341 And Elihu answereth and saith: 2 Hear, O wise men, my words, And, O knowing ones, give ear to me. 3 For the ear doth try words, And the palate tasteth to eat. 4 Judgment let us choose for ourselves, Let us know among ourselves what 'is' good. 5 For Job hath said, 'I have been righteous, And God hath turned aside my right, 6 Against my right do I lie? Mortal 'is' mine arrow—without transgression.' 7 Who 'is' a man like Job? He drinketh scoffing like water, 8 And he hath travelled for company With workers of iniquity, So as to go with men of wickedness. 9 For he hath said, 'It doth not profit a man, When he delighteth himself with God.'
10 Therefore, O men of heart, hearken to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And 'from' the Mighty to do perverseness: 11 For the work of man he repayeth to him, And according to the path of each He doth cause him to find. 12 Yea, truly, God doth not do wickedly, And the Mighty doth not pervert judgment. 13 Who hath inspected for Himself the earth? And who hath placed all the habitable world? 14 If He doth set on him His heart, His spirit and his breath unto Him He gathereth. 15 Expire doth all flesh together, And man to dust returneth.
16 And if 'there is' understanding, hear this, Give ear to the voice of my words. 17 Yea, doth one hating justice govern? Or the Most Just dost thou condemn? 18 Who hath said to a king—'Worthless,' Unto princes—'Wicked?' 19 That hath not accepted the person of princes, Nor hath known the rich before the poor, For a work of His hands 'are' all of them. 20 'In' a moment they die, and at midnight Shake do people, and they pass away, And they remove the mighty without hand. 21 For His eyes 'are' on the ways of each, And all his steps He doth see.
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.