Job 34

1 And Elihu answereth and saith:

2 Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me.

3 For the ear doth try words, And the palate tasteth to eat.

4 Judgment let us choose for ourselves, Let us know among ourselves what [is] good.

5 For Job hath said, `I have been righteous, And God hath turned aside my right,

6 Against my right do I lie? Mortal [is] mine arrow -- without transgression.'

7 Who [is] a man like Job? He drinketh scoffing like water,

8 And he hath travelled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness.

9 For he hath said, `It doth not profit a man, When he delighteth himself with God.'

10 Therefore, O men of heart, hearken to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And [from] the Mighty to do perverseness:

11 For the work of man he repayeth to him, And according to the path of each He doth cause him to find.

12 Yea, truly, God doth not do wickedly, And the Mighty doth not pervert judgment.

13 Who hath inspected for Himself the earth? And who hath placed all the habitable world?

14 If He doth set on him His heart, His spirit and his breath unto Him He gathereth.

15 Expire doth all flesh together, And man to dust returneth.

16 And if [there is] understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words.

17 Yea, doth one hating justice govern? Or the Most Just dost thou condemn?

18 Who hath said to a king -- `Worthless,' Unto princes -- `Wicked?'

19 That hath not accepted the person of princes, Nor hath known the rich before the poor, For a work of His hands [are] all of them.

20 [In] a moment they die, and at midnight Shake do people, and they pass away, And they remove the mighty without hand.

21 For His eyes [are] on the ways of each, And all his steps He doth see.

22 There is no darkness nor death-shade, For workers of iniquity to be hidden there;

23 For He doth not suffer man any more, To go unto God in judgment,

24 He breaketh the mighty -- no searching! And He appointeth others in their stead.

25 Therefore He knoweth their works, And He hath overturned by night, And they are bruised.

26 As wicked He hath stricken them, In the place of beholders.

27 Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And none of His ways have considered wisely,

28 To cause to come in unto Him The cry of the poor, And the cry of the afflicted He heareth.

29 And He giveth rest, and who maketh wrong? And hideth the face, and who beholdeth it? And in reference to a nation and to a man, [It is] the same.

30 From the reigning of a profane man, From the snares of a people;

31 For unto God hath any said: `I have taken away, I do not corruptly,

32 Besides [that which] I see, shew Thou me, If iniquity I have done -- I do not add?'

33 By thee doth He recompense, That thou hast refused -- That thou dost choose, and not I? And what thou hast known, speak.

34 Let men of heart say to me, And a wise man is hearkening to me.

35 Job -- not with knowledge doth he speak, And his words [are] not with wisdom.

36 My Father! let Job be tried -- unto victory, Because of answers for men of iniquity,

37 For he doth add to his sin, Transgression among us he vomiteth, And multiplieth his sayings to God.

Job 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.