Job 34:10-20

10 "Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to 1do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 "For He pays a man according to 2his work, And makes him find it according to his way.
12 "Surely *, 3God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 "Who 4gave Him authority over the earth? And who 5has laid on Him the whole world?
14 "If He should determine * to do so, If He should 6gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,
15 All 7flesh would perish together, And man would 8return to dust.
16 "But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words.
17 "Shall 9one who hates justice rule? And 10will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18 Who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' To nobles, 'Wicked ones ';
19 Who shows no 11partiality * to princes Nor regards the rich above the poor, For they all are the 12work of His hands?
20 "In a moment they die, and 13at midnight * People are shaken and pass away, And 14the mighty are taken away without a hand.

Job 34:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 34

In this chapter Elihu reassumes his discourse, and proceeds in his answer to Job, in which are first a preface exciting attention, Job 34:1-4; then a charge is brought against Job, expressed in or extracted from some words that dropped from his lips, not so well guarded, Job 34:5-9; a refutation of these expressions of his in a variety of arguments, Job 34:10-30; and the chapter is closed with some good advice to Job, Job 34:31-33; and with an earnest request of Elihu to men of understanding, to join with him in trying him to the uttermost, Job 34:34-37.

Cross References 14

  • 1. Genesis 18:25; Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 8:3; Job 34:12; Romans 9:14
  • 2. Job 34:25; Psalms 62:12; Proverbs 24:12; Jeremiah 32:19; Ezekiel 33:20; Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12
  • 3. Job 34:10
  • 4. Job 38:4
  • 5. Job 38:5
  • 6. Job 12:10; Psalms 104:29; Ecclesiastes 12:7
  • 7. Genesis 7:21; Job 9:22
  • 8. Genesis 3:19; Job 10:9
  • 9. 2 Samuel 23:3; Job 34:30
  • 10. Job 40:8
  • 11. Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17
  • 12. Job 10:3
  • 13. Exodus 12:29; Job 34:25; Job 36:20
  • 14. Job 12:19

Footnotes 2

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