34: 2 Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
34: 3 For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.
34: 4 Let us choose for us that which is right: Let us know among ourselves what is good.
34: 5 For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:
34: 6 366Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; 367My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
366Or, Should I lie against my right?
367Hb. Mine arrow is incurable,
34: 7 What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scoffing like water,
34: 8 Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?
34: 9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should 368delight himself with God.
368Or, consent with God. See Ps 50:18.
34: 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.
34: 11 For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.
34: 12 Yes, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
34: 13 Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath 369disposed the whole world?
369Or, laid upon him the whole world
34: 14 370If he set his heart upon 371himself, If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
370Hbmg reads If he cause his heart to return unto himself,
371Or, man, Hb. him,
34: 15 All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.
34: 16 372If now thou hast understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.
372Or, Only understand,
34: 17 Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty? –
34: 18 373Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile, Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;
373The Hb. as pointed reads Is it fit to say to a king, thou art vile? Or to nobles, Ye are wicked?
34: 19 That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.
34: 20 In a moment they die, 374even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without hand.
374Or, and at midnight the people are shaken etc.
34: 21 For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.
34: 22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
34: 23 For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.
34: 24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men 375in ways past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.
375Or, without inquisition,
34: 25 Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are 376destroyed.
376Hb. crushed.
34: 26 He striketh them as wicked men 377In the open sight of others;
377Hb. In the place of beholders;
34: 27 Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard to any of his ways:
34: 28 378So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.
378Or, That they might cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, And that he might hear the cry of the afflicted.
34: 29 When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:
34: 30 379That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.
379Sept., Vg., Targ. read That maketh a godless man king, because of the snares of the people.
34: 31 For hath any said unto God, I have borne chastisement, 380I will not offend any more:
380Or, though I offend not:
34: 32 That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
34: 33 Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.
34: 34 Men of understanding will say unto me, Yes, every wise man that heareth me:
34: 35 Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.
34: 36 Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.
34: 37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.
