1A ešte odpovedal Elíhu a riekol: 2Počujte, múdri, moje slová; a vy, ktorí viete voľačo, pozorujte ma ušima! 3Lebo ucho posudzuje slová, a ďasno ochutnáva pokrm. 4Zvoľme si súd; poznajme medzi sebou, čo je dobré. 5Lebo Job povedal: Som spravedlivý, ale silný Bôh odmietnul môj súd. 6Napriek svojmu spravedlivému súdu luhám! Moja strela je smrteľná bez prestúpenia! 7Kto je muž ako Job, ktorý by pil výsmech ako vodu? 8Ktorý putuje do spolku s činiteľmi neprávosti a je hotový ísť s bezbožnými mužmi? 9Lebo hovorí: Neprospeje človekovi, keď sa bude ľúbiť u Boha. 10Preto, mužovia rozumného srdca, počujte ma! Nech je to preč od silného Boha, aby mal učiniť nejakú bezbožnosť a Všemohúci nejakú neprávosť! 11Lebo on odplatí človekovi jeho skutok a dá najsť každému podľa toho, jaká je čia cesta. 12Áno, je istá pravda, že silný Bôh neučiní bezbožnosti, a Všemohúci neprevráti súdu. 13Kde kto mu sveril zem, aby na ňu dozeral, a kto složil na neho celý okruh sveta? 14Keby naň obrátil svoje srdce, a keby jeho ducha a jeho dych vzal k sebe; 15razom by zomrelo každé telo, a tak by sa človek navrátil do prachu. 16Ak je tedy u teba rozum, nože, počuj to, pozoruj ušima na hlas mojich slov! 17Či by azda ten, kto by nenávidel súdu, mohol spravovať? Alebo či toho, ktorý je svrchovane spravodlivý a mocný, vyhlásiš za bezbožného? 18Či sa patrí povedať kráľovi Ty nešľachetníku! Vy bezbožníci! kniežatám? 19Tým menej tomu, ktorý nehľadí na osobu vladárov, a u ktorého nemá prednosti urodzený pred chudobným, lebo všetci sú dielom jeho rúk. 20Náhle zomierajú, a o polnoci; národ sa otrasie a zajde, a odstránia mocného, nie ľudskou rukou. 21Lebo jeho oči hľadia na cesty človeka, a vidí všetky jeho kroky. 22Neni tmy a neni tône smrti, kde by sa skryli činitelia neprávosti. 23Lebo ani nevzkladá viacej na človeka, aby išiel k silnému Bohu na súd. 24Láme mocných bez vyšetrovania a stavia iných na ich miesto. 25Pretože on zná ich skutky, a len čo sa obráti noc, bývajú zdrtení. 26medzi inými bezbožníkmi ich bije na mieste divákov, 27preto, že odstúpili od neho nenasledujúc ho a neporozumeli niktorým jeho cestám 28pôsobiac to, že prichádza k nemu krik chudobného. A on počuje krik biednych. 29No, keď on upokojí, kto potom odsúdi?! Alebo keď skryje svoju tvár, kto ho uvidí? Jedno, či už nad celým národom a či nad jednotlivým človekom, 30aby nekraľoval človek pokrytec, zpomedzi tých, ktorí sú osídlom národa. 31Lebo takto sa povie silnému Bohu: Ponesiem, nebudem robiť zlého. 32Tomu, čoho nevidím, ma ty vyuč; ak som urobil nejakú neprávosť, neurobím viacej. 33Či to azda má odplacovať podľa tvojho zdania, keď zavrhuješ? Lebo ty budeš voliť a nie ja. Alebo čo vieš, hovor! 34Mužovia rozumného srdca mi povedia, i každý múdry človek, ktorý ma čuje: 35Job nehovorí v pravej známosti, a jeho slová nie sú povedané v rozumnosti. 36Oj, aby bol Job zkúšaný do nekonečna pre odpovedania podľa spôsobu ľudí neprávosti! 37Lebo pridáva k svojmu hriechu spúru; medzi nami tlieska rukami a množí svoje reči proti silnému Bohu.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 (Job 34:1-37)
answered--proceeded.
2 This chapter is addressed also to the "friends" as the thirty-third chapter to Job alone.
3 palate--(See on
Ιώβ 12:11;
Ιώβ 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 (
Ιώβ 13:18;
Ιώβ 27:2).
6 Were I to renounce my right (that is, confess myself guilty), I should die. Job virtually had said so (
Ιώβ 27:4-
Ιώβ 27:5;
Ιώβ 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,"
Ιώβ 23:2, Margin). My sickness (
Ιώβ 6:4;
Ιώβ 16:13).
without transgression--without fault of mine to deserve it (
Ιώβ 16:17).
7 (
Ιώβ 15:16). Image from the camel.
scorning--against God (
Ιώβ 15:4).
8 Job virtually goes in company (makes common cause) with the wicked, by taking up their sentiments (
Ιώβ 9:22-
Ιώβ 9:23,
Ιώβ 9:30;
Ιώβ 21:7-
Ιώβ 21:15), or at least by saying, that those who act on such sentiments are unpunished (
Μαλ. 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 (
Ψαλ. 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 (
Ρωμ. 9:14;
Δευτ. 32:4;
Γέν. 18:25).
11 Partly here; fully, hereafter (
Ιερ. 32:19;
Ρωμ. 2:6;
1Πέτ. 1:17;
Αποκ. 22:12).
12 (
Ιώβ 8:3). In opposition to Job,
Ιώβ 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 (
Ιώβ 36:23).
disposed--hath founded (
Ησ. 44:7), established the circle of the globe.
14 "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 (
Ψαλ. 104:29) man's spirit, &c. (which he sends forth,
Ψαλ. 104:30;
Εκκλ. 12:7), all flesh must perish together," &c. (
Γέν. 3:19). God's loving preservation of His creatures proves He cannot be selfish, and therefore cannot be unjust.
16 In
Ιώβ 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 (
2Σαμ. 23:3).
govern--literally, "bind," namely, by authority (so "reign,"
1Σαμ. 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 (
Έξ. 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
Ιώβ 34:19.
19 (
Πράξ. 10:34;
2Χρ. 19:7;
Παρ. 22:2;
Ιώβ 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 (
Έξ. 12:29-
Έξ. 12:30).
without hand--without visible agency, by the mere word of God (so
Ιώβ 20:26;
Ζαχ. 4:6;
Δαν. 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 (
Ιώβ 7:12;
2Χρ. 16:9;
Ιερ. 32:19).
22 shadow of death--thick darkness (
Άμ. 9:2-
Άμ. 9:3;
Ψαλ. 139:12).
23 (
1Κορ. 10:13;
Θρ. 3:32;
Ησ. 27:8). Better, as UMBREIT, "He does not (needs not to) regard (as in
Ιώβ 34:14;
Ησ. 41:20) man long (so Hebrew,
Γέν. 46:29) in order that he may go (be brought by God) into judgment." Literally, "lest his (attention) upon men" (
Ιώβ 11:10-
Ιώβ 11:11). So
Ιώβ 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-- (
Ψαλ. 2:9;
Ιώβ 12:18;
Δαν. 2:21).
25 Therefore--because He knows all things (
Ιώβ 34:21). He knows their works, without a formal investigation (
Ιώβ 34:24).
in the night--suddenly, unexpectedly (
Ιώβ 34:20). Fitly in the night, as it was in it that the godless hid themselves (
Ιώβ 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 (
Ιώβ 40:12;
Έξ. 14:30;
2Σαμ. 12:12).
27 The grounds of their punishment in
Ιώβ 34:26.
Ιώβ 34:28 states in what respect they "considered not God's ways," namely, by oppression, whereby "they caused the cry," &c.
29 (
Παρ. 16:7;
Ησ. 26:3).
make trouble--rather, "condemn" (
Ρωμ. 8:33-
Ρωμ. 8:34). MAURER, from the reference being only to the godless, in the next clause, and
Ιώβ 34:20 translates, "When God keeps quiet" (leaves men to perish)
Ψαλ. 83:1; [UMBREIT] from the Arabic (strikes to the earth), "who shall condemn Him as unjust?"
Ιώβ 34:17.
hideth . . . face-- (
Ιώβ 23:8-
Ιώβ 23:9;
Ψαλ. 13:1).
it be done--Whether it be against a guilty nation (
2Βασ. 18:9-12) or an individual, that God acts so.
30 Ensnared--into sin (
1Βασ. 12:28,
1Βασ. 12:30). Or rather, "enthralled by further oppression,"
Ιώβ 34:26-
Ιώβ 34:28.
31 Job accordingly says so (
Ιώβ 40:3-
Ιώβ 40:5;
Μιχ. 7:9;
Λευ. 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
Ιώβ 34:6).
borne--namely, the penalty of sin, as in
Λευ. 5:1,
Λευ. 5:17.
offend--literally, "to deal destructively or corruptly" (
Νεεμ. 1:7).
32 (
Ιώβ 10:2;
Ψαλ. 32:8;
Ψαλ. 19:12;
Ψαλ. 139:23-
Ψαλ. 139:24).
no more-- (
Παρ. 28:13;
Εφεσ. 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 Rather, "men . . . will say to me, and the wise man (
Ιώβ 34:2,
Ιώβ 34:10) 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
Ιώβ 34:8). Trials of the godly are not removed until they produce the effect designed.
37 clappeth . . . hands--in scorn (
Ιώβ 27:23;
Ιεζ. 21:17).
multiplieth . . . words-- (
Ιώβ 11:2;
Ιώβ 35:16). To his original "sin" to correct which trials have been sent, "he adds rebellion," that is, words arraigning God's justice.