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. 22 There is no dark place, and no thick cloud, in which the workers of evil may take cover. 23 For he does not give man a fixed time to come before him to be judged. 24 He sends the strong to destruction without searching out their cause, and puts others in their place. 25 For he has knowledge of their works, overturning them in the night, so that they are crushed. 26 The evil-doers are broken by his wrath, he puts his hand on them with force before the eyes of all onlookers. 27 Because they did not go after him, and took no note of his ways, 28 So that the cry of the poor might come up to him, and the prayer of those in need come to his ears. 29 ... 30 ...
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 34:16-30
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.