Job 34

1 Then Elihu said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.
3 For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5 “Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God denies me justice.
6 Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’
7 Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water?
8 He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked.
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit in trying to please God.’
10 “So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.
13 Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world?
14 If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit[a] and breath,
15 all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.
17 Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step.
22 There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide.
23 God has no need to examine people further, that they should come before him for judgment.
24 Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place.
25 Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them,
27 because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways.
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy.
29 But if he remains silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he is over individual and nation alike,
30 to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people.
31 “Suppose someone says to God, ‘I am guilty but will offend no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
33 Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.
34 “Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man!
37 To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

Cross References 71

  • 1. S Job 32:10
  • 2. Job 12:11
  • 3. S Job 12:12; Hebrews 5:14
  • 4. 1 Thessalonians 5:21
  • 5. S Job 10:7; Job 33:9
  • 6. S Job 6:29; Job 27:2
  • 7. S Job 6:28
  • 8. S Job 9:21
  • 9. S Job 6:4; S Job 10:3; S Jeremiah 10:19
  • 10. S Job 9:21; S Job 15:16
  • 11. S Job 22:15; Psalms 50:18
  • 12. S Job 9:29-31; S Job 21:15; Job 35:3
  • 13. Job 32:10
  • 14. ver 16; S Job 12:12
  • 15. S Genesis 18:25
  • 16. ver 12; Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 8:3; Job 36:23; Psalms 92:15; Romans 3:5; Romans 9:14
  • 17. S Job 21:31; Psalms 62:12; S Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10
  • 18. Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 32:19; Ezekiel 33:20
  • 19. S ver 10; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18
  • 20. S Job 8:3; Psalms 9:16; Colossians 3:25; 2 Thessalonians 1:6
  • 21. Hebrews 1:2
  • 22. Job 36:23; Job 38:4,6; Isaiah 40:14
  • 23. S Genesis 6:3
  • 24. S Numbers 16:22; S Job 27:3; Psalms 104:29
  • 25. S Genesis 6:13; Lamentations 3:22; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16
  • 26. S Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:19; S Job 7:21; Job 9:22; Psalms 90:10
  • 27. S ver 10
  • 28. S Job 32:10
  • 29. ver 30; 2 Samuel 23:3-4; Proverbs 20:8,26; Proverbs 24:23-25; Proverbs 28:28
  • 30. ver 29; S Job 10:7; Job 40:8; Romans 3:5-6
  • 31. S Job 12:18
  • 32. Exodus 22:28; Isaiah 40:24
  • 33. Deuteronomy 10:17; S Job 13:10; S Acts 10:34
  • 34. S Leviticus 19:15; James 2:5
  • 35. S Job 10:3
  • 36. ver 25; S Exodus 11:4; S Job 20:8; Exodus 12:29
  • 37. S Job 12:19
  • 38. Jeremiah 32:19
  • 39. Job 31:4; S Job 14:16; Proverbs 15:3; S Hebrews 4:13
  • 40. Psalms 74:20; Psalms 139:12
  • 41. S Job 3:5; Amos 9:2-3
  • 42. S Genesis 3:8; S Job 11:20
  • 43. Psalms 11:4
  • 44. Job 11:11
  • 45. Isaiah 8:9; Isaiah 9:4; Jeremiah 51:20; Daniel 2:34
  • 46. Job 12:19
  • 47. Daniel 2:21
  • 48. S Job 11:11
  • 49. S ver 20
  • 50. Proverbs 5:21-23
  • 51. S Genesis 6:5; S Job 8:22; S Job 28:24; Psalms 9:5; Jeremiah 44:5
  • 52. Psalms 14:3; Psalms 28:5; Isaiah 5:12
  • 53. S 1 Samuel 15:11
  • 54. S Exodus 22:23; S Job 5:15; S Job 12:19; Job 35:9; James 5:4
  • 55. Psalms 28:1; Psalms 83:1; Psalms 109:1
  • 56. S ver 17; Romans 8:34
  • 57. Psalms 13:1
  • 58. Psalms 83:18; Psalms 97:9
  • 59. S Job 8:13
  • 60. S ver 17
  • 61. Psalms 25:15; Psalms 31:4; Psalms 91:3; Psalms 124:7; Psalms 140:5; Proverbs 29:2-12
  • 62. Psalms 51:5; Luke 15:21; Romans 7:24; 1 John 1:8,10
  • 63. Exodus 33:13; Job 35:11; Job 38:36; Psalms 15:2; Psalms 25:4; Psalms 27:11; Psalms 51:6; Psalms 86:11; Psalms 139:23-24; Psalms 143:8
  • 64. Job 33:27; S Luke 19:8
  • 65. S 2 Kings 17:13; Job 33:23; Job 36:10,15,18,21; Job 41:11; Job 42:6; Proverbs 17:23; John 3:8
  • 66. Job 35:16; Job 38:2; Job 42:3
  • 67. Job 26:3
  • 68. S Job 6:29; S Job 22:15
  • 69. S Job 27:23
  • 70. Job 35:16
  • 71. Job 23:2

Footnotes 1

Job 34 Commentaries

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.