20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
20 Don't people who deserve it die without notice? Don't wicked rulers tumble to their doom? When the so-called great ones are wiped out, we know God is working behind the scenes.
20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a hand.
20 In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.
36 But he passed away,
36 The next time I looked there was nothing - a punctured bladder, vapid and limp.
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
36 But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
(Read Psalm 37:34-40)
Duty is ours, and we must mind it; but events are God's, we must refer the disposal of them to him. What a striking picture is in verses 35,36, of many a prosperous enemy of God! But God remarkably blights the projects of the prosperous wicked, especially persecutors. None are perfect in themselves, but believers are so in Christ Jesus. If all the saint's days continue dark and cloudy, his dying day may prove comfortable, and his sun set bright; or, if it should set under a cloud, yet his future state will be everlasting peace. The salvation of the righteous will be the Lord's doing. He will help them to do their duties, to bear their burdens; help them to bear their troubles well, and get good by them, and, in due time, will deliver them out of their troubles. Let sinners then depart from evil, and do good; repent of and forsake sin, and trust in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. Let them take his yoke upon them, and learn of him, that they may dwell for evermore in heaven. Let us mark the closing scenes of different characters, and always depend on God's mercy.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 34:20
Commentary on Job 34:16-30
(Read Job 34:16-30)
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.