Job 34:9-19

9 "For he has said, '1It profits a man nothing When he is pleased with God.'
10 "Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to 2do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 "For He pays a man according to 3his work, And makes him find it according to his way.
12 "Surely *, 4God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 "Who 5gave Him authority over the earth? And who 6has laid on Him the whole world?
14 "If He should determine * to do so, If He should 7gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,
15 All 8flesh would perish together, And man would 9return to dust.
16 "But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words.
17 "Shall 10one who hates justice rule? And 11will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18 Who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' To nobles, 'Wicked ones ';
19 Who shows no 12partiality * to princes Nor regards the rich above the poor, For they all are the 13work of His hands?

Job 34:9-19 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 13

  • 1. Job 21:15; Job 35:3; Psalms 50:18
  • 2. Genesis 18:25; Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 8:3; Job 34:12; Romans 9:14
  • 3. 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
  • 4. Job 34:10
  • 5. Job 38:4
  • 6. Job 38:5
  • 7. Job 12:10; Psalms 104:29; Ecclesiastes 12:7
  • 8. Genesis 7:21; Job 9:22
  • 9. Genesis 3:19; Job 10:9
  • 10. 2 Samuel 23:3; Job 34:30
  • 11. Job 40:8
  • 12. 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
  • 13. Job 10:3

Footnotes 3

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