Job 34
PATHero Job shews himself a far more humble and teachable person than his three friends; for though Elihu had invited him to make what exceptions he pleased to his discourse in the formerchapter, he would not open his mouth, because he plainly saw that Elihu had hit upon tho thing wherein he was defective. And so this young man proceeds to carry the charge a little higher, and tells him, with more sharpness than before, that there. were some words in his discourses which sounded hrhis ears as if he accused God’s justice and goodness. For what else did he mean when he complained that God did not do him right, and: that he destroyed alike both: good and bad? which rash assertions he overthrows, from the consideration of the. sovereign dominion* power," righteousness, and wisdomi of God; and represents to him what behaviour and discourse would have better become him than that which he had used. ourselves what is good.] Let us agree to examine the business, that wo may be able to pronounce a righteous judgment: let us debate among ourselves, and resolve, whether Job have a good cause or not. Vcr. 5. For Job hath said, I am righteous; and God hath taken away my judgment.’] For he hath said, I am innocent; and God (who knows I do not deserve to suffer in this manner, xxvii. 2. G.) mil not do me right: Ver. G. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.] 1 scorn to defend myself with lies; but I must still maintain, that this deadly wound is given me for no crime of mine. not consider any of his ivays.] Because they would not follow his counsels, nor regard any of his commands:
Job 34:1
FURTHERMORE, Elihu answered and said. To this last motion Job consented^; and replying never a word, Elihu proceeded in his discourse, and said,
Job 34:2
Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge;. L do not desire to bo judge alone in this cause, but I appeal to them that are wise; and beseech all those (among you that hear me) who are intelligent, to mark and consider what I now deliver.
Job 34:3
For the ear trieth words % as the mouth tasteth meat. You can discern whether it be true or false; for the mind is. as proper a judge of discourse, as the palate is of meat.
Job 34:4
Let u$ choose to us judgment; let us know among
Job 34:7
What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?. Did you ever know such a man as Job, who, instead of adoring the Almighty (as becomes his wisdom and piety), takes the liberty to pour out abundance of contemptuous language concerning his judgments?
Job 34:8
Which goeth in company ivith the toorkers of iniquity f and walketh with wicked men. He associates himself with evil-doers; and talks after the same rate that the wicked are wont to do.
Job 34:9
For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he shall delight himself with God. For he seems to me to bo of this opinion, that though a man study to please God, he shall get nothing by it, (ix. 22.)
Job 34:10
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. What think you of this, ye men of wisdom? Do you not abhor such a thought as much as I, that he who is almighty should wrong any man, and he who is all-sufficient should swerve from the rule of righteousness? Vcr. 11. For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.] He wall never be charged with such weakness, but always deals with men according as they deserve: for he that doth well never fails to find a reward; and he that doth ill meets with a just punishment. Vcr. 12. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.] Surely I need not fear to affirm this with the greatest confidence, that the supreme Judge of the world will never condemn an innocent person; nor will he that possesses all things bo corrupted to pronounce an unrighteous sentence. Vcr. 13. Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?] For he did not receive the government of the world from any above himself; nor is there any higher being, whose authority be may be thought to dread, and for fear of whom he may bo tempted to do unjustly.
Job 34:14
If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath. No, he made and he sustains all creatures; so that if he should contain his goodness within himself, and recall that spirit and life which he hath infused into them;
Job 34:15
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again into dust. Nothing could subsist one moment." but all mankind would expire together, and return unto their dust. Ver. 1G. Jf now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.] If thou art wise, mind what I say; and consider also what follows: Vcr. 17. Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?] Can he be an enemy to justice himself, who binds us so fast to the practice of it? and wilt thou condemn his actions, who is most powerful, as well as just; and therefore need not serve himself by any wrongful dealing? Vcr. 18. Is it fit to say to a king, TIiou art wicked; and to princes, Ye are ungodly?] There is no king on earth but looks upon it as a great and insufferable reproach to be called a tyrant: nor will inferior rulers endure you should say, that they have no regard to equity.
Job 34:19
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are thetvorkofhis hands. Shall we impute then any such thing to him, before whom a prince or a rich man is no more than the meanest and poorest persons? who shall have the same justice from him with the greatest, because they arc all alike the work of his hands.
Job 34:20
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. How should he stand in awe of the power of kings, or be bribed with the gifts of the rich, who can strike them all dead in a moment? Whole nations tremble before him, and in their deepest security are destroyed. He needs not the help of any force on earth to put down a mighty tyrant; but invisible powers carry him away.
Job 34:21
For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. For there is no one passage of man’s life but he is acquainted with it: and therefore cannot be suspected, through ignorance of their actions (no more than through fear of their persons), to overlook their crimes, or to do them any injustice.
Job 34:22
There is no darkness, 7ior shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide tltemselves. They may seek to hide their wickedness, when they have committed it; and may make excuses and subtle pretences: but they cannot cast a mist before his eyes, who sees into the thickest darkness, and the deepest secrets.
Job 34:23
For he will not lay upon man more than right, that he should enter into judgment tvith God. And therefore, as he will never charge man with that of which he is hot guilty; so, when he calls him to an account, he will not delay, nor put off his judgment, to hear w T hat man can say for himself.
Job 34:24
He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. For he needs not be informed how matters stand; and therefore breaks in pieces mighty men, without inquiry or examination of witnesses against them, and confers their dignity upon others. Vcr. 25. Tlierefore he knoiveth their tvorks, and he overturned them in the niglit, so that they are destroyed.] And by this means shews that ho knows their works; when he so suddenly overturns them, that they are crushed in pieces. Vcr. 26. He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others.] He punishes them as men that in his eyes arc apparently wicked; and therefore makes thcin public examples for the terror of their neighbours; Vcr. 27. Because they turned back from him, and woidd
Job 34:28
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. But went on in their oppression of the poor, till they cried to heaven for vengeance upon them: and the cry of such afflicted people God never fails to answer.
Job 34:29
When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? andtvhen he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only. And if he will grant such poor wretches rest and ease, who can disturb them? or if he be angry with their oppressor, who can shew him favour? (which is as true of whole nations, as one single person.)
Job 34:30
That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. He will not let the wicked tyrant reign always, though he pretend piety and the public good never so much, lest the people should be ensnared into sin by his example.
Job 34:31
Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more. Wherefore it is best for an afflicted person not to complain, but to suspect himself (though he be never so good), and presently to say to God, I confess this suffering is just; I will not offend by pleading my innocence.
Job 34:32
Tliat which I see not, teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. If I have overlooked any thing that I should have observed, do thou shew it mc: if I have committed any fault, I will take care to do so no more.
Job 34:33
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 knoivest. Hast thou addressed thyself to God in this manner? Answer that question; for God will recompense it, if thou dost despise such good counsel; which perhaps thou wilt choose to do, but so would not I. Speak therefore what thy opinion is.
Job 34:34
Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. Or let any understanding persons tell us what is their opinion; for such, as I said before, would I have to judge between us.
Job 34:35
Job hath spoken without knowledge’, and his words ivere tvithout ivisdom. Job seems to be very much mistaken; and his discourses to be inconsiderate and without reason.
Job 34:36
My desire is, that Job may be tried unto the end, because of his answers for wicked men. And therefore I am so far from wishing he may be presently released from his afflictions, that I take it to be more desirable he should be still tried and proved by them, till he recant the answers in which he hath complained of Divine Providence, after the manner of wicked men.
Job 34:37
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his liands amongst ns, and multiplieth his words against God. For otherwise he will add greater offences to those lesser he hath already committed: he will defend what he hath inconsiderately spoken; nay, triumph, as if he had got the better of us; and, instead of making the confession to which I have exhorted him, continue tp multiply his complaints against God.