Elihu Confirms God’s Justice

Elihu addresses the wise and asks them to weigh the matter carefully, then restates Job's claim that he is right while God has denied him justice. In Elihu's hearing, Job's words drift toward the conclusion that devotion to God brings no gain, which makes him sound like one who keeps company with mockers of righteousness.

T¹hen Elihu continued: ²“Hear my words, O wise men; ³For the ear tests words ⁴Let us choose for ourselves what is right; ⁵For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, ⁶Would I lie about my case? ⁷What man is like Job, ⁸He keeps company with evildoers ⁹For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing

From that point Elihu lays down his first axiom: far be it from God to do wickedness, since he repays people according to their deeds and owes no account to any higher authority. The One who gave life to all could withdraw spirit and breath at once, so his rule cannot be thought unjust or dependent.

¹⁰Therefore listen to me, ¹¹For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; ¹²Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, ¹³Who gave Him charge over the earth? ¹⁴If He were to set His heart to it ¹⁵all flesh would perish together

Elihu then develops that claim by saying a ruler who hated justice could not govern, and God is nothing like the corrupt great ones of earth because he shows no favoritism and sees every hidden act. He brings down the mighty without inquiry because their deeds are already open before him, especially when they crush the poor and make the afflicted cry rise up before God, who alone can both judge and remain silent without answer to man.

¹⁶If you have understanding, hear this; ¹⁷Could one who hates justice govern? ¹⁸who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ ¹⁹who is not partial to princes ²⁰They die in an instant, ²¹For His eyes are on the ways of a man, ²²There is no darkness or deep shadow ²³For God need not examine a man further ²⁴He shatters the mighty without inquiry ²⁵Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; ²⁶He strikes them for their wickedness ²⁷because they turned aside from Him ²⁸They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, ²⁹But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? ³⁰that godless men should not rule

At the end Elihu imagines the proper posture of a sufferer: confession, teachability, and refusal to dictate terms to God. He says the understanding will agree that Job speaks without knowledge, and he goes so far as to wish Job tested to the end because, in Elihu's view, Job has added defiant speech to his original complaint.

³¹Suppose someone says to God, ³²Teach me what I cannot see; ³³Should God repay you on your own terms ³⁴Men of understanding will declare to me, ³⁵‘Job speaks without knowledge; ³⁶If only Job were tried to the utmost ³⁷For he adds rebellion to his sin;