Job 34:18-28

18 Should anyone [even] say to a king, 'You good-for-nothing scoundrel!' or to nobles, 'You wicked people!'

19 The one who is righteous and mighty does not grant special favors to princes or prefer important people over poor people because his hands made them all.

20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night. People have seizures and pass away. Mighty people are taken away but not by human hands.

21 God's eyes are on a person's ways. He sees all his steps.

22 There's no darkness or deep shadow where troublemakers can hide.

23 He doesn't have to set a time for a person in order to bring him to divine judgment.

24 He breaks mighty people into pieces without examining them and puts others in their places.

25 He knows what they do, so he overthrows them at night, and they're crushed.

26 In return for their evil, he strikes them in public,

27 because they turned away from following him and didn't consider any of his ways.

28 They forced the poor to cry out to him, and he hears the cry of those who suffer.

Job 34:18-28 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.