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. 22 There is no darkness nor death-shade, For workers of iniquity to be hidden there; 23 For He doth not suffer man any more, To go unto God in judgment, 24 He breaketh the mighty—no searching! And He appointeth others in their stead. 25 Therefore He knoweth their works, And He hath overturned by night, And they are bruised. 26 As wicked He hath stricken them, In the place of beholders. 27 Because that against right They have turned aside from after Him, And none of His ways have considered wisely, 28 To cause to come in unto Him The cry of the poor, And the cry of the afflicted He heareth. 29 And He giveth rest, and who maketh wrong? And hideth the face, and who beholdeth it? And in reference to a nation and to a man, 'It is' the same. 30 From the reigning of a profane man, From the snares of a people;

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.