CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Job 34
Chapter 34 of 42
Chapter Overview
What happens in Job 34
Elihu speaks to the wider audience, defending God's justice. He argues that God cannot do wrong, that he treats everyone fairly -- rich and poor alike -- and that Job has spoken without knowledge by questioning God's fairness.
Scripture
Job 34
Job Claims God Denied Him Justice
Study note
Elihu addresses the wise men present and quotes Job's claims: that he is righteous but God has denied him justice, and that it does a person no good to try to please God. Elihu says Job drinks up scorn like water and walks with wicked people by making such claims.
1 Elihu went on and said, Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
2 'All you wise men, listen to what I am saying. Everyone here who has knowledge, pay close attention.' Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 'After all, the ear can test the quality of words the same way the tongue tests the quality of food.' For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4 'Let us think through together what is truly right. Let us come to an agreement about what is good.' Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 'Job has claimed, "I am in the right, but God has refused to give me justice.' For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
6 '"Am I supposed to lie about my own case? The wound I have been given will not heal, even though I have done nothing wrong."' Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
7 'Has there ever been anyone like Job? He drinks up mockery the way you drink a glass of water.' What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 'He hangs around with people who do evil and walks side by side with the wicked.' Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 'After all, he said, "There is no benefit in trying to please God."' For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
God Cannot Do Wrong
Study note
Elihu declares that it is far from God to do wickedness. God repays people according to their actions. No one put God in charge of the earth -- he chose that responsibility himself. If God withdrew his spirit, all life would perish instantly. God does not show favoritism to princes over the poor, because they are all the work of his hands.
10 'So listen to me, all you thinking people. The very idea that God could do wrong is impossible. The thought that the Almighty could act unfairly is unthinkable.' Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 'He gives people exactly what they earn. He makes sure everyone gets what their actions deserve.' For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 'God would never do something wrong. The Almighty would never, ever twist what is fair.' Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 'Nobody assigned him his job of running the earth. Nobody gave him the responsibility of looking after the whole world.' Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 'If God ever decided to pull his spirit and his breath back to himself,' If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 'every living thing would drop dead in an instant. The entire human race would crumble right back into dust.' All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16 'So if you are someone who understands things, listen to this. Pay attention to what I am telling you.' If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
17 'Could someone who despises justice be in charge? Are you truly going to accuse the greatest and most righteous one of being wrong?' Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
18 'Is it right to call a king worthless? Is it right to call leaders wicked?' Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
19 'Then how much more wrong is it to accuse the one who does not play favorites with powerful people and does not prefer the rich over the poor? Because every one of them was made by his hands!' How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
20 'They can die in a heartbeat, right in the middle of the night. People shake and then they are gone. The mighty are swept away by no human hand.' In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
God Sees Everything
Study note
God's eyes are on every person's ways. There is no darkness where evildoers can hide. God breaks mighty people without investigation because he already knows their deeds. He hears the cry of the poor and the afflicted. When God is silent, who can condemn him? He does all of this so that godless people will not rule and trap the people.
21 'God watches every road a person walks. He sees every step they take.' For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
22 'There is no shadow dark enough and no hiding place deep enough for evildoers to escape his sight.' There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 'God does not need to look at people twice before bringing them to his judgment seat.' For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
24 'He crushes the strong without a long search. He puts new people in their place.' He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
25 'He already knows what they have been doing. So he brings them down overnight and they are crushed.' Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 'He strikes them down for their wickedness right out in the open where everyone can see.' He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 'This happens because they stopped following him and paid no attention to anything he said.' Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
28 'Their behavior pushed the cries of the poor straight up to God. He heard every desperate cry from the needy.' So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29 'But when God chooses to remain silent, who can condemn him? When he hides his face, who can see him? And yet he still rules over nations and individuals alike,' When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
30 'making sure that godless people do not hold power and trap the people in their schemes.' That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
Job Spoke Without Wisdom
Study note
Elihu suggests that a person should say to God, 'I have suffered, and I will sin no more. Teach me what I cannot see.' He says Job has spoken without knowledge and his words lack wisdom. Elihu wishes Job would be tested to the limit because his answers are like those of wicked men -- adding rebellion to his sin.
31 'What if someone went to God and said, "I am guilty, but I promise I will not sin anymore.' Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
32 '"Show me what I am missing. If I have done wrong, I will never do it again"?' That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
33 'Should God reward you on your terms, because you refuse to accept his? It is your decision to make, not mine. So go ahead and tell us what you think.' Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 'Thoughtful people will agree with me. Any wise person listening to this will say the same thing:' Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35 '"Job talks without truly knowing what he is saying. His words do not show any real wisdom."' Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36 'I think Job should be tested all the way to the end. The things he says sound just like what a wicked person would say.' My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
37 'On top of his original sin, he is now adding open rebellion. He claps his hands scornfully before us and piles up accusations against God.' For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
Key Themes
Themes in Job 34
God's justice is never wrongGod shows no favoritism to rich or poorDivine sovereignty over all rulers and nationsSpeaking about God without full knowledge
Apply This Today
Living Job 34
Elihu's core point is solid: God does not make mistakes and shows no favoritism. Even when justice seems delayed, God is never unjust. Hold on to this truth when life seems unfair. The God who sees kings and beggars alike will do right by you.
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