Job 34 · The Lantern

Elihu Confirms God’s Justice

And Elihu answered and said:

Hear my words, you wise; and give ear to me, you who know.

For the ear tests words, as the palate tastes to eat.

Let us choose judgment for ourselves; let us know among ourselves what is good.

For Job has said, “I am righteous, and God has taken away my judgment.

Against my judgment I am counted a liar; my arrow-wound is incurable, without transgression.”

What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water,

and goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with men of wickedness?

For he has said, “It is of no use to a man that he should delight in God.”

Therefore, men of heart, listen to me: Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to do injustice.

"Therefore, hear me, you who have sense, far be it from God that he should do wickedness. For according to their deeds he will repay them." Since, according to the rules of debating, it is easier, in general, that they both lie rather than saying the truth. Here, as they speak against each other, it is nonetheless proven that the arguments of both are true.

Let unmercifulness ['impietas'] be far from God, and iniquity from the Almighty: for the work of a man shall He render unto him, and will restore to them according to the ways of every man. He well said, that iniquity or unmercifulness is not in Almighty God.

Since, then, Eliud abused the words of Job and was eager to impose on him what he himself did not think or had not expressed in his words, it is clear that the whole subsequent discussion was not against Job.

For he repays a man according to his work, and makes it meet a person according to his way.

Yes, truly, God does not do wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert judgment.

Who gave him charge over the earth? And who set the whole world in place?

If he set his heart upon himself, and gathered his spirit and his breath to himself,

all flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.

And if there is understanding, hear this; give ear to the sound of my words.

Did you see? He did not dare come to the conclusion that he is [just]; with great discretion he avoided asserting it plainly. Not only by participating in the universe, or in the creation or in his power, we must realize his justice, but also by participating in his own nature and acts. He hates the wicked and loves human beings.

If then thou hast understanding, hear what is said, and listen to the voice of my words. All haughty men have this peculiarity, that when they perchance entertain any acute sentiment, they soon launch out in consequence into the sin of pride, that they despise the opinion of every one else in comparison with their own, and prefer themselves in their own judgment to the merits o…

Since Eliud thought these arguments were sufficient, he invites Job to their consideration when he then says, "If then you have an intellect," to understand the power of my arguments, "hear what is said," with the exterior ears, "and," with interior attention, "perceive the voice of my eloquence," to recognize the justice of divine judgment.

Shall one who hates judgment govern? And will you condemn the mighty Righteous One?

Does one say to a king, “Worthless!” — to nobles, “Wicked!” —

who does not lift up the faces of officials, and does not know the rich before the poor? For they are all the work of his hands.

In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; a people is shaken and passes on, and the mighty are taken away without a hand.

For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.

There is no darkness and no shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

For he does not set an appointed time for a man to go before God in judgment.

For it is no longer in the power of man to come near to God for judgment. This verse requires the greater discussion, the more painful is that which it speaks of, if it is neglected. Here doubtless that judgment is not designated which punishes by eternal retribution, but that which, conceived by the mind, cleanses through our conversation [al. 'conversion.'].

"For he has not appointed a time for anyone to go before God in judgment," that is, recognize the power of God and do not consider him as a man, and do not desire to be with him in judgment, as he brings afflictions to many criminals as their punishment but makes the righteous prosper and increase instead of them.

Since he had said that princes die suddenly and are dispossessed for their sins, (which seems to be an irremediable punishment), he then shows the reason for this from the fact that when God judges a man for his sins and finally condemns him, the ability is not given to a man that he can further contend the judgment with God.

He shatters the mighty without inquiry, and sets others in their place.

Therefore he recognizes their deeds, and overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.

He strikes them for their wickedness in the place of onlookers,

because they turned aside from following him, and did not consider any of his ways,

so as to bring the cry of the poor before him — and he hears the cry of the afflicted.

And when he is quiet, who can condemn? And when he hides his face, who can behold him? — whether over a nation or over a man alike,

so that a godless man should not reign, nor be a snare to the people.

For has anyone said to God, “I have borne it; I will not act corruptly;

teach me what I do not see; if I have done injustice, I will do it no more”?

Should he repay on your terms, because you have rejected it? For you must choose, and not I; so speak what you know.

Men of heart will say to me, and a wise man who listens to me:

"Those who have sense will say to me." It seems that, as his friends, with the silence that they have observed, approve and ascribe to their praise the fact that they have endured those arguments that were said by him, so holy Job praises himself for what he has demonstrated with his words.

Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man hear me. But Job hath spoken foolishly, and his words sound not of discipline. Lo, how he lays open that, which he was cherishing within, when, as if humbly, he allows blessed Job to speak; saying, Let men of understanding speak to me.

But lest Eliphaz seem to have said this because he doubted his own justice and the truth of his words, he consequently intends to assert that Job lacks both wisdom and understanding, and because of this he judges him unworthy to debate with him.

“Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without insight.”

My desire is that Job be tested to the limit, because of his answers like men of iniquity.

He did not say, in an iniquitous and impious manner, but "for a long time," showing that we must not argue with God for a long time. If, when we are in the presence of a king, we do not dare argue with him for a long time, even more so we must behave before God.

My Father, let Job be tried even to the end. Lo! how he lifts up even in words of cursing, that which he had before conceived of the swellings of arrogance. But he would perhaps wish for the force of a merciful probation, if he had believed that he had stood firm in probation.

Since Job did not recognize those defects in himself, Eliud turns his words to God, requesting that Job be tried to recognize his defects, and so he says, "My Father," O God whom I think of like a father because of the reverence which I have for you and defend your justice in all things, "Let Job be tried," let his defect be shown to him through scourges, "even to the end," unt…

For he adds transgression to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his sayings against God.

Job34

Elihu Confirms God’s Justice