The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous [and] mighty?—

[Him] that saith to a king, [Thou art] vile, [Or] to nobles, [Ye are] wicked;

That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.

In a moment they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without hand.

For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.

There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

He breaketh in pieces mighty men [in ways] past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.

Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;

Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:

So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.

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:

That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.

For hath any said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:

That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.

Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:

Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.

Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.

Moreover Elihu answered and said,

Thinkest thou this to be [thy] right, [Or] sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God’s,

That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? [And], What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?

I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee.

Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand?

Thy wickedness [may hurt] a man as thou art; And thy righteousness [may profit] a son of man.

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

But none saith, Where is God my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night,

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens?

There they cry, but none giveth answer, Because of the pride of evil men.

Surely God will not hear an empty [cry], Neither will the Almighty regard it.

How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him!

But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance;

Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge.

Elihu also proceeded, and said,

Suffer me a little, and I will show thee; For I have yet somewhat to say on God’s behalf.

I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding.

He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted [their] right.

He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.

And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of affliction;

Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity.

If they hearken and serve [him], They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.

But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.

But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them.

They die in youth, And their life [perisheth] among the unclean.

He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.

Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.

But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold [on thee].

For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.

Will thy cry avail, [that thou be] not in distress, Or all the forces of [thy] strength?

Desire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place.

Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him?

Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?

Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung.

All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off.

Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.

For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor,

Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly.

Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion?

Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea.

For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.

He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.

The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.

Yea, at this my heart trembleth, And is moved out of its place.

Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, And the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

After it a voice roareth; He thundereth with the voice of his majesty; And he restraineth not [the lightnings] when his voice is heard.

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain.

He sealeth up the hand of every man, That all men whom he hath made may know [it].

Then the beasts go into coverts, And remain in their dens.

Out of the chamber [of the south] cometh the storm, And cold out of the north.

By the breath of God ice is given; And the breadth of the waters is straitened.

Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture; He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning:

And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world,

Whether it be for correction, or for his land, Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come.

Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Dost thou know how God layeth [his charge] upon them, And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine?

Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

How thy garments are warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south [wind]?

Canst thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror?

Teach us what we shall say unto him; [For] we cannot set [our speech] in order by reason of darkness.

Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies; But the wind passeth, and cleareth them.

Out of the north cometh golden splendor: God hath upon him terrible majesty.

[Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out: He is excellent in power; And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict.

Men do therefore fear him: He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.

Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?

Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?

Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,