Job 34:1-37
Justice Belongs to God
Read the passage
1Then Elihu continued:
2“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
3For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
14If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
15all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
17Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
21For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
22There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
23For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
24He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
27because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
29But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,
30that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
31Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
33Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed Him? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
34Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
36If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Elihu asks his hearers to test words as the mouth tastes food. He takes up Job’s claim that God has deprived him of justice and rejects the conclusion that the Almighty does wrong. Job’s pain is real, but calling God unjust goes beyond what Job knows.
All life depends on God’s sustaining breath. He owes His rule to no higher authority, and wealth cannot buy His favor. Princes and poor people alike are the work of His hands. He can rebuke kings and remove the mighty; no darkness hides their deeds from Him.
Elihu describes God hearing the cries of people whose rulers oppress them. God does not need a further investigation to discover what people have done. Yet Elihu also asks who can condemn God when He remains silent. Perfect knowledge and justice do not mean that His actions will always be visible to us when we expect them.
The speech ends sharply. Elihu accuses Job of speaking without knowledge and adding rebellion to sin; he wishes Job would be tried to the utmost. We should distinguish his defense of God’s justice from that severe wish. Job’s accusations need correction, but they do not prove that secret crimes caused his original losses.
Questions
1 What does Elihu say God cannot do?
AnswerHe says God cannot act wickedly or pervert justice.
2 Whom does God not favor?
AnswerHe does not favor princes or the rich over the poor.
3 Whom does God hear?
AnswerHe hears the cry of the afflicted and the poor who call out.
4 What does Elihu finally claim about Job?
AnswerHe says Job speaks without knowledge and adds rebellion to sin. He wishes Job would be tried to the utmost.
What This Means for Us
God hears the poor and does not favor the powerful. When someone brings a complaint, a person’s money, reputation, or position should not determine whose words we take seriously.
We can also receive correction without pretending our pain is small. If grief has led us to charge God with wrong, we can bring that to Him honestly and ask for help to trust His character while our questions remain.
Prayer
Just God, keep us from defending You with accusations. Make us attentive to the afflicted, impartial toward rich and poor, and humble enough to leave hidden matters in Your hands. Amen.