Job 34:10-20

The Voice

In his first speech to Job, Elihu has been a cowboy, brazenly calling Job out for his blasphemous words about God. He has not exactly condemned Job as a wicked man; he has condemned Job for his reaction to his suffering and to God. This is unprecedented behavior, since a younger man would never contradict an elder, especially in the presence of other elders. Possibly realizing how disrespectfully he has been acting, and certainly noticing that Job isn’t responding well to his arguments, Elihu begins this second speech with a new approach. He tries to gain the support of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Maybe if other elders are on his side, Elihu can make Job understand that it is wrong to question God, the very Creator of justice.

¹⁰Elihu: So, you men whose hearts have embraced wisdom, listen to me:
        far be it from God to commit evil acts;
        and from the Highest One^[a] to engage in wrongdoing!
¹¹    For He is like an employer
        who pays workers according to what they have done;
        He makes sure the rewards they receive match their conduct.
¹²    Oh, unimaginable thought—that God would cause evil!
        The Highest One does not pervert justice!
¹³    Who designated Him as earth’s overseer?
        Who placed Him in charge of the entire world?
¹⁴    If He made it His aim to do so,
        if He recalled to Himself His spirit and His breath,
¹⁵    All living creatures would expire as one
        and humankind would return to the dust from which He formed them.

¹⁶    If you are one of understanding, hear this!
        Listen to what I am saying!
¹⁷    Can one who despises justice also govern?
        And are you willing to render condemnation on the Righteous and Mighty One?
¹⁸    Is He not the One who says to the king, “You are worthless,”
        and to the exalted nobility, “You are depraved.”
¹⁹    Is He not the One who refuses favoritism to royalty
        and who will not put rich above poor?
        After all, they are all the creations of His very own hands.
²⁰    All of a sudden, in the middle of the night, people perish;
        they are shaken, and then they pass away;
        the strong and mighty, apart from any human hand, are taken.