Job 34:17-27

17 Can anyone govern who hates what is right? and powerful?

18 God is the one who says to kings, 'You are worthless,' or to important people, 'You are evil.'

19 He is not nicer to princes than other people, nor kinder to rich people than poor people, because he made them all with his own hands.

20 They can die in a moment, in the middle of the night. They are struck down, and then they pass away; powerful people die without help.

21 "God watches where people go; he sees every step they take.

22 There is no dark place or deep shadow where those who do evil can hide from him.

23 He does not set a time for people to come before him for judging.

24 Without asking questions, God breaks powerful people into pieces and puts others in their place.

25 Because God knows what people do, he defeats them in the night, and they are crushed.

26 He punishes them for the evil they do so that everyone else can watch,

27 because they stopped following God and did not care about 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.