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Then Elihu answered and said:
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“Hear my words, you wise men; give ear to me, you men of understanding.
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For the ear tests words, as the palate tastes food.
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Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good.
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For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, but God has taken away my right;
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though I am in the right, I am counted a liar; though I have done no wrong, my wound is incurable.’
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What man is like Job, who drinks up scorn against God like water,
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who keeps company with evildoers and walks with the wicked?
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For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing when he is pleasing to God.’
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Therefore, you men of understanding, listen to me: far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to do wrong.
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Indeed, he repays a man according to his work, and brings upon each one according to his conduct.
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Truly, God does not act unjustly; the Almighty does not pervert justice.
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Who gave him charge over the earth? Who entrusted the whole world to him?
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If he should gather back his Spirit to himself, and take back his breath to himself,
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all flesh would perish together, and mankind would return to dust.
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If you have understanding, hear this; give ear to what I say.
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Can one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the righteous and mighty One,
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who says to a king, ‘Worthless man,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked man’;
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who shows no partiality to princes, and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
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In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away; the mighty are removed, but not by human hand.
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For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps;
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there is no darkness or deep gloom where evildoers may hide themselves.
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For he does not set a time for man to come before God in judgment.
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He shatters the mighty without inquiry, and sets others in their place.
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Therefore he knows their deeds, and he overthrows them in the night, so that they are crushed.
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He strikes them for their wickedness in the sight of all,
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because they had turned away from Him, and paid no heed to any of His ways,
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so that they caused the cry of the poor to come up before Him, and He heard the cry of the afflicted.
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— If He keeps silent, who can condemn? If He hides His face, who can behold Him, whether it be a nation or a single man? —,
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so that the godless man may not reign, who is a snare to the people.
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But if anyone says to God: I have been proud, but I will do no more evil;
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what I do not understand, teach me; if I have done wrong, I will do it no more,
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in your judgment should God repay because you refuse? So then, you must decide, not I; speak what you know!
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Then the men of understanding and the wise who hear me will say to me:
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Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without insight.
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Oh, that Job were tried continually, because he answers like wicked men!
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For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and speaks many words against God.”
⚖️🔥📣 Summary of Job 34 – “God Cannot Act Unjustly!”
In Job 34, Elihu continues his defense of God’s justice and responds to Job’s words, which indirectly accuse God of being unjust.
He affirms that God cannot act wickedly or unjustly, because He is Almighty and perfectly true. Elihu calls all wise people to weigh his words and think rightly about God.
This is a call to place God above every human accusation, and to acknowledge the limits of our judgment in understanding suffering.
📌 1. An Invitation to the Wise to Judge (verses 1–9)
➡️ Elihu begins by saying:
“Let the wise hear me…”
➡️ He quotes Job as saying:
“I am right, but God has taken away my right.”
➡️ Then he accuses Job:
- “He adds sin to his sin by multiplying words against God.”
🎯 Be careful in speaking amid suffering — do not let us blame God.
📌 2. God Will Never Commit Injustice (verses 10–15)
➡️ Elihu affirms:
- God does not do wickedness or deceit
- God repays each person according to his deeds
- If God withdraws man’s spirit and breath, all perish
🎯 Justice and righteousness are God’s absolute character. It is impossible for Him to do wrong.
📌 3. God Rules Without Partiality (verses 16–30)
➡️ God:
- Shows no favor to the great or the small
- Knows every deed of man, even in the dark
- Punishes wicked rulers without first needing to question them
➡️ He is able to bring down the strong and save the oppressed — according to His sovereignty and justice.
🎯 The Lord sees and judges more deeply than man. Do not compare the Lord with earthly judges.
📌 4. A Call to Acknowledge Ignorance and Repent (verses 31–37)
➡️ Elihu quotes the ideal response of a person to God:
“I have done wrong; I will not do it again.”
➡️ But Job instead:
- Opposes God
- Speaks much without understanding
🎯 Elihu affirms that the wise response to suffering is humility and repentance, not resistance.
📖 Main Teaching
- The Lord never does evil or injustice — even if we do not understand His ways
- Spiritual pride can arise in suffering when we feel more righteous than God
- True wisdom = submitting to God’s justice and greatness, not judging Him
- Suffering should lead us to greater humility, not greater hardness of heart
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“What shall we say? Is God unjust? By no means!”
➡️ Elihu affirms that the Lord’s sovereignty is wholly just and perfect.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just…”
➡️ Instead of defending ourselves, the true response is to confess and repent.
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
➡️ Job is challenged to humble himself, not think himself wiser than God.
“Vengeance is Mine, says the Lord.”
➡️ The Lord is sovereign in repaying and judging.
🕊️ “It is impossible for God to do wrong.” – Job 34:10
🕊️ “He repays a person according to his deeds.” – Job 34:11
🕊️ “Who can accuse Him, or say: What are You doing?” – Job 34:29
🕊️ “I have sinned; I will do wrong no more.” – Job 34:31
