Job 34:2-12

2 Hear my words, you wise men, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.

3 Doesn't the ear test words as the palate tastes food?^[a]

4 Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good.

5 For Job has declared, "I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.^[b]

6 Would I lie about my case?^[c] My wound^[d] is incurable, though I am without transgression."

7 What man is like Job? He drinks derision like water.^[e]

8 He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.

9 For he has said, "A man gains nothing when he becomes God's friend."^[f]

10 Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God [to do] wrong, and [for] the Almighty [to act] unjustly.^[g]

11 For He repays a person [according to] his deeds, and He brings his ways on him.^[h]

12 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice.^[i]

Job 34:2-12 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Jb 12:11; Ps 34:8
• [b]. Jb 13:18; 27:2
• [c]. Jb 6:28; 24:25
• [d]. Lit arrow
• [e]. Jb 15:16; Ps 44:13; 123:4
• [f]. Jb 9:21-31
• [g]. Gn 18:25
• [h]. Ps 62:12; Mt 16:27; Rm 2:6
• [i]. Jb 8:3; Isa 11:3-5