Today's Reading

Job 34-36

Job Chapter 34
1 - Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
2 - Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 - For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4 - Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 - For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
6 - Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
7 - What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 - Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 - For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10 - Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 - For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 - Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 - Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 - If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 - All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16 - If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
17 - Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
18 - Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
19 - How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
20 - 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.
21 - For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
22 - There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 - For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
24 - He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
25 - Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 - He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 - Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
28 - So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29 - 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:
30 - That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31 - Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
32 - That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
33 - 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.
34 - Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35 - Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36 - My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
37 - For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Job Chapter 35
1 - Elihu spake moreover, and said,
2 - Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?
3 - For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?
4 - I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.
5 - Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
6 - If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
7 - If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?
8 - Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.
9 - By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
10 - But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;
11 - Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
12 - There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.
13 - Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
14 - Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
15 - But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:
16 - Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

Job Chapter 36
1 - Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 - Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
3 - I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 - For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5 - Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6 - He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
7 - 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.
8 - And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9 - Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10 - He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11 - If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 - But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 - But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
14 - They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15 - He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
16 - Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
17 - But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18 - Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19 - Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20 - Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 - Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22 - Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
23 - Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
24 - Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
25 - Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26 - Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27 - For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
28 - Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29 - Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30 - Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31 - For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
32 - With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
33 - The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.