Job 34

1 Además respondió Eliú, y dijo:

2 Oíd, sabios, mis palabras; y vosotros , doctos, estadme atentos.

3 Porque el oído prueba las palabras, como el paladar gusta para comer.

4 Escojamos para nosotros el juicio, conozcamos entre nosotros cuál sea lo bueno;

5 porque Job ha dicho: Yo soy justo, y Dios me ha quitado mi derecho.

6 En mi juicio fue mentiroso, mi saeta es gravosa sin haber yo prevaricado.

7 ¿Qué hombre hay como Job, que bebe el escarnio como agua?

8 Y va en compañía con los que obran iniquidad, y anda con los hombres maliciosos.

9 Porque dijo: De nada servirá al hombre el conformar su voluntad con Dios.

10 Por tanto, varones de entendimiento, oídme: Lejos esté de Dios la impiedad, y del Omnipotente la iniquidad.

11 Porque él pagará al hombre según su obra, y él le hará hallar conforme a su camino.

12 Sí, por cierto, Dios no hará injusticia, y el Omnipotente no pervertirá el derecho.

13 ¿Quién visitó por él la tierra? ¿Y quién puso en orden todo el mundo?

14 Si él pusiese sobre el hombre su corazón, y recogiese así su espíritu y su aliento,

15 toda carne perecería juntamente, y el hombre se tornaría en polvo.

16 Si pues hay en ti entendimiento, oye esto: Escucha la voz de mis palabras.

17 ¿Por ventura se enseñoreará el que aborrece el juicio? ¿Y condenarás tú al poderoso siendo justo?

18 ¿Por ventura se ha de decir al rey: Perverso; y a los príncipes: Impíos?

19 Cuánto menos a aquél que no hace acepción de personas de príncipes, ni el rico es de él más respetado que el pobre; porque todos son obras de sus manos.

20 En un momento mueren, y a media noche se alborotarán los pueblos, y pasarán, y sin mano será quitado el poderoso.

21 Porque sus ojos están puestos sobre los caminos del hombre, y ve todos sus pasos.

22 No hay tinieblas, ni sombra de muerte donde se encubran los que obran maldad.

23 No carga pues él al hombre más de lo justo, para que vaya con Dios a juicio.

24 El quebrantará a los fuertes sin pesquisa, y hará estar a otros en su lugar.

25 Por tanto él hará notorias las obras de ellos, cuando trastornará en noche, y serán quebrantados.

26 Como a malos los herirá en lugar donde sean vistos;

27 por cuanto así se apartaron de él, y no consideraron todos sus caminos;

28 haciendo venir delante de sí el clamor del pobre, y oyendo el clamor de los necesitados.

29 Y si él diere reposo, ¿quién inquietará? Si escondiere el rostro, ¿quién lo mirará? Esto sobre una nación, y lo mismo sobre un hombre;

30 haciendo que reine el hombre hipócrita para escándalos del pueblo.

31 Porque de Dios es decir: Yo perdoné, no destruiré.

32 Enséñame tú lo que yo no veo; que si hice mal, no lo haré más.

33 ¿Por ventura acabará por ti su obra, que no quieras tú, o quieras, o yo? Di lo que sabes.

34 Los hombres de entendimiento dirán conmigo, y el hombre sabio me oirá:

35 Que Job no habla con sabiduría, y sus palabras no son con entendimiento.

36 Deseo yo que Job sea probado ampliamente, para que haya respuestas contra los hombres inicuos.

37 Porque a su pecado añadió impiedad; bate las manos entre nosotros, y contra Dios multiplica sus palabras.

Job 34 Commentary

Chapter 34

Elihu accuses Job of charging God with injustice. (1-9) God cannot be unjust. (10-15) God's power and providence. (16-30) Elihu reproves Job. (31-37)

Verses 1-9 Elihu calls upon those present to decide with him upon Job's words. The plainest Christian, whose mind is enlightened, whose heart is sanctified by the Spirit of God, and who is versed in the Scriptures, can say how far matters, words, or actions, agree with true religion, better than any that lean to their own understandings. Job had spoken as if he meant wholly to justify himself. He that say, I have cleansed my hands in vain, does not only offend against God's children, Ps. 73:13-15 , but gratifies his enemies, and says as they say.

Verses 10-15 Elihu had showed Job, that God meant him no hurt by afflicting him, but intended his spiritual benefit. Here he shows, that God did him no wrong by afflicting him. If the former did not satisfy him, this ought to silence him. God cannot do wickedness, nor the Almighty commit wrong. If services now go unrewarded, and sins now go unpunished, yet there is a day coming, when God will fully render to every man according to his works. Further, though the believer's final condemnation is done away through the Saviour's ransom, yet he has merited worse than any outward afflictions; so that no wrong is done to him, however he may be tried.

Verses 16-30 Elihu appeals directly to Job himself. Could he suppose that God was like those earthly princes, who hate right, who are unfit to rule, and prove the scourges of mankind? It is daring presumption to condemn God's proceedings, as Job had done by his discontents. Elihu suggests divers considerations to Job, to produce in him high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him to submit. Job had often wished to plead his cause before God. Elihu asks, To what purpose? All is well that God does, and will be found so. What can make those uneasy, whose souls dwell at ease in God? The smiles of all the world cannot quiet those on whom God frowns.

Verses 31-37 When we reprove for what is amiss, we must direct to what is good. Job's friends would have had him own himself a wicked man. Let will only oblige him to own that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips. Let us, in giving reproof, not make a matter worse than it is. Elihu directs Job to humble himself before God for his sins, and to accept the punishment. Also to pray to God to discover his sins to him. A good man is willing to know the worst of himself; particularly, under affliction, he desires to be told wherefore God contends with him. It is not enough to be sorry for our sins, but we must go and sin no more. And if we are affectionate children, we shall love to speak with our Father, and to tell him all our mind. Elihu reasons with Job concerning his discontent under affliction. We are ready to think every thing that concerns us should be just as we would have it; but it is not reasonable to expect this. Elihu asks whether there was not sin and folly in what Job said. God is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works, Ps. 145:17 . The believer saith, Let my Saviour, my wise and loving Lord, choose every thing for me. I am sure that will be wisest, and the best for his glory and my good.

Chapter Summary

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.