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34:1  Then Elihu said:
34:2  “Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you who know a lot.
34:3  The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.
34:4  Let’s decide for ourselves what is right, and let’s learn together what is good.
34:5  “Job says, ‘I am not guilty, and God has refused me a fair trial.
34:6  Instead of getting a fair trial, I am called a liar. I have been seriously hurt, even though I have not sinned.’
34:7  There is no other man like Job; he takes insults as if he were drinking water.
34:8  He keeps company with those who do evil and spends time with wicked men,
34:9  because he says, ‘It is no use to try to please God.’
34:10  “So listen to me, you who can understand. God can never do wrong! It is impossible for the Almighty to do evil.
34:11  God pays people back for what they have done and gives them what their actions deserve.
34:12  Truly God will never do wrong; the Almighty will never twist what is right.
34:13  No one chose God to rule over the earth or put him in charge of the whole world.
34:14  If God should decide to take away life and breath,
34:15  then everyone would die together and turn back into dust.
34:16  “If you can understand, hear this; listen to what I have to say.
34:17  Can anyone govern who hates what is right? How can you blame God who is both fair and powerful?
34:18  God is the one who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ or to important people, ‘You are evil.’
34:19  He is not nicer to princes than other people, nor kinder to rich people than poor people, because he made them all with his own hands.
34:20  They can die in a moment, in the middle of the night. They are struck down, and then they pass away; powerful people die without help.
34:21  “God watches where people go; he sees every step they take.
34:22  There is no dark place or deep shadow where those who do evil can hide from him.
34:23  He does not set a time for people to come before him for judging.
34:24  Without asking questions, God breaks powerful people into pieces and puts others in their place.
34:25  Because God knows what people do, he defeats them in the night, and they are crushed.
34:26  He punishes them for the evil they do so that everyone else can watch,
34:27  because they stopped following God and did not care about any of his ways.
34:28  The cry of the poor comes to God; he hears the cry of the needy.
34:29  But if God keeps quiet, who can blame him? If he hides his face, who can see him? God still rules over both nations and persons alike.
34:30  He keeps the wicked from ruling and from trapping others.
34:31  “But suppose someone says to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not sin anymore.
34:32  Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
34:33  So, Job, should God reward you as you want when you refuse to change? You must decide, not I, so tell me what you know.
34:34  “Those who understand speak, and the wise who hear me say,
34:35  ‘Job speaks without knowing what is true; his words show he does not understand.’
34:36  I wish Job would be tested completely, because he answered like an evil man!
34:37  Job now adds to his sin by turning against God. He claps his hands in protest, speaking more and more against God.”