Job 34

1 Entonces prosiguió Eliú, y dijo:

2 Oíd, sabios, mis palabras, y vosotros los que sabéis, prestadme atención.

3 Porque el oído distingue las palabras, como el paladar prueba la comida.

4 Escojamos para nosotros lo que es justo; conozcamos entre nosotros lo que es bueno.

5 Porque Job ha dicho: "Yo soy justo, pero Dios me ha quitado mi derecho.

6 "¿He de mentir respecto a mi derecho? Mi herida es incurable, sin haber yo cometido transgresión."

7 ¿Qué hombre es como Job, que bebe el escarnio como agua,

8 que va en compañía de los que hacen iniquidad, y anda con hombres perversos?

9 Porque ha dicho: "Nada gana el hombre cuando se complace en Dios."

10 Por tanto, escuchadme, hombres de entendimiento. Lejos esté de Dios la iniquidad, y del Todopoderoso la maldad.

11 Porque El paga al hombre conforme a su trabajo, y retribuye a cada cual conforme a su conducta.

12 Ciertamente, Dios no obrará perversamente, y el Todopoderoso no pervertirá el juicio.

13 ¿Quién le dio autoridad sobre la tierra? ¿Y quién ha puesto a su cargo el mundo entero?

14 Si El determinara hacerlo así, si hiciera volver a sí mismo su espíritu y su aliento,

15 toda carne a una perecería, y el hombre volvería al polvo.

16 Pero si tienes inteligencia, oye esto, escucha la voz de mis palabras.

17 ¿Gobernará el que aborrece la justicia? ¿Y condenarás al Justo poderoso,

18 que dice a un rey: "Indigno", a los nobles: "Perversos";

19 que no hace acepción de príncipes, ni considera al rico sobre el pobre, ya que todos son obra de sus manos?

20 En un momento mueren, y a medianoche se estremecen los pueblos y pasan, y los poderosos son quitados sin esfuerzo.

21 Porque sus ojos observan los caminos del hombre, y El ve todos sus pasos.

22 No hay tinieblas ni densa oscuridad donde puedan esconderse los que hacen iniquidad.

23 Porque El no necesita considerar más al hombre, para que vaya ante Dios en juicio.

24 El quebranta a los poderosos sin indagar, y pone a otros en su lugar.

25 Pues El conoce sus obras, de noche los derriba y son aplastados.

26 Como a malvados los azota en un lugar público,

27 porque se apartaron de seguirle, y no consideraron ninguno de sus caminos,

28 haciendo que el clamor del pobre llegara a El, y que oyera el clamor de los afligidos.

29 Cuando está quieto, ¿quién puede condenarle?; y cuando esconde su rostro, ¿quién puede contemplarle?; esto es, tanto nación como hombre,

30 para que no gobiernen hombres impíos, ni sean lazos para el pueblo.

31 Porque ¿ha dicho alguno a Dios: "He sufrido castigo, ya no ofenderé más;

32 enséñame lo que no veo; si he obrado mal, no lo volveré a hacer?"

33 ¿Ha de retribuir El según tus condiciones, porque tú has rehusado? Porque tú tienes que escoger y no yo, por tanto, declara lo que sabes.

34 Los hombres entendidos me dirán, y también el sabio que me oiga:

35 "Job habla sin conocimiento, y sus palabras no tienen sabiduría.

36 "Job debe ser juzgado hasta el límite, porque responde como los hombres perversos.

37 "Porque a su pecado añade rebelión; bate palmas entre nosotros, y multiplica sus palabras contra Dios."

Job 34 Commentary

Chapter 34

Elihu accuses Job of charging God with injustice. (1-9) God cannot be unjust. (10-15) God's power and providence. (16-30) Elihu reproves Job. (31-37)

Verses 1-9 Elihu calls upon those present to decide with him upon Job's words. The plainest Christian, whose mind is enlightened, whose heart is sanctified by the Spirit of God, and who is versed in the Scriptures, can say how far matters, words, or actions, agree with true religion, better than any that lean to their own understandings. Job had spoken as if he meant wholly to justify himself. He that say, I have cleansed my hands in vain, does not only offend against God's children, Ps. 73:13-15 , but gratifies his enemies, and says as they say.

Verses 10-15 Elihu had showed Job, that God meant him no hurt by afflicting him, but intended his spiritual benefit. Here he shows, that God did him no wrong by afflicting him. If the former did not satisfy him, this ought to silence him. God cannot do wickedness, nor the Almighty commit wrong. If services now go unrewarded, and sins now go unpunished, yet there is a day coming, when God will fully render to every man according to his works. Further, though the believer's final condemnation is done away through the Saviour's ransom, yet he has merited worse than any outward afflictions; so that no wrong is done to him, however he may be tried.

Verses 16-30 Elihu appeals directly to Job himself. Could he suppose that God was like those earthly princes, who hate right, who are unfit to rule, and prove the scourges of mankind? It is daring presumption to condemn God's proceedings, as Job had done by his discontents. Elihu suggests divers considerations to Job, to produce in him high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him to submit. Job had often wished to plead his cause before God. Elihu asks, To what purpose? All is well that God does, and will be found so. What can make those uneasy, whose souls dwell at ease in God? The smiles of all the world cannot quiet those on whom God frowns.

Verses 31-37 When we reprove for what is amiss, we must direct to what is good. Job's friends would have had him own himself a wicked man. Let will only oblige him to own that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips. Let us, in giving reproof, not make a matter worse than it is. Elihu directs Job to humble himself before God for his sins, and to accept the punishment. Also to pray to God to discover his sins to him. A good man is willing to know the worst of himself; particularly, under affliction, he desires to be told wherefore God contends with him. It is not enough to be sorry for our sins, but we must go and sin no more. And if we are affectionate children, we shall love to speak with our Father, and to tell him all our mind. Elihu reasons with Job concerning his discontent under affliction. We are ready to think every thing that concerns us should be just as we would have it; but it is not reasonable to expect this. Elihu asks whether there was not sin and folly in what Job said. God is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works, Ps. 145:17 . The believer saith, Let my Saviour, my wise and loving Lord, choose every thing for me. I am sure that will be wisest, and the best for his glory and my good.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 34

In this chapter Elihu reassumes his discourse, and proceeds in his answer to Job, in which are first a preface exciting attention, Job 34:1-4; then a charge is brought against Job, expressed in or extracted from some words that dropped from his lips, not so well guarded, Job 34:5-9; a refutation of these expressions of his in a variety of arguments, Job 34:10-30; and the chapter is closed with some good advice to Job, Job 34:31-33; and with an earnest request of Elihu to men of understanding, to join with him in trying him to the uttermost, Job 34:34-37.