Job Chapter 34
The question" Why do innocent people suffer?" Is addressed in this biblical story.
A Conservative Version
34 : 1 Moreover Elihu answered, and said,
34 : 2 Hear my words, ye wise men, and give ear to me, ye who have knowledge.
34 : 3 For the ear tries words as the palate tastes food.
34 : 4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
34 : 5 For Job has said, I am righteous, and God has taken away my right.
34 : 6 Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
34 : 7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water,
34 : 8 saying, I have not sinned, nor committed unrighteousness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity to go with the profane.
34 : 9 For thou should not say, There shall be no visitation to a man, whereas visitation is to him from the Lord.
34 : 10 Therefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding. Far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and pervert righteousness before the Almighty.
34 : 11 For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
34 : 12 Yea, certainly God will not do wrong. Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
34 : 13 Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who has disposed the whole world?
34 : 14 If he sets his heart upon himself, if he gathers his spirit and his breath to himself,
34 : 15 all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again to dust.
34 : 16 If now thou be understanding, hear this. Hearken to the voice of words.
34 : 17 Behold thou him who hates lawlessness, and who destroys evil men, who is forever righteousness,
34 : 18 him who says to a king, Thou are vile, to ranking men, Ye are wicked,
34 : 19 who does not respect the persons of rulers, nor regards the rich more than the poor. For they all are the work of his hands.
34 : 20 In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.
34 : 21 For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, and he sees all his goings.
34 : 22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
34 : 23 For he needs no further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment.
34 : 24 He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their stead.
34 : 25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
34 : 26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others
34 : 27 because they turned aside from following him, and would not have regard in any of his ways,
34 : 28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted.
34 : 29 When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hides his face, who then can behold him? It is the same whether to a nation, or to a man,
34 : 30 that the profane man not reign, that there be none to ensnare the people.
34 : 31 For has any said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more.
34 : 32 Teach thou me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
34 : 33 Shall his recompense be as thou desire, that thou refuse it? For thou must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what thou know.
34 : 34 Men of understanding will say to me, yes, every wise man who hears me,
34 : 35 Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.
34 : 36 But surely not. Learn thou Job not to still give an answer like the foolish,
34 : 37 so that we may not add to our sins, and lawlessness will be reckoned against us, speaking many words before the Lord.