Job 34

URTHERMORE Elihu answered and 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, Iam 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“4 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 A’mighty, that he should commit iniquity.

11 For the work ‘ of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every manto 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 ? 141f 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 2 and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? 18 Js it fit to say toa « king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly 2 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 A. M. 2484. B. C. 1520. 21 For his eyes ° are upon the ways of man, and he seeth Pall his goings. ‘ a palate. b ¢.27.2, 22 There is no 4 darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may © arrow. hide ’ themselves. d ¢.9.22,33. 23 For he will not lay upon man more than e heart. * right; that he should tenter into judgment with God. f Re,22.12 24 He shall break in pieces mighty men g allof it without * number, and set others in their stead. h him. 25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and i 28a.23.3. he overturneth them in the night, so that they j bind. are ’ destroyed. k Ex.22.23, 26 He striketh them as wicked men in the 1 He.12.28. open ~ sight * of others; m 1 Pe.1.17.

27 Because they turned back » from him, and n meee * would not consider any of his ways: away the 28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he * heareth the cry of the o 2 Ch, 16-9; 29 When he giveth » quietness, who then p Ps.139.2,3 can make trouble? and when he hideth © his q Am.9.2,3, face, who then can behold him? whether it be r Re.6.15,16 done against a nation, or against aman only: s 12423, 30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people “be ensnared. t go. 31 Surely it is meet. to be said unto God, I u searching ‘have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: v crushed. 32 That which I see not teach * thou me: if w place of I have done iniquity, I ¢ will do no more.

x 1Ti.5.24. 33 Should it be » according to thy mind? he y from will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore z Pr.1.29,30 speak what thou knowest. a Ex.22.27, 34 Let men of i understanding tell me, and b Ro.8.31., let a wise man hearken unto me. e Ps.143.7. 35 Job hath spoken without ) knowledge, and d 1KiL.12.2, his words were without wisdom. e Da.9.7..14 36 My * desire is that Job may be tried unto f Ps.32.8. the end because of his answers for wicked men. g Ep.4.22, h from with 37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth i heart. his words against God., j ¢.38.2, k or, My i¥.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXXIV. Ver. 1—37. addresses himself to his three Sriends.—Still, iscourse relates to Job, though by addressing himself to them, he indulges in greater freedom of censure. a He first reproves him for allowing himself to speak of God in the language of infidels and scorners; for attributing wickedness to his Maker, contending that there was no profit in the service of the Most High. (See Chap. must make some allowance quence, in the language of The principle, however, of attributing moral evil to God, could too strong and pointed language. Yet seabed be censured in certainly Job did not so mean smarting under the arrows of the That God cannot do wrong, convincing topics. i 1. He is the supreme, and not a subordinate or delegated governor, (ver.

13.) and is therefore under no temptation from obligation or accountability. 2. He is benea TS | Chap. XXXIV. Ver. 6. My wound.—Properly “ an arrow-wound.” ch, vi. 4. — Without transgression.—Perhaps, rather, “ exaggeration.” To transgrers, is to go beyond bounds. Ver, 14. If, he set his heart upon man.—* Upon him,” or “it.” Miss Smith renders this elegantly and justly, “If he set his heart upon it,. He can recal his spirit and his breath.” ‘Wer. 17. Shall even he that hateth right govern.—That is, “ Can he be an enemy to justice himself, who binds ua so fast tothe practice of it?” Ver. 24. (the poet.)— Without number.—* He shall break (rather deapreid and set—rather, setteth.” Scott able“ unknown.

Here may be an allusion to some of the calamities that fell on Job’s family; probably the whirlwind that overthrew the house while they Were feasting, was in the night, 1 Comparison is not to be made with God, because our good or evil cannot extend unto let Jo him. _9 Many cry in their afflictions, but are not heard for want of faith, be tried. LIHU spake moreover, and said, a c.9.17,34. 2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou * saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s? b c.31.2,&c. 3 For thou saidst, What » advantage will it Job being silent, Elihu now owever, his volent: Reet 160 He could, if he please, at once recal his Almighty Spirit, and d 7 estroy all the creatures which he hath made.

j 3. He is a just and impartial Being: (ver. 17—20.) And as he seeth all men and all their actions, none can escape his notice, or evade his justice. But, 4. Even if it were so, and ph there may be circumstances utterly inexplicable to us, is 1 ecoming to charge wickedness upon kings? Much less ix. 17—22; xxi. 15.) But in this, we is it allowable for sue creatures as we are, to impute either for the colouring of oriental eloerror or wickedness to the universal Sovereign. It becomes Elihu, as well as in that of Job. us, therefore, in our affliction, rather to suspect ourselves than to call ji in question the divine equity or goodness: Surely it is meet to be said unto God, “I have borne (chastisement,) I will 10wever his language, while no (more) offend:”

or, if we adopt the more modern transla- Almighty, might imply it. tion.—“T have lifted up (my prayer;) let me not perish.” he now argues from several