Job 34: The Judge of All the Earth
Elihu defends the perfect justice of God, who shows no partiality, sees every step, and cannot do wickedness or pervert what is right.
Job 34 (WEB)
1 Moreover Elihu answered,
2 “Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right:
6 Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’
7 What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’
10 “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who put him in charge of the earth? or who has appointed him over the whole world?
14 If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
16 “If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
17 Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?—
18 Who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
19 Who doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
25 Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 because they turned aside from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,
30 that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
31 “For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
32 Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
33 Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
34 Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’
36 I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”
Job 34 (KJV)
1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10 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 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
19 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 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.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29 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 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
33 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 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
Job 34 (ASV)
1 Moreover Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.
4 Let us choose for us that which is right: Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:
6 Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; My wound is incurable, though I amwithout transgression.
7 What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scoffing like water,
8 Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.
10 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 For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 If he set his heart upon himself, Ifhe gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.
16 If nowthou hastunderstanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty?—
18 Himthat saith to a king, Thou art vile, Orto nobles, Ye arewicked;
19 That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.
20 In a moment they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaketh in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.
25 Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;
27 Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:
30 That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.
31 For hath any said unto God, I have bornechastisement, I will not offend any more:
32 That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
33 Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:
35 Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.
36 Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.
Summary
Elihu calls on the wise to weigh his words as the palate tastes food, and he quotes Job's complaints back to him: that Job claims to be righteous while God has taken away his right, counting him a liar though he is innocent. Elihu finds this intolerable, charging that Job has drunk scorn like water and kept company with the wicked by saying it profits a man nothing to delight in God. Against this, Elihu mounts a passionate defense of divine justice, declaring it unthinkable that God should do wickedness or that the Almighty should pervert what is right. God renders to each according to his ways, and since he is the very One who sustains the breath of all flesh, he cannot be charged with injustice; if he withdrew his spirit, all flesh would perish together. The Almighty shows no partiality, honoring no prince above the poor, for all are the work of his hands; his eyes are on every step, and no darkness can hide the workers of iniquity. He breaks the mighty without inquiry and overturns them in the night, hearing the cry of the afflicted and the poor. Elihu argues that no one can teach God or dictate his recompense, and he wishes Job were tested to the end for answering like the wicked and adding rebellion to his sin. The chapter exalts God as the flawless Judge of all, though Elihu presses the point too far against an innocent sufferer.
Voices
- Elihu — The speaker who defends God's perfect justice and challenges Job's complaints against the Almighty.
- God the Almighty — The impartial Judge of all the earth who sees every step, sustains all flesh, and cannot do wrong.
- Job — The sufferer whose words Elihu quotes and rebukes for charging God with injustice.
Key Verse
Job 34:12 (WEB)
Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
Lessons Learned
- God's justice is perfect; he cannot do wrong or pervert what is right, even when we cannot trace his ways.
- The Lord shows no partiality, for prince and pauper alike are the work of his hands.
- Every step we take is seen by God, and no darkness can hide us from him.
- Zeal for God's justice must be careful not to condemn the innocent in the process.
- God cannot do injustice. “God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice” (Job 34:12, WEB); his righteousness is the unshakable foundation beneath all his dealings.
- Our very breath is on loan from God. If God “gathered to himself his spirit and his breath, all flesh would perish” (Job 34:14-15, WEB); the Creator who sustains us is hardly answerable to us.
- God shows no partiality. He “doesn't respect the persons of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor” (Job 34:19, WEB); his justice is blind to status and open to the cry of the afflicted.
- Defending truth can still wound the hurting. Elihu's wish that Job be “tried to the end” (Job 34:36, WEB) shows how right doctrine, misapplied, can harm an innocent sufferer.
- How does Elihu summarize Job's complaint, and is his summary entirely fair?
- What arguments does Elihu give for the impossibility of God doing injustice?
- What does it mean that God shows no partiality between princes and the poor?
- Where does Elihu's zeal for God's justice lead him to be too hard on Job?
- When you cannot understand what God is doing, how does the truth of his perfect justice steady your heart?
- Elihu says Job claims to be righteous while God has denied him justice and counts him a liar (34:5-6). His summary captures Job's frustration but flattens Job's deeper wrestling, and he treats Job too much like a scoffer.
- Elihu argues that God sustains all breath, so injustice would be self-defeating, and that the One who put the world in order cannot pervert it (34:13-15). Justice is intrinsic to who God is.
- God judges by truth, not status, since prince and poor are alike his handiwork (34:19). This means the powerful gain no advantage and the lowly are never overlooked in his court.
- Elihu wishes Job tested “to the end” and lumps him with wicked rebels (34:36-37), pressing a true principle against an innocent man. His doctrine is sound, but his diagnosis is wrong.
- This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to rest in God's character when his ways are hidden. As leader, hold together two truths: God is perfectly just, and not all suffering is punishment for personal sin.