Job 34 - Living Bible (TLB)

34 Elihu continued:

2 “Listen to me, you wise men. 3 We can choose the sounds we want to listen to; we can choose the taste we want in food, 4 and we should choose to follow what is right. But first of all we must define among ourselves what is good. 5 For Job has said, ‘I am innocent, but God says I’m not. 6 I am called a liar, even though I am innocent. I am horribly punished, even though I have not sinned.’

7-8 “Who else is as arrogant as Job? He must have spent much time with evil men, 9 for he said, ‘Why waste time trying to please God?’

10 “Listen to me, you with understanding. Surely everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! 11 Rather, he punishes the sinners. 12 There is no truer statement than this: God is never wicked or unjust. 13 He alone has authority over the earth and dispenses justice for the world. 14 If God were to withdraw his Spirit, 15 all life would disappear and mankind would turn again to dust.

16 “Listen now and try to understand. 17 Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the Almighty Judge? 18 Are you going to condemn this God who says to kings and nobles, ‘You are wicked and unjust’? 19 For he doesn’t care how great a man may be, and doesn’t pay any more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all. 20 In a moment they die, and at midnight great and small shall suddenly pass away, removed by no human hand.

21 “For God carefully watches the goings on of all mankind; he sees them all. 22 No darkness is thick enough to hide evil men from his eyes, 23 so there is no need to wait for some great crime before a man is called before God in judgment. 24 Without making a big issue over it, God simply shatters the greatest of men and puts others in their places. 25 He watches what they do and in a single night he overturns them, destroying them, 26 or openly strikes them down as wicked men. 27 For they turned aside from following him, 28 causing the cry of the poor to come to the attention of God. Yes, he hears the cries of those being oppressed. 29-30 Yet when he chooses not to speak, who can criticize? Again, he may prevent a vile man from ruling, thus saving a nation from ruin, and he can depose an entire nation just as easily.

31 “Why don’t people exclaim to their God, ‘We have sinned, but we will stop,’ 32 or ‘We know not what evil we have done; only tell us, and we will cease at once’?

33 “Must God tailor his justice to your demands? Must he change the order of the universe to suit your whims? The answer must be obvious even to you! 34-35 Anyone even half bright will agree with me that you, Job, are speaking like a fool. 36 You should be given the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked about God. 37 For now you have added rebellion, arrogance, and blasphemy to your other sins.”

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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)

Elihu’s Second Speech[a]34 Elihu answered: 2 “Listen to my words, you wise men;hear[b] me, you learned men.[c]3 For the ear assesses[d] wordsas the mouth[e] tastes food.4 Let us evaluate[f] for ourselves what is right;[g]let us come to know among ourselves what is good.5 For Job says, ‘I am innocent...
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