341 And Elihu made answer and said, 2 Give ear, you wise, to my words; and you who have knowledge, give attention to me; 3 For words are tested by the ear, as food is tasted by the mouth. 4 Let us make the decision for ourselves as to what is right; let us have the knowledge among ourselves of what is good. 5 For Job has said, I am upright, and it is God who has taken away my right; 6 Though I am right, still I am in pain; my wound may not be made well, though I have done no wrong. 7 What man is like Job, a man who freely makes sport of God, 8 And goes in the company of evil-doers, walking in the way of sinners? 9 For he has said, It is no profit to a man to take delight in God.
10 Now then, you wise, take note; you men of knowledge, give ear to me. Let it be far from God to do evil, and from the Ruler of all to do wrong. 11 For he gives to every man the reward of his work, and sees that he gets the fruit of his ways. 12 Truly, God does not do evil, and the Ruler of all is not a false judge. 13 Who put the earth into his care, or made him responsible for the world? 14 If he made his spirit come back to him, taking his breath into himself again, 15 All flesh would come to an end together, and man would go back to the dust.
16 If you are wise, take note of this; give ear to the voice of my words. 17 How may a hater of right be a ruler? and will you say that the upright Ruler of all is evil? 18 He who says to a king, You are an evil-doer; and to rulers, You are sinners; 19 Who has no respect for rulers, and who gives no more attention to those who have wealth than to the poor, for they are all the work of his hands. 20 Suddenly they come to an end, even in the middle of the night: the blow comes on the men of wealth, and they are gone, and the strong are taken away without the hand of man. 21 For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 34:1-21
Commentary on Job 34:1-9
(Read Job 34:1-9)
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, Psalm 73:13-15, but gratifies his enemies, and says as they say.
Commentary on Job 34:10-15
(Read Job 34:10-15)
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.
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.