| Chapter 34 |
1 | Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
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2 | Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear to me, ye that have knowledge.
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3 | For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth food.
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4 | Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
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5 | For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
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6 | Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
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7 | What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
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8 | Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
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9 | For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
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10 | Therefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
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11 | For the work of a man he shall render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
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12 | Yes, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
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13 | Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
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14 | If he should set his heart upon man, if he should gather to himself his spirit and his breath;
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15 | All flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
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16 | If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
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17 | Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
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18 | Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
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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.
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20 | In a moment they shall die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
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21 | For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
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22 | There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
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23 | For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
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24 | He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
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25 | Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
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26 | He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
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27 | Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
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28 | So that they cause the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
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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:
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30 | That the hypocrite may not reign, lest the people should be ensnared.
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31 | Surely it is meet to be said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
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32 | That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
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33 | Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou shalt refuse, or whether thou shalt choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
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34 | Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken to me.
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35 | Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
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36 | My desire is that Job may be tried to the end, because of his answers for wicked men.
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37 | For he addeth rebellion to his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
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