him,
      And cause every man to find according to his ways.

 ^34:12Yes surely, God will not do wickedly,
      Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

 ^34:13Who gave him a charge over the earth?
      Or who has appointed him over the whole world?

 ^34:14If he set his heart on himself,
      If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath;

 ^34:15All flesh would perish together,
      And man would turn again to dust.

  ^34:16"If now you have understanding, hear this.
      Listen to the voice of my words.

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

 ^34:18Who says to a king, 'Vile!'
      Or to nobles, 'Wicked!'

 ^34:19Who doesn't respect the persons of princes,
      Nor regards the rich more than the poor;
      For they all are the work of his hands.

 ^34:20In a moment they die, even at midnight;
      The people are shaken and pass away,
      The mighty are taken away without hand.

  ^34:21"For his eyes are on the ways of a man,
      He sees all his goings.

 ^34:22There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,
      Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

 ^34:23For he doesn't need to consider a man further,
      That he should go before God in judgment.

 ^34:24He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out,
      And sets others in their place.

 ^34:25Therefore he takes knowledge of their works.
      He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

 ^34:26He strikes them as wicked men
      In the open sight of others;

 ^34:27Because they turned aside from following him,
      And wouldn't have regard in any of his ways:

 ^34:28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
      He heard the cry of the afflicted.

 ^34:29When he gives quietness, who then can condemn?
      When he hides his face, who then can see him?
      Alike whether to a nation, or to a man:

 ^34:30That the godless man may not reign,
      That there be no one to ensnare the people.

  ^34:31"For has any said to God,
      'I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

 ^34:32Teach me that which I don't see.
      If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

 ^34:33Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it?
      For you must choose, and not I.
      Therefore speak what you know.

 ^34:34Men of understanding will tell me,
      Yes, every wise man who hears me:

 ^34:35'Job speaks without knowledge,
      His words are without wisdom.'

 ^34:36I wish that Job were tried to the end,
      Because of his answering like wicked men.

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

World English Bible