32 That which I see H2372 not H1107 teach H3384 thou me: if I have done H6466 iniquity, H5766 I will do H3254 no more.
Shew H3045 me thy ways, H1870 O LORD; H3068 teach H3925 me thy paths. H734 Lead H1869 me in thy truth, H571 and teach H3925 me: for thou art the God H430 of my salvation; H3468 on thee do I wait H6960 all the day. H3117
Search H2713 me, O God, H410 and know H3045 my heart: H3824 try H974 me, and know H3045 my thoughts: H8312 And see H7200 if there be any wicked H6090 way H1870 in me, and lead H5148 me in the way H1870 everlasting. H5769
Cause me to hear H8085 thy lovingkindness H2617 in the morning; H1242 for in thee do I trust: H982 cause me to know H3045 the way H1870 wherein H2098 I should walk; H3212 for I lift up H5375 my soul H5315 unto thee. Deliver H5337 me, O LORD, H3068 from mine enemies: H341 I flee unto thee to hide H3680 me. Teach H3925 me to do H6213 thy will; H7522 for thou art my God: H430 thy spirit H7307 is good; H2896 lead H5148 me into the land H776 of uprightness. H4334
Bring forth G4160 therefore G3767 fruits G2590 worthy G514 of repentance, G3341 and G2532 begin G756 not G3361 to say G3004 within G1722 yourselves, G1438 We have G2192 Abraham G11 to our father: G3962 for G1063 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 God G2316 is able G1410 of G1537 these G5130 stones G3037 to raise up G1453 children G5043 unto Abraham. G11 And G1161 now G2235 also G2532 the axe G513 is laid G2749 unto G4314 the root G4491 of the trees: G1186 every G3956 tree G1186 therefore G3767 which bringeth G4160 not G3361 forth G4160 good G2570 fruit G2590 is hewn down, G1581 and G2532 cast G906 into G1519 the fire. G4442 And G2532 the people G3793 asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 What G5101 shall we do G4160 then? G3767 He answereth G611 and G1161 saith G3004 unto them, G846 He that hath G2192 two G1417 coats, G5509 let him impart G3330 to him that hath G2192 none; G3361 and G2532 he that hath G2192 meat, G1033 let him do G4160 likewise. G3668 Then G1161 came G2064 also G2532 publicans G5057 to be baptized, G907 and G2532 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Master, G1320 what G5101 shall we do? G4160 And G1161 he said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Exact G4238 no G3367 more G4119 than G3844 that which is appointed G1299 you. G5213 And G1161 the soldiers G4754 likewise G2532 demanded G1905 of him, G846 saying, G3004 And G2532 what G5101 shall we G2249 do? G4160 And G2532 he said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Do violence G1286 to no man, G3367 neither G3366 accuse any falsely; G4811 and G2532 be content G714 with your G5216 wages. G3800
Wherefore G1352 putting away G659 lying, G5579 speak G2980 every man G1538 truth G225 with G3326 his G846 neighbour: G4139 for G3754 we are G2070 members G3196 one of another. G240 Be ye angry, G3710 and G2532 sin G264 not: G3361 let G1931 not G3361 the sun G2246 go down G1931 upon G1909 your G5216 wrath: G3950 Neither G3383 give G1325 place G5117 to the devil. G1228 Let G2813 him that stole G2813 steal G2813 no more: G3371 but G1161 rather G3123 let him labour, G2872 working G2038 with his hands G5495 the thing which is good, G18 that G2443 he may have G2192 to give G3330 to him that needeth. G5532 G2192
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 34
Commentary on Job 34 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 34
Job 34:1-37.
1. answered—proceeded.
2. This chapter is addressed also to the "friends" as the thirty-third chapter to Job alone.
3. palate—(See on Job 12:11; Job 33:2).
4. judgment—Let us select among the conflicting sentiments advanced, what will stand the test of examination.
5. judgment—my right. Job's own words (Job 13:18; 27:2).
6. Were I to renounce my right (that is, confess myself guilty), I should die. Job virtually had said so (Job 27:4, 5; 6:28). Maurer, not so well, "Notwithstanding my right (innocence) I am treated as a liar," by God, by His afflicting me.
my wound—literally, "mine arrow," namely, by which I am pierced. So "my stroke" ("hand," Job 23:2, Margin). My sickness (Job 6:4; 16:13).
without transgression—without fault of mine to deserve it (Job 16:17).
7. (Job 15:16). Image from the camel.
scorning—against God (Job 15:4).
8. Job virtually goes in company (makes common cause) with the wicked, by taking up their sentiments (Job 9:22, 23, 30; 21:7-15), or at least by saying, that those who act on such sentiments are unpunished (Mal 3:14). To deny God's righteous government because we do not see the reasons of His acts, is virtually to take part with the ungodly.
9. with God—in intimacy (Ps 50:18, Margin).
10. The true answer to Job, which God follows up (Job 38:1-41). Man is to believe God's ways are right, because they are His, not because we fully see they are so (Ro 9:14; De 32:4; Ge 18:25).
11. Partly here; fully, hereafter (Jer 32:19; Ro 2:6; 1Pe 1:17; Re 22:12).
12. (Job 8:3). In opposition to Job, Job 34:5, will not—cannot.
13. If the world were not God's property, as having been made by Him, but committed to His charge by some superior, it might be possible for Him to act unjustly, as He would not thereby be injuring Himself; but as it is, for God to act unjustly would undermine the whole order of the world, and so would injure God's own property (Job 36:23).
disposed—hath founded (Isa 44:7), established the circle of the globe.
14, 15. "If He were to set His heart on man," either to injure him, or to take strict account of his sins. The connection supports rather [Umbreit], "If He had regard to himself (only), and were to gather unto Himself (Ps 104:29) man's spirit, &c. (which he sends forth, Ps 104:30; Ec 12:7), all flesh must perish together," &c. (Ge 3:19). God's loving preservation of His creatures proves He cannot be selfish, and therefore cannot be unjust.
16. In Job 34:2, Elihu had spoken to all in general, now he calls Job's special attention.
17. "Can even He who (in thy view) hateth right (justice) govern?" The government of the world would be impossible if injustice were sanctioned. God must be just, because He governs (2Sa 23:3).
govern—literally, "bind," namely, by authority (so "reign," 1Sa 9:17, Margin). Umbreit translates for "govern, repress wrath, namely, against Job for his accusations.
most just—rather, "Him who is at once mighty and just" (in His government of the world).
18. Literally, (Is it fit) to be said to a king? It would be a gross outrage to reproach thus an earthly monarch, much more the King of kings (Ex 22:28). But Maurer with the Septuagint and Vulgate reads, (It is not fit to accuse of injustice Him) who says to a king, Thou art wicked; to princes, Ye are ungodly; that is, who punishes impartially the great, as the small. This accords with Job 34:19.
19. (Ac 10:34; 2Ch 19:7; Pr 22:2; Job 31:15).
20. they—"the rich" and "princes" who offend God.
the people—namely, of the guilty princes: guilty also themselves.
at midnight—image from a night attack of an enemy on a camp, which becomes an easy prey (Ex 12:29, 30).
without hand—without visible agency, by the mere word of God (so Job 20:26; Zec 4:6; Da 2:34).
21. God's omniscience and omnipotence enable Him to execute immediate justice. He needs not to be long on the "watch," as Job thought (Job 7:12; 2Ch 16:9; Jer 32:19).
22. shadow of death—thick darkness (Am 9:2, 3; Ps 139:12).
23. (1Co 10:13; La 3:32; Isa 27:8). Better, as Umbreit, "He does not (needs not to) regard (as in Job 34:14; Isa 41:20) man long (so Hebrew, Ge 46:29) in order that he may go (be brought by God) into judgment." Literally, "lest his (attention) upon men" (Job 11:10, 11). So Job 34:24, "without number" ought to be translated, "without [needing any] searching out," such as has to be made in human judgments.
24. break in pieces—(Ps 2:9; Job 12:18; Da 2:21).
25. Therefore—because He knows all things (Job 34:21). He knows their works, without a formal investigation (Job 34:24).
in the night—suddenly, unexpectedly (Job 34:20). Fitly in the night, as it was in it that the godless hid themselves (Job 34:22). Umbreit, less simply, for "overturneth," translates, "walketh"; that is, God is ever on the alert, discovering all wickedness.
26. He striketh them—chasteneth.
as—that is, because they are wicked.
sight of others—Sinners hid themselves in darkness; therefore they are punished before all, in open day. Image from the place of public execution (Job 40:12; Ex 14:30; 2Sa 12:12).
27, 28. The grounds of their punishment in Job 34:26. Job 34:28 states in what respect they "considered not God's ways," namely, by oppression, whereby "they caused the cry," &c.
29. (Pr 16:7; Isa 26:3).
make trouble—rather, "condemn" (Ro 8:33, 34). Maurer, from the reference being only to the godless, in the next clause, and Job 34:20 translates, "When God keeps quiet" (leaves men to perish) Ps 83:1; [Umbreit] from the Arabic (strikes to the earth), "who shall condemn Him as unjust?" Job 34:17.
hideth … face—(Job 23:8, 9; Ps 13:1).
it be done—Whether it be against a guilty nation (2Ki 18:9-12) or an individual, that God acts so.
30. Ensnared—into sin (1Ki 12:28, 30). Or rather, "enthralled by further oppression," Job 34:26-28.
31. Job accordingly says so (Job 40:3-5; Mic 7:9; Le 26:41). It was to lead him to this that Elihu was sent. Though no hypocrite, Job, like all, had sin; therefore through affliction he was to be brought to humble himself under God. All sorrow is a proof of the common heritage of sin, in which the godly shares; and therefore he ought to regard it as a merciful correction. Umbreit and Maurer lose this by translating, as the Hebrew will bear, "Has any a right to say to God, I have borne chastisement and yet have not sinned?" (so Job 34:6).
borne—namely, the penalty of sin, as in Le 5:1, 17.
offend—literally, "to deal destructively or corruptly" (Ne 1:7).
32. (Job 10:2; Ps 32:8; 19:12; 139:23, 24).
no more—(Pr 28:13; Eph 4:22).
33. Rather, "should God recompense (sinners) according to thy mind? Then it is for thee to reject and to choose, and not me" [Umbreit]; or as Maurer, "For thou hast rejected God's way of recompensing; state therefore thy way, for thou must choose, not I," that is, it is thy part, not mine, to show a better way than God's.
34, 35. Rather, "men … will say to me, and the wise man (Job 34:2, 10) who hearkens to me (will say), 'Job hath spoken,'" &c.
36. Margin, not so well, "My father," Elihu addressing God. This title does not elsewhere occur in Job.
tried—by calamities.
answers for wicked men—(See on Job 34:8). Trials of the godly are not removed until they produce the effect designed.
37. clappeth … hands—in scorn (Job 27:23; Eze 21:17).
multiplieth … words—(Job 11:2; 35:16). To his original "sin" to correct which trials have been sent, "he adds rebellion," that is, words arraigning God's justice.