Job Thirty Four
by Dr. Henry M. Morris
(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)
Job 34:1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
Job 34:2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
Job 34:3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
Job 34:4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
Job 34:5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
Job 34:6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
Job 34:7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
Job 34:8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
walketh with wicked men. Elihu had no basis whatever for this gratuitous insult to the godly patriarch. He is carried away with his own eloquence.
Job 34:9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
he hath said. Job had said no such thing. See note on Job 21:15.
Job 34:12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Job 34:13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
Job 34:14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
Job 34:15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
turn again unto dust. Compare Elihu's “spirit”-inspired pronouncement with the “spirit”-inspired words of Eliphaz (Job 4:19-20).
Job 34:16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
Job 34:17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
Job 34:18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
Job 34:21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
Job 34:23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
Job 34:24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
Job 34:26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
Job 34:27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
Job 34:30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
Job 34:32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
teach thou me. Elihu rebukes Job for not doing what Job had, in fact, repeatedly done!
Job 34:34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
Job 34:35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
Job 34:36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
clappeth his hands. See note on Job 27:23.