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And He heareth the cry of the afflicted.

²⁹When 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;

³⁰That the godless man reign not,

That there be none to ensnare the people.

 

³¹For hath any said unto God:

'I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;

³²That which I see not teach Thou me;

If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

³³Shall His recompense be as thou wilt? For thou loathest it,

So that thou must choose, and not I;

Therefore speak what thou knowest.

³⁴Men of understanding will say unto me,

Yea, every wise man that heareth me:

³⁵'Job speaketh without knowledge,

And his words are without discernment.'

³⁶Would that Job were tried unto the end,

Because of his answering like wicked men.

³⁷For he addeth rebellion unto his sin,

He clappeth his hands among us,

And multiplieth his words against God.

35 Moreover Elihu answered and said:

²Thinkest thou this to be thy right,

Or sayest thou: 'I am righteousness before God',

³That thou inquirest: 'What advantage will it be unto Thee?'

And: 'What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'

⁴I will give thee answer,

And thy companions with thee.

⁵Look unto the heavens, and see;

And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

⁶If thou hast sinned, what doest thou against Him?

And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto Him?

⁷If thou be righteous, what givest thou Him?

Or what receiveth He of thy hand?

⁸Thy wickedness concerneth a man as thou art;

And thy righteousness a son of man.

 

⁹By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;

They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

¹⁰But none saith: 'Where is God my Maker,

Who giveth songs in the night;

¹¹Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth,

And maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?'

¹²There they cry, but none giveth answer,

Because of the pride of evil men.

¹³Surely God will not hear vanity,

Neither will the Almighty regard it.

¹⁴Yea, when thou sayest thou canst not see Him—

The cause is before Him; therefore wait thou for Him.

¹⁵And now, is it for nought that He punished in His anger?

And hath He not full knowledge of arrogance?

¹⁶But Job doth open his mouth in vanity;

He multiplieth words without knowledge.

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