Context
2Hear my words, you wise men,
And listen to me, you who know.
3For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5For Job has said, I am righteous,
But God has taken away my right;
6Should I lie concerning my right?
My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
7What man is like Job,
Who drinks up derision like water,
8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9For he has said, It profits a man nothing
When he is pleased with God.
10Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11For He pays a man according to his work,
And makes him find it according to his way.
12Surely, God will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13Who gave Him authority over the earth?
And who has laid on Him the whole world?
14If He should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,
15All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.
16But if you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17Shall one who hates justice rule?
And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18Who says to a king, Worthless one,
To nobles, Wicked ones;
19Who shows no partiality to princes
Nor regards the rich above the poor,
For they all are the work of His hands?
20In a moment they die, and at midnight
People are shaken and pass away,
And the mighty are taken away without a hand.
21For His eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And He sees all his steps.
22There is no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23For He does not need to consider a man further,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25Therefore He knows their works,
And He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26He strikes them like the wicked
In a public place,
27Because they turned aside from following Him,
And had no regard for any of His ways;
28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted
29When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?
And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him,
That is, in regard to both nation and man?
30So that godless men would not rule
Nor be snares of the people.
31For has anyone said to God,
I have borne chastisement;
I will not offend anymore;
32Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity,
I will not do it again?
33Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it?
For you must choose, and not I;
Therefore declare what you know.
34Men of understanding will say to me,
And a wise man who hears me,
35Job speaks without knowledge,
And his words are without wisdom.
36Job ought to be tried to the limit,
Because he answers like wicked men.
37For he adds rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.
NASB ©1995
Parallel Verses
American Standard VersionHear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Douay-Rheims BibleHear ye, wise men, my words, and ye learned, hearken to me :
Darby Bible TranslationHear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
English Revised VersionHear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Webster's Bible TranslationHear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear to me, ye that have knowledge.
World English Bible"Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
Young's Literal Translation Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.
Library
July 15 Evening
The ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.--JOB 34:3. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.--Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.--I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.--Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith.--He that is spiritual judgeth all things. Take heed what ye hear.--I know …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily PathFebruary 3 Evening
The darkness hideth not from thee.--PSA. 139:12. His eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.--Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? . . . Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; . . . nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness . . . Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path
Pride Catechized
DEAR FRIENDS, it is never wise to dispute with God. Let a man strive with his fellow, but not with his Maker. If we must discuss any point, let it be with imperfect beings like ourselves, but not with the infallible and infinitely wise God; for, in most of our discussions, these questions wilt come back to us, "Should it be according to thy mind? Art thou master? Is everyone to be subordinate to thee?" I am going to speak, this evening, to those who have a quarrel with God concerning the way of salvation. …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 46: 1900
Covenanting Confers Obligation.
As it has been shown that all duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting
Whether God Provides for all Things Directly
Whether God Provides for All Things Directly We proceed to the third article thus: 1. It seems that God does not provide for all things directly. We must ascribe to God whatever dignity requires, and the dignity of a king requires that he provide for his subjects through the medium of ministers. Much more, then, does God provide for all things through some medium. 2. Again, providence ordains things to their end. Now the end of anything is its perfection and good, and every cause directs its effect …
Aquinas—Nature and Grace
Whether Predestination is Certain
Whether Predestination is Certain We proceed to the sixth article thus: 1. It seems that predestination is not certain. For on Rev. 3:11, "hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown," Augustine says: "no other will take it if one does not lose it." The crown to which one is predestined may therefore be lost as well as won. Hence predestination is not certain. 2. Again, if something is possible, none of its consequences are impossible. Now it is possible for a predestined man, like …
Aquinas—Nature and Grace
Whether God Has Immediate Providence Over Everything?
Objection 1: It seems that God has not immediate providence over all things. For whatever is contained in the notion of dignity, must be attributed to God. But it belongs to the dignity of a king, that he should have ministers; through whose mediation he provides for his subjects. Therefore much less has God Himself immediate providence over all things. Objection 2: Further, it belongs to providence to order all things to an end. Now the end of everything is its perfection and its good. But it appertains …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica
Whether Christ's Judiciary Power Extends to the Angels?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ's judiciary power does not extend to the angels, because the good and wicked angels alike were judged in the beginning of the world, when some fell through sin while others were confirmed in bliss. But those already judged have no need of being judged again. Therefore Christ's judiciary power does not extend to the angels. Objection 2: Further, the same person cannot be both judge and judged. But the angels will come to judge with Christ, according to Mat. 25:31: …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica
Whether it is More Grievous to Sin through Certain Malice than through Passion?
Objection 1: It would seem that it is not more grievous to sin through certain malice than through passion. Because ignorance excuses from sin either altogether or in part. Now ignorance is greater in one who sins through certain malice, than in one who sins through passion; since he that sins through certain malice suffers from the worst form of ignorance, which according to the Philosopher (Ethic. vii, 8) is ignorance of principle, for he has a false estimation of the end, which is the principle …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica
Whether Anyone Sins through Certain Malice?
Objection 1: It would seem that no one sins purposely, or through certain malice. Because ignorance is opposed to purpose or certain malice. Now "every evil man is ignorant," according to the Philosopher (Ethic. iii, 1); and it is written (Prov. 14:22): "They err that work evil." Therefore no one sins through certain malice. Objection 2: Further, Dionysius says (Div. Nom. iv) that "no one works intending evil." Now to sin through malice seems to denote the intention of doing evil [*Alluding to the …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica
The Wisdom of God
The next attribute is God's wisdom, which is one of the brightest beams of the Godhead. He is wise in heart.' Job 9:9. The heart is the seat of wisdom. Cor in Hebraeo sumitur pro judicio. Pineda. Among the Hebrews, the heart is put for wisdom.' Let men of understanding tell me:' Job 34:44: in the Hebrew, Let men of heart tell me.' God is wise in heart, that is, he is most wise. God only is wise; he solely and wholly possesses all wisdom; therefore he is called, the only wise God.' I Tim 1:17. All …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity
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