Who hath given him a charge over the earth? If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; And man shall turn again unto dust. If now thou hast understanding, hear this: How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? In a moment shall they die, And the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: And the mighty shall be taken away without hand. For his eyes are upon the ways And he seeth all his goings. of man, There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, And set others in their stead. Therefore he knoweth 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 back from him, And would not consider 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 make trouble? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: That the hypocrite reign not, Lest the people be ensnared. Surely it is meet to be 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 no more. Should it be according to thy mind? He will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest. And let a wise man hearken unto me. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, And multiplieth his words against God. Elihu spake moreover, and said, Thinkest thou this to be right, That thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? And,What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee. Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the clouds which are higher than thou. thou unto him? If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: They cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, Surely God will not hear vanity, Neither will the Almighty regard it. Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, Yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; Yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: Elihu also proceeded, and said, Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee He is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings are they on the throne; Yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. And if they be bound in fetters, And be holden in cords of affliction; Then he sheweth them their work, And their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, And commandeth that they return from iniquity. They shall spend their days in prosperity, But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: They cry not when he bindeth them. They die in youth, And their life is among the unclean. He delivereth the poor in his affliction, And openeth their ears in oppression. Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; |