Giobbe 34

1 Elihu riprese a parlare e disse:

2 "O voi savi, ascoltate le mie parole! Voi che siete intelligenti, prestatemi orecchio!

3 Poiché l’orecchio giudica dei discorsi, come il palato assapora le vivande.

4 Scegliamo quello ch’è giusto, riconosciamo fra noi quello ch’è buono.

5 Giobbe ha detto: "Sono giusto, ma Dio mi nega giustizia;

6 ho ragione, e passo da bugiardo; la mia ferita è incurabile, e sono senza peccato".

7 Dov’è l’uomo che al par di Giobbe tracanni gli empi scherni come l’acqua,

8 cammini in compagnia de’ malfattori, e vada assieme con gli scellerati?

9 Poiché ha detto: "Non giova nulla all’uomo l’avere il suo diletto in Dio".

10 Ascoltatemi dunque, o uomini di senno! Lungi da Dio il male, lungi dall’Onnipotente l’iniquità!

11 Poich’egli rende all’uomo secondo le sue opere, e fa trovare a ognuno il salario della sua condotta.

12 No, di certo Iddio non commette ingiustizie! l’Onnipotente non perverte il diritto.

13 Chi gli ha dato il governo della terra? Chi ha affidato l’universo alla sua cura?

14 S’ei non ponesse mente che a sé stesso, se ritirasse a sé il suo spirito e il suo soffio,

15 ogni carne perirebbe d’un tratto, l’uomo ritornerebbe in polvere.

16 Se tu se’ intelligente, ascolta questo, porgi orecchio alla voce delle mie parole.

17 Uno che odiasse la giustizia potrebbe governare? E osi tu condannare il Giusto, il Potente,

18 che chiama i re "uomini da nulla" e i principi: "scellerati"?

19 che non porta rispetto all’apparenza de’ grandi, che non considera il ricco più del povero, perché son tutti opera delle sue mani?

20 In un attimo, essi muoiono; nel cuor della notte, la gente del popolo è scossa e scompare, i potenti son portati via, senza man d’uomo.

21 Perché Iddio tien gli occhi aperti sulle vie de’ mortali, e vede tutti i lor passi.

22 Non vi son tenebre, non v’è ombra di morte, ove possa nascondersi chi opera iniquamente.

23 Dio non ha bisogno d’osservare a lungo un uomo per trarlo davanti a lui in giudizio.

24 Egli fiacca i potenti, senza inchiesta; e ne stabilisce altri al loro posto;

25 poich’egli conosce le loro azioni; li abbatte nella notte, e son fiaccati;

26 li colpisce come dei malvagi, in presenza di tutti,

27 perché si sono sviati da lui e non hanno posto mente ad alcuna delle sue vie;

28 han fatto salire a lui il gemito del povero, ed egli ha dato ascolto al gemito degli infelici.

29 Quando Iddio dà requie chi lo condannerà? Chi potrà contemplarlo quando nasconde il suo volto a una nazione ovvero a un individuo,

30 per impedire all’empio di regnare, per allontanar dal popolo le insidie?

31 Quell’empio ha egli detto a Dio: "Io porto la mia pena, non farò più il male,

32 mostrami tu quel che non so vedere; se ho agito perversamente, non lo farò più"?

33 Dovrà forse Iddio render la giustizia a modo tuo, che tu lo critichi? Ti dirà forse: "Scegli tu, non io, quello che sai, dillo"?

34 La gente assennata e ogni uomo savio che m’ascolta, mi diranno:

35 "Giobbe parla senza giudizio, le sue parole sono senza intendimento".

36 Ebbene, sia Giobbe provato sino alla fine! poiché le sue risposte son quelle degli iniqui,

37 poiché aggiunge al peccato suo la ribellione, batte le mani in mezzo a noi, e moltiplica le sue parole contro Dio".

Giobbe 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.