June 22nd
Job, 34
1: Furthermore Elihu answered and said, 2: Hear my words, O ye wise men; and
give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 3: For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. 4: Let us choose to us judgment: let
us know among ourselves what is good. 5:
For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. 6: Should I lie against my right? my
wound is incurable without transgression. 7: What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? 8: Which 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 shall he
render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12: Yea, surely God will not do
wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. 13: Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath
disposed the whole world? 14:
If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his
breath; 15: All flesh shall
perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. 16: If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice
of my words. 17: Shall even he
that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? 18: Is it fit to say to a king, Thou
art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? 19: 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. 20: 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. 21: For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his
goings. 22: There is no
darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide
themselves. 23: For he will not
lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. 24: He shall break in pieces mighty
men without number, and set others in their stead. 25: Therefore he knoweth 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 back from
him, and would not consider any of his ways: 28: So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and
he heareth the cry of the afflicted. 29:
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: 30: That the
hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. 31: Surely it is meet to be 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 no more. 33: 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. 34: Let men of understanding tell me,
and let a wise man hearken unto me. 35:
Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. 36: My desire is that Job may be
tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. 37: For he addeth rebellion unto his
sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
Job, 35
1: Elihu spake moreover, and said, 2: Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My
righteousness is more than God's? 3:
For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I
have, if I be cleansed from my sin? 4:
I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. 5: Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which
are higher than thou. 6: If
thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be
multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7:
If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?
8: Thy wickedness may hurt a
man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. 9: By reason of the multitude of
oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out 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 fowls of heaven? 12: There they cry, but none giveth
answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13: Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty
regard it. 14: Although thou
sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou
in him. 15: But now, because it
is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great
extremity: 16: Therefore doth
Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
Job, 36
1: Elihu also proceeded, and said, 2: Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to
speak on God's behalf. 3: I
will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4: For truly my words shall not be
false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. 5: Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in
strength and wisdom. 6: He
preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. 7: He withdraweth not his eyes from
the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish
them for ever, and they are exalted. 8:
And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; 9: Then he sheweth them their work,
and their transgressions that they have exceeded. 10: He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that
they return from iniquity. 11:
If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and
their years in pleasures. 12:
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die
without knowledge. 13: But the
hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. 14: They die in youth, and their life
is among the unclean. 15: He
delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. 16: Even so would he have removed
thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and
that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. 17: But thou hast fulfilled the
judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. 18: Because there is wrath, beware
lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver
thee. 19: Will he esteem thy
riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. 20: Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their
place. 21: Take heed, regard
not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. 22: Behold, God exalteth by his
power: who teacheth like him? 23:
Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? 24: Remember that thou magnify his
work, which men behold. 25:
Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. 26: Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the
number of his years be searched out. 27:
For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the
vapour thereof: 28: Which the
clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. 29: Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the
noise of his tabernacle? 30:
Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. 31: For by them judgeth he the
people; he giveth meat in abundance. 32:
With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud
that cometh betwixt. 33: The
noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
In
chapters 34 – 36 Elihu continues to speak to all four men. He says, Listen to
me you wise men. He summarised Jobs argument saying that he says that he is
righteous. He is surrounded by evil men who laugh at him in his predicament.
Job should continue to do what is right. And surely God does right too. If God
gathered again all the breath of men then all men would die. God will do
whatever he wishes with men but he will only do what is right. Therefore Job
has spoken without knowledge and his words are foolish. He has taken the side
of wicked man and spoken against God. Then Elihu spoke again saying, Is it
right that Job is more righteous than God? Look at the sky the heavens are
higher than you. The oppressed cry to the Lord, but none says where is God my
maker? Who gives songs in the night. Who makes us understand things that
animals cannot see. And makes us wiser than birds. God does not listen to empty
words. So you say trust in God yet in your trust you have spoken foolishly. He
continues God is mighty and he does not despise any man. He punishes the wicked
and gives blessing to the poor. He calls on kings to serve him and if they turn
away from him he commands them to return unto him. And if they do not then he
will destroy them with the sword. But those who are hypocrites heap up the
wrath of God. Who can know God can anyone count his days? Can anyone understand
how God makes the rain to fall?
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