Job 34

וַיַּ֥עַן אֱלִיה֗וּא וַיֹּאמַֽר׃

Then Elihu continued:

Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

שִׁמְע֣וּ חֲכָמִ֣ים מִלָּ֑י וְ֝יֹדְעִ֗ים הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ לִֽי׃

“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.

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

כִּי־אֹ֭זֶן מִלִּ֣ין תִּבְחָ֑ן וְ֝חֵ֗ךְ יִטְעַ֥ם לֶאֱכֹֽל׃

For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.

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

מִשְׁפָּ֥ט נִבְחֲרָה־לָּ֑נוּ נֵדְעָ֖ה בֵינֵ֣ינוּ מַה־טּֽוֹב׃

Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

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

כִּֽי־אָ֭מַר אִיּ֣וֹב צָדַ֑קְתִּי וְ֝אֵ֗ל הֵסִ֥יר מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃

For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

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

עַל־מִשְׁפָּטִ֥י אֲכַזֵּ֑ב אָנ֖וּשׁ חִצִּ֣י בְלִי־פָֽשַׁע׃

Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

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

מִי־גֶ֥בֶר כְּאִיּ֑וֹב יִֽשְׁתֶּה־לַּ֥עַג כַּמָּֽיִם׃

What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?

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

וְאָרַ֣ח לְ֭חֶבְרָה עִם־פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן וְ֝לָלֶ֗כֶת עִם־אַנְשֵׁי־רֶֽשַׁע׃

He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.

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

כִּֽי־אָ֭מַר לֹ֣א יִסְכָּן־גָּ֑בֶר בִּ֝רְצֹת֗וֹ עִם־אֱלֹהִֽים׃

For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’

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

לָכֵ֤ן ׀ אַ֥נֲשֵׁ֥י לֵבָ֗ב שִׁמְע֫וּ לִ֥י חָלִ֖לָה לָאֵ֥ל מֵרֶ֗שַׁע וְשַׁדַּ֥י מֵעָֽוֶל׃

Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

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.

כִּ֤י פֹ֣עַל אָ֭דָם יְשַׁלֶּם־ל֑וֹ וּֽכְאֹ֥רַח אִ֝֗ישׁ יַמְצִאֶֽנּוּ׃

For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

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

אַף־אָמְנָ֗ם אֵ֥ל לֹֽא־יַרְשִׁ֑יעַ וְ֝שַׁדַּ֗י לֹֽא־יְעַוֵּ֥ת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

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

מִֽי־פָקַ֣ד עָלָ֣יו אָ֑רְצָה וּמִ֥י שָׂ֝֗ם תֵּבֵ֥ל כֻּלָּֽהּ׃

Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?

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

אִם־יָשִׂ֣ים אֵלָ֣יו לִבּ֑וֹ רוּח֥וֹ וְ֝נִשְׁמָת֗וֹ אֵלָ֥יו יֶאֱסֹֽף׃

If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,

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

יִגְוַ֣ע כָּל־בָּשָׂ֣ר יָ֑חַד וְ֝אָדָ֗ם עַל־עָפָ֥ר יָשֽׁוּב׃

all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

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

וְאִם־בִּ֥ינָה שִׁמְעָה־זֹּ֑את הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינָה לְק֣וֹל מִלָּֽי׃

If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.

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

הַאַ֬ף שׂוֹנֵ֣א מִשְׁפָּ֣ט יַחֲב֑וֹשׁ וְאִם־צַדִּ֖יק כַּבִּ֣יר תַּרְשִֽׁיעַ׃

Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,

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

הַאֲמֹ֣ר לְמֶ֣לֶךְ בְּלִיָּ֑עַל רָ֝שָׁ֗ע אֶל־נְדִיבִֽים׃

who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

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

אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־נָשָׂ֨א ׀ פְּנֵ֥י שָׂרִ֗ים וְלֹ֣א נִכַּר־שׁ֭וֹעַ לִפְנֵי־דָ֑ל כִּֽי־מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה יָדָ֣יו כֻּלָּֽם׃

who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.

How 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.

רֶ֤גַע ׀ יָמֻתוּ֮ וַחֲצ֪וֹת לָ֥יְלָה יְגֹעֲשׁ֣וּ עָ֣ם וְיַעֲבֹ֑רוּ וְיָסִ֥ירוּ אַ֝בִּ֗יר לֹ֣א בְיָֽד׃

They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

In 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.

כִּי־עֵ֭ינָיו עַל־דַּרְכֵי־אִ֑ישׁ וְֽכָל־צְעָדָ֥יו יִרְאֶֽה׃

For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.

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

אֵֽין־חֹ֭שֶׁךְ וְאֵ֣ין צַלְמָ֑וֶת לְהִסָּ֥תֶר שָׁ֝֗ם פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃

There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

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

כִּ֤י לֹ֣א עַל־אִ֭ישׁ יָשִׂ֣ים ע֑וֹד לַהֲלֹ֥ךְ אֶל־אֵ֝֗ל בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃

For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.

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

יָרֹ֣עַ כַּבִּירִ֣ים לֹא־חֵ֑קֶר וַיַּעֲמֵ֖ד אֲחֵרִ֣ים תַּחְתָּֽם׃

He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.

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

לָכֵ֗ן יַ֭כִּיר מַעְבָּֽדֵיהֶ֑ם וְהָ֥פַךְ לַ֝֗יְלָה וְיִדַּכָּֽאוּ׃

Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

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

תַּֽחַת־רְשָׁעִ֥ים סְפָקָ֗ם בִּמְק֥וֹם רֹאִֽים׃

He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,

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

אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־כֵּ֭ן סָ֣רוּ מֵֽאַחֲרָ֑יו וְכָל־דְּ֝רָכָ֗יו לֹ֣א הִשְׂכִּֽילוּ׃

because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.

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

לְהָבִ֣יא עָ֭לָיו צַֽעֲקַת־דָּ֑ל וְצַעֲקַ֖ת עֲנִיִּ֣ים יִשְׁמָֽע׃

They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

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

וְה֤וּא יַשְׁקִ֨ט ׀ וּמִ֥י יַרְשִׁ֗עַ וְיַסְתֵּ֣ר פָּ֭נִים וּמִ֣י יְשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ וְעַל־גּ֖וֹי וְעַל־אָדָ֣ם יָֽחַד׃

But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,

When 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:

מִ֭מְּלֹךְ אָדָ֥ם חָנֵ֗ף מִמֹּ֥קְשֵׁי עָֽם׃

that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.

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

כִּֽי־אֶל־אֵ֭ל הֶאָמַ֥ר נָשָׂ֗אתִי לֹ֣א אֶחְבֹּֽל׃

Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.

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

בִּלְעֲדֵ֣י אֶ֭חֱזֶה אַתָּ֣ה הֹרֵ֑נִי אִֽם־עָ֥וֶל פָּ֝עַ֗לְתִּי לֹ֣א אֹסִֽיף׃

Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’

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

הַֽמֵעִמְּךָ֬ יְשַׁלְמֶ֨נָּה כִּֽי־מָאַ֗סְתָּ כִּי־אַתָּ֣ה תִבְחַ֣ר וְלֹא־אָ֑נִי וּֽמַה־יָדַ֥עְתָּ דַבֵּֽר׃

Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed Him? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.

Should 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.

אַנְשֵׁ֣י לֵ֭בָב יֹ֣אמְרוּ לִ֑י וְגֶ֥בֶר חָ֝כָ֗ם שֹׁמֵ֥עַֽ לִֽי׃

Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:

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

אִ֭יּוֹב לֹא־בְדַ֣עַת יְדַבֵּ֑ר וּ֝דְבָרָ֗יו לֹ֣א בְהַשְׂכֵּֽיל׃

‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’

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

אָבִ֗י יִבָּחֵ֣ן אִיּ֣וֹב עַד־נֶ֑צַח עַל־תְּ֝שֻׁבֹ֗ת בְּאַנְשֵׁי־אָֽוֶן׃

If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.

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

כִּ֥י יֹ֘סִ֤יף עַֽל־חַטָּאת֣וֹ פֶ֭שַׁע בֵּינֵ֣ינוּ יִסְפּ֑וֹק וְיֶ֖רֶב אֲמָרָ֣יו לָאֵֽל׃

For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

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