Job 34

1 Then [moreover, furthermore] Elihu [He is my God, a friend of Job] continued [answered and said, made answer]: word study 2 “Hear [listen and obey] my words, O wise [intelligent, skilled, or prudent] men; give ear [pay attention, hearken] to me, O men of learning [having knowledge, perceiving, or discerning]. word study 3 For [as a reason, because of this] the ear [the ability to hear, to listen] tests [examines, proves] words [speech, what is spoken] as [in the same way, similarly] the mouth [palate, the roof of the mouth] tastes [perceives, discerns] food [what is eaten, nourishment]. word study 4 Let us choose [select, decide] for ourselves what is right [justice, judgment]; let us learn [know, discern] together what is good [pleasant, beneficial]. word study 5 For Job [the patriarch, a man of great patience] has declared [said, spoken], ‘I am righteous [just, innocent, having God’s nature], yet God [the Almighty, Elohim] has deprived me of justice [my right, judgment]. word study 6 Would I [falsely, deceitfully] lie about my case [my right, my justice]? My wound [incurable sickness, mortal arrow] is incurable [without hope, desperately wicked], though I am without [lacking, free from] transgression [rebellion, revolt against God].’ word study 7 What man is like Job [a patriarch famous for patience], who drinks up [consumes, feasts on] derision [scoffing, contempt, strong feeling of mocking] like water [a source of refreshment, a liquid]? word study 8 He keeps company [travels, journeys] with evildoers [workers of iniquity, those who do evil] and walks [lives, associates] with wicked men [men of wickedness, immoral people]. word study 9 For [because, since] he has said [spoken, declared], ‘It [truly, indeed] profits [benefits, is useful] a man [great man] nothing [not at all, to no avail] that he should delight [take pleasure, be pleased] [in God’s presence, with God] in [with, together with] God [Elohim, the supreme God].’ word study 10 Therefore [so, thus] listen to me, O men [individuals, people] of understanding [having knowledge, insight]. Far be it from God [the Almighty, divine Ruler] to do wrong [wickedness, evil], and from the Almighty [Shadday, all-powerful] to act unjustly [commit iniquity, moral evil]. word study 11 For [because of this reason] according to a man’s [the individual, Adam] deeds [work, actions, or accomplishments] He repays [rewards, settles accounts with] him; according to a man’s [his] ways [path, journey, or conduct] He brings [causes to happen, renders] consequences [results, punishment, or reward]. word study 12 Indeed, it is true [certainly, surely] that God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler] does not act wickedly [do evil, act wrongly], and the Almighty [Shadday, all-powerful] does not pervert [twist, distort] justice [righteous judgment]. word study 13 Who [what person or being] gave Him [as Supreme Ruler] charge [to reckon, oversee, or inspect] over the earth [the land, the material world, or the terrestrial sphere]? Who [what authority or power] appointed [to set, place, or establish] Him over the whole [entire, all-inclusive] world [the earth and its inhabitants, or the global community]? word study 14 If He were to set [place, appoint, or fix] His heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] to it and withdraw [gather to Himself, take back] His Spirit [the breath of life, the wind, or a person’s mind and emotions] and breath [the vital force, the spirit, or the wind], word study 15 all [every living thing, everything] flesh [humanity, living creatures] would perish [expire, die] together [united, at the same time] and mankind [the man, humanity] would return [turn back, go back] to the dust [dry earth, ashes]. word study 16 If [now, at this moment] you have [possess, are endowed with] understanding [discernment, wisdom], hear [listen attentively, give ear to] this [specifically, what I am about to say]; listen [hearken, pay attention] to my words [voice, speech]. word study 17 Could one who [hates with intense dislike] hates justice [or righteousness] govern? Will you condemn [or judge as wicked] the just [or righteous] and mighty [or powerful] One [the upright Ruler of all], word study 18 who says [to speak or command] to kings [royal persons], ‘You are [considered as] worthless [belial, evil or ungodly]!’ and to nobles [generous or high-ranking persons], ‘You are [guilty of being] wicked [morally wrong],’ word study 19 who is not partial [does not show favoritism, without respect] to princes [rulers, leaders] and does not favor [regard, treat with preference] rich [wealthy, noble] over poor [needy, weak]? For they are all [everything, the whole] the work [deed, creation] of His hands [power, care]. word study 20 They die [suddenly] in an instant, in the middle [midpoint, center] of the night [period of darkness, adversity]. The people [nation, community] convulse [shake violently, are troubled] and pass away [transition to another state, depart]; the mighty [strong, powerful] are removed [taken away, departed] without human [by no, not by] hand [power, strength]. word study 21 For His eyes [watching over, observing] are on the ways [paths, journey] of a man [human, individual], and He sees [looks after, provides for] his every step [pace, path of life]. word study 22 There is no [thick gloom, deep] darkness [physical and spiritual] or [shadow of death, place of] deep shadow [distress and grave] where the [habitual, systematic] workers [doers] of [evil, wickedness, idolatry] iniquity [trouble] can [conceal, keep secret] hide [covering up]. word study 23 For God [the supreme Judge, Elohim] need not examine [consider, investigate] a man [a human, mortal] further [still, anymore] or have him approach [go, come] for judgment [justice, a verdict]. word study 24 He shatters [breaks in pieces, destroys] the mighty [powerful, strong] without [not needing] inquiry [search, investigation] and sets up [appoints, establishes] others [different ones, another group] in their place [stead, position, underneath them]. word study 25 Therefore [so, thus], He recognizes [knows, is acquainted with] their deeds [works, actions]; He overthrows [turns upside down, overturns] them in the night [time of darkness, period of adversity] and they are crushed [destroyed, bruised, broken]. word study 26 He strikes [punishes, slaps] them for their [morally wrong, sinful] wickedness [as wicked men, guilty of crime or sin] in full view [in the open sight of others, publicly, where many people can see it], word study 27 because they turned aside [from following Him, against His will] from Him [the Almighty, their Creator] and had no regard [would not consider, did not pay attention] for any of His ways [path, journey, manner of life]. word study 28 They caused the cry [voice of distress, outcry] of the poor [needy, weak, destitute] to come before Him [to His attention, into His presence], and He heard [listened to, gave attention to] the outcry [cry of anguish, desperate plea] of the afflicted [oppressed, humble, suffering ones]. word study 29 But when He [gives quietness] remains silent, who [what person, no one] can condemn Him? When He [conceals] hides His face [presence, countenance], who [no one, what person] can see [behold, observe] Him? Yet He [continually, watchfully] watches over [has charge of, cares for] both man [humanity, individuals] and nation [Gentiles, peoples], word study 30 that godless [hypocritical] men [the profane, those who reject God] should not [reign, rule as king] rule or lay snares [traps, ensnaring devices] for the people [nation, community of believers]. word study 31 Suppose someone says [in humility, with a repentant heart] to God [the Almighty, Creator of all], ‘I have endured [borne patiently, suffered through] my punishment [chastisement, discipline]; I will offend [sin, corruptly act] no more [not again, forever]. word study 32 Teach [show, point out] me what I cannot see [that which I do not perceive, beyond my understanding]; if I have done [committed, worked] wrong [iniquity, injustice, moral evil], I will not [no longer, never again] do it again [continue, add to my wrongdoing].’ word study 33 Should God [the Almighty, heavenly Father] repay you on your own terms [as you desire, according to your mind] when you have disavowed [rejected, refused] His? You must choose [select, decide for yourself], not I [not me, but you alone]; so tell me what you know [are aware of, have understood]. word study 34 Men [of heart, having understanding] of understanding will declare [say unto me, tell me] to me, and the wise [skilled, intelligent] men who hear [hearken unto, listen to] me will say [speak to me, declare]: word study 35 ‘Job [a patriarch famous for patience] speaks [to express or communicate thoughts] without [lacking, devoid of] knowledge [understanding or insight, a deep awareness of God’s ways]; his words [utterances, expressions of thought] lack [are without, do not possess] insight [prudence, wisdom, or discernment, being circumspect, having a deep understanding of God’s will].’ word study 36 If only [oh that, a deep longing] Job [the patriarch, a man of faith] were tried [tested, examined] to the utmost [till the end, perpetually] for answering [responding, turning] like a wicked [evil] man [a person, an individual, with a heart of iniquity]. word study 37 For [because of this reason] he adds [increases, piles up] rebellion [transgression, revolt against God] to his sin [guilt, punishment for sin]; he claps [slaps, applauds] his hands [in scorn, mockery] among us [between us, in our presence] and multiplies [increases, grows] his words [speeches, accusations] against God [the Almighty, divine Judge].” word study