Job 34

1 Eliú acusa a Job de arrogancia
Entonces Eliú dijo:

2 «Escúchenme, ustedes hombres sabios;
presten atención, ustedes que tienen conocimiento.

3 Job dijo: “El oído pone a prueba las palabras que oye
igual que la boca distingue los sabores”.

4 Así que, juzguemos por nosotros mismos lo que es correcto;
aprendamos juntos lo que es bueno.

5 Pues Job también dijo: “Yo soy inocente,
pero Dios ha quitado mis derechos.

6 Soy inocente, pero me llaman mentiroso;
mi sufrimiento es incurable, aunque yo no haya pecado”.

7 »Díganme, ¿hubo una vez un hombre como Job,
con sed de conversaciones irreverentes?

8 Él escoge como compañeros a hombres malvados;
pasa su tiempo con hombres perversos.

9 Ha llegado a decir: “¿Por qué malgastar el tiempo
intentando agradar a Dios?”.

10 »Escúchenme, ustedes que tienen entendimiento.
¡Todo el mundo sabe que Dios no peca!
El Todopoderoso no puede hacer nada malo.

11 Él paga a las personas según lo que hayan hecho;
las trata como se merecen.

12 En verdad, Dios no hará el mal;
el Todopoderoso no torcerá la justicia.

13 ¿Algún otro puso la tierra al cuidado de Dios?
¿Quién colocó al mundo en su sitio?

14 Si Dios retirara su espíritu
y quitara su aliento,

15 todos los seres vivientes dejarían de existir
y la humanidad volvería al polvo.

16 »Ahora escúchame, si eres sabio;
presta atención a lo que digo.

17 ¿Podría Dios gobernar si odiara la justicia?
¿Condenarás al juez todopoderoso?

18 Pues él dice a los reyes: “Ustedes son malvados”,
y a los nobles: “Ustedes son injustos”.

19 A él no le importa la grandeza que pueda tener una persona
y no presta más atención al rico que al pobre,
él creó a todos.

20 En un instante mueren;
fallecen en la mitad de la noche;
los poderosos se van sin la intervención de mano humana.

21 »Pues Dios observa cómo vive la gente;
ve todo lo que ellos hacen.

22 No hay oscuridad tan densa
que pueda esconder a los malos de sus ojos.

23 No decidimos nosotros el momento
de presentarnos ante Dios para ser juzgados.

24 Él lleva a los poderosos a la ruina sin consultar a nadie,
y pone a otros en su lugar.

25 Él sabe lo que hacen,
y por la noche los vence y los destruye.

26 Los derriba porque son malvados,
lo hace abiertamente para que todos lo vean.

27 Pues se apartaron y dejaron de seguirlo;
no respetan ninguno de sus caminos.

28 Hacen que los pobres clamen, y esto atrae la atención de Dios;
él oye los clamores de los necesitados.

29 Sin embargo, si él opta por quedarse callado,
¿quién puede criticarlo?
Cuando esconde su rostro, nadie puede encontrarlo,
ya sea un individuo o una nación.

30 Él no deja que los incrédulos gobiernen,
para que no sean una trampa para la gente.

31 »¿Por qué la gente no le dice a Dios: “He pecado
pero no volveré a pecar”?

32 O bien: “No sé qué mal hice, dímelo;
si he actuado mal, me detendré de inmediato”.

33 »¿Debe Dios adaptar su justicia a tus exigencias
a pesar de que lo hayas rechazado?
La elección es tuya, no mía.
Adelante, haznos partícipes de tu sabiduría.

34 Después de todo, las personas inteligentes me dirán
y la gente sabia me oirá decir:

35 “Job habla por ignorancia;
sus palabras carecen de percepción”.

36 Job, te mereces la pena máxima
por tu manera malvada de responder.

37 Pues a tu pecado has añadido rebelión;
no muestras ningún respeto
y dices muchas palabras de enojo 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.