Job 34 - GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Elihu Continues: Listen, Everyone

34 Elihu continued to speak ⌞to Job and his friends⌟,

2 “Listen to my words, you wise men.
Open your ears to me, you intelligent men.
3 The ear tests words
like the tongue tastes food.
4 Let’s decide for ourselves what is right
and agree among ourselves as to what is good,
5 because Job has said,
‘I’m righteous, but God has taken away my rights.
6 I’m considered a liar in spite of my rights.
I’ve been wounded by a deadly arrow,
though I haven’t been disobedient.’
7 What person is like Job,
who drinks scorn like water,
8 who travels with troublemakers
and associates with evil people?
9 He says, ‘It doesn’t do any good to try to please God.’

10 “You people who have understanding, listen to me.
It is unthinkable that God would ever do evil
or that the Almighty would ever do wicked things.
11 God will repay humanity for what it has done
and will give each person what he deserves.
12 Certainly, God will never do anything evil,
and the Almighty will never pervert justice.
13 Who put him in charge of the earth?
Who appointed him to be over the whole world?
14 If he thought only of himself
and withdrew his Spirit and his breath,
15 all living beings would die together,
and humanity would return to dust.

God Is Fair

16 “If you understand, listen to this.
Open your ears to my words!
17 Should anyone who hates justice be allowed to govern?
Will you condemn the one who is righteous and mighty?
18 Should anyone ⌞even⌟ say to a king,
‘You good-for-nothing scoundrel!’
or to nobles, ‘You wicked people!’
19 The one who is righteous and mighty
does not grant special favors to princes
or prefer important people over poor people
because his hands made them all.
20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night.
People have seizures and pass away.
Mighty people are taken away but not by human hands.
21 God’s eyes are on a person’s ways.
He sees all his steps.
22 There’s no darkness or deep shadow
where troublemakers can hide.
23 He doesn’t have to set a time for a person
in order to bring him to divine judgment.
24 He breaks mighty people into pieces without examining them
and puts others in their places.
25 He knows what they do,
so he overthrows them at night, and they’re crushed.
26 In return for their evil, he strikes them in public,
27 because they turned away from following him
and didn’t consider any of his ways.
28 They forced the poor to cry out to him,
and he hears the cry of those who suffer.
29 If he keeps quiet, who can condemn him?
If he hides his face, who can see him
whether it is a nation or a single person?
30 ⌞He does this⌟ so that godless people cannot rule
and so that they cannot trap people.

31 “But suppose such a person says to God, ‘I am guilty,
I will stop my immoral behavior.
32 Teach me what I cannot see.
If I’ve done wrong, I won’t do it again.’
33 Should God reward you on your own terms since you have rejected his?
You must choose, not I.
Tell me what you know. Speak!

Elihu Makes an Appeal to God

34 “People of understanding, the wise people
who listen to me, will say,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge.
His words show no insight.’

36 “My Father, let Job be thoroughly tested
for giving answers like wicked people do.
37 He adds disobedience to his sin.
He claps his hands to insult us.
He multiplies his words against God.”

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Job 34 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

34 And Elihu answereth and saith: 2 Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me. 3 For the ear doth try words, And the palate tasteth to eat. 4 Judgment let us choose for ourselves, Let us know among ourselves what [is] good. 5 For Job hath said, `I have been righteous, And God h...
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Job 34 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

34 And so Elihu pronounced, and spake also these things, (and said,) 2 Wise men, hear ye my words, and learned men, harken ye (to) me; 3 for the ear proveth words, and the throat deemeth meat by taste (and the tongue judgeth food by taste). 4 Choose we doom to us (Let us use judgement); and see we a...
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Job 34 - World English Bible (WEB)

34 Moreover Elihu answered, 2 “Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.3 For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.5 For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my righ...
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Job 34 - The Voice (VOICE)

34 Job remained silent, so Elihu continued. 2 Elihu: Hear my words, you men of wisdom; listen to me, learned ones:3 Our ears are capable of testing wisdom of words the way the roofs of our mouths are capable of tasting food.[a]4 Let us form a council here then, and decide among us what is right; l...
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Job 34 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Testing Job’s Claims34 Then Elihu answered: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men; give ear to me, you men of learning.3 For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; Let us learn together what is good. 5 “For Job says, ‘I am righteous, but God has deprived m...
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Job 34 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice34 Then Eli′hu said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.5 For Job has said, ‘I am innocent, and God has taken aw...
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Job 34 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice34 Then Eli′hu said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.5 For Job has said, ‘I am innocent, and God has taken aw...
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Job 34 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice34 Then Elihu continued and said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.5 For Job has said, ‘I am innocent, and God...
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Job 34 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice34 Then Elihu continued and said: 2 ‘Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.5 For Job has said, “I am innocent, and God...
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Job 34 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice34 Then Elihu continued and said:2 “Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know,3 for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.(A)4 Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.(B)5 For Job has said, ‘I am innocent, an...
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Job 34 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Elihu Accuses Job of Arrogance34 Then Elihu said: 2 “Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.3 Job said, ‘The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.’4 So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.5 Fo...
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Job 34 - New Life Version (NLV)

Elihu Keeps On Speaking34 Then Elihu said, 2 “Hear my words, you wise men. Listen to me, you who know. 3 For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food. 4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good. 5 For Job has said, ‘I am right and good, but God has ...
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Job 34 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice34 Elihu further answered and said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men;Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.3 (A)For the ear tests wordsAs the palate tastes food.4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;Let us know among ourselves what is good. 5 “For Job has said, (B)‘I am r...
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Job 34 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

34 Then Elihu said: 2 ‘Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.3 For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. 5 ‘Job says, “I am innocent, but God denies me justice.6 Although I am right, I ...
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Job 34 - New International Version (NIV)

34 Then Elihu said: 2 “Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me,(A) you men of learning.3 For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.(B)4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;(C) let us learn together what is good.(D) 5 “Job says, ‘I am innocent,(E) but God denies me justice.(F)6 Altho...
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Job 34 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

34 Elihu continued, 2 “Hear what I’m saying, you wise men. Listen to me, you who have learned so much.3 Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn’t. And our ears tell us what’s true and what isn’t.4 So let’s choose for ourselves what is right. Let’s learn together what is good. 5 “Job says...
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Job 34 - New English Translation (NET)

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