The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

Shall even one that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty —

Is it fit to say to a king: 'Thou art base'? 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 shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

For He doth not appoint a time unto any man, when he should go before God in judgment.

He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, and setteth others in their stead.

Therefore He taketh knowledge of their works; and He overturneth them in the night, so that they are crushed.

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

Because they turned aside from following Him, and would not have regard to any of His ways;

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry of the afflicted.

When He giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when He hideth His face, who then can behold Him? whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man, alike;

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

For hath any said unto God: 'I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;

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? For thou loathest it, so that 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 discernment.'

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: 'I am righteousness before God',

That thou inquirest: 'What advantage will it be unto Thee?' And: 'What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'

I will give thee answer, 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 doest 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 concerneth a man as thou art; and thy righteousness 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 fowls of heaven?'

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

Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

Yea, when thou sayest thou canst not see Him — the cause is before Him; therefore wait thou for Him.

And now, is it for nought that He punished in His anger? And hath He not full knowledge of arrogance?

But Job doth open his mouth in vanity; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

Elihu also proceeded, and said:

Suffer me a little, and I will tell thee; for there are yet words 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 upright in mind is with thee.

Behold, God is mighty, yet He despiseth not any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

He preserveth not the life of the wicked; but giveth to the poor 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 holden in cords of affliction;

Then He declareth unto them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

He openeth also their ear to discipline, 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.

Their soul perisheth in youth, and their life as that of the depraved.

He delivereth the afflicted by His affliction, and openeth their ear by tribulation.

Yea, He hath allured thee out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table is full of fatness;

And thou art full of the judgment of the wicked; judgment and justice take hold on them.

For beware of wrath, lest thou be led away by thy sufficiency; neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.

Will thy riches avail, that are without stint, 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 Him?

Who hath enjoined Him His way? Or who hath said: '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, beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

For He draweth away the drops of water, which distil rain from His vapour;

Which the skies pour down and drop upon the multitudes of men.

Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, the crashings of His pavilion?

Behold, He spreadeth His light upon it; and He covereth the depths 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 it, the cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.

At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of its place.

Hear attentively 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 stayeth them not 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 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 moister, He spreadeth abroad the cloud of His lightning;

And they are 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 earth, or for mercy, 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 enjoineth 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?

Thou whose 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 order our speech 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 cleanseth them.

Out of the north cometh golden splendour, about God is terrible majesty.

The Almighty, whom we cannot find out, is excellent in power, yet to judgment and plenteous justice He doeth no violence.

Men do therefore fear Him; He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.

Then the LORD 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 the 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,