Job 34:17-27

17 Should a hater of justice be in control? If you wouldn't tell a king, 'You're a scoundrel!'or nobles, 'You are wicked men!'then you shouldn't condemn the Just and Mighty One,

18

19 who is neither partial toward princes nor favors the rich over the poor, since they all are the work of his hands.

20 They may die in a moment, in the middle of the night -the people are shaken and pass away, the mighty are removed without human hands.

21 For he keeps watch on a person's ways; he sees his every step.

22 There is no darkness, no death-like gloom, where wrongdoers can hide;

23 for he doesn't give warning to people when they must appear before God in judgment.

24 He shatters the mighty without needing to investigate and sets up others in their place.

25 Therefore, aware of what they are doing, he overturns them by night, and they are crushed.

26 He strikes them as if they were common criminals in the open sight of others,

27 because they turned away from following him and gave no thought to any of his ways,

Job 34:17-27 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.