Job 34:1-37
1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the moutha tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
6 Should I lie against my right? my woundb is incurable without transgression.
7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye menc of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gatherd unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mightye shall be taken away without hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enterf into judgment with God.
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number,g and set others in their stead.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.h
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the openi sight of others;
27 Because they turned back from him,j and would not consider any of his ways:
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
Job 34:5. Job hath said God hath taken away my judgment. See on Job 27:2. Elihu, in every accusation, takes or turns Job's words in a wrong sense. Job meant that God had varied, in regard of him, the general rule of judging men.
Job 34:30. That the hypocrite reign not. Better, He sets up a hypocrite for a king, because of the wickedness of the people. Good princes are the best gifts of God to a nation, and a bad prince is the scourge of God to a guilty land. This doubles the calamity, by the abounding vices of both parties.
REFLECTIONS.
Satan seems to have reserved Elihu, who spake from his heart with honest intentions, to inflict on Job his last and deepest wounds, by the frequent repetitions of Job's professions of righteousness, and of God's visitations. The proposal to lay aside differences and prejudices, and examine the matter together, was a good one. In difficult and perplexed cases it is seldom that one man's thoughts are sufficiently clear, unbiassed and comprehensive, to judge; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Let us firmly believe and reverently acknowledge the righteousness and equity of God. Far be it from him that he should do iniquity, or pervert judgment; and far be it from us to say or think so. He cannot do an ill thing, or deal unjustly with any one. He never respects persons, nor suffers any service performed with a view to his glory, to go unrewarded, nor any wicked action unpunished; sooner or later he will render to every man according to his work. It is not fit to say to earthly princes, ye are wicked; but if decency and decorum are necessary in speaking of them, much more of the great God, the blessed and only potentate.
Let a sense of the perfect knowledge of God continually impress our minds: Job 34:21. He accurately observes us wherever we go, and whatever we do: his eyes are ever upon us, there is no darkness nor shadow of death where the wicked can hide themselves. This intimates that they would be glad to hide themselves, but it is in vain. He sees all their wickedness; no concealment can hide from his view, no confederacy can secure from his hand. Let us then always act and endure, as seeing him who is invisible. We are taught our duty in seasons of affliction. Then it is fit and meet to be said unto God, as in Job 34:31: I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more. That which I see not, teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. It is our duty to humble ourselves before him, to examine what has been amiss, and pray that he would show it unto us, that we may repent and correct it. It becomes us to form resolutions that we will offend no more, and to put them into practice immediately. A sense of the almighty power, impartial justice, and tender compassion of God, with the recollection that our comfort and peace, our times and our lives, are in his hand, should engage us to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.