16 "So, Job, use your head; this is all pretty obvious. 17 Can someone who hates order, keep order? Do you dare condemn the righteous, mighty God? 18 Doesn't God always tell it like it is, exposing corrupt rulers as scoundrels and criminals? 19 Does he play favorites with the rich and famous and slight the poor? Isn't he equally responsible to everybody? 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. 21 "He has his eyes on every man and woman. He doesn't miss a trick. 22 There is no night dark enough, no shadow deep enough, to hide those who do evil. 23 God doesn't need to gather any more evidence; their sin is an open-and-shut case. 24 He deposes the so-called high and mighty without asking questions, and replaces them at once with others. 25 Nobody gets by with anything; overnight, judgment is signed, sealed, and delivered. 26 He punishes the wicked for their wickedness out in the open where everyone can see it, 27 Because they quit following him, no longer even thought about him or his ways. 28 Their apostasy was announced by the cry of the poor; the cry of the afflicted got God's attention. Because You Refuse to Live on God's Terms 29 "If God is silent, what's that to you? If he turns his face away, what can you do about it? But whether silent or hidden, he's there, ruling, 30 so that those who hate God won't take over and ruin people's lives.
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.