JobChapitre 34

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Then Elihu spoke again:

Hear my words, you who are wise; listen to me, you who have knowledge.

For the ear weighs words as the palate tastes food.

Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

For Job has said, "I am innocent, yet God has denied me justice."

"Though I am in the right, I am called a liar; though I am without transgression, my wound will not heal."

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

who keeps company with evildoers and walks with the wicked?

For he says, "A man gains nothing by taking delight in God."

So listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wrong, from the Almighty to act unjustly.

He repays a man for what he does and brings upon him what his ways deserve.

Truly, God will never act wickedly; the Almighty will never pervert justice.

Who put him in charge of the earth? Who entrusted to him the whole world?

If he were to set his heart on it and withdraw his spirit and breath,

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

If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I have to say.

Can one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the Righteous One, the Mighty One,

who says to a king, "You are worthless," and to nobles, "You are wicked";

who shows no partiality to princes and no preference for the rich over 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 away; the mighty are removed by no human hand.

For his eyes are on the ways of a man; he sees his every step.

There is no darkness, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide.

God has no need to examine a man further, or bring him before him for judgment.

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

Because he takes note of their deeds, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.

He strikes them down for their wickedness where everyone can see,

because they turned away from following him and had no regard for any of his ways.

They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted.

But if he keeps silent, who can condemn? If he hides his face, who can behold him? Yet he is over nation and man alike,

to keep the godless from ruling and from laying snares for the people.

Suppose a man says to God, "I have borne my punishment; I will offend no more.

Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again."

Should God then repay you on your own terms, since you refuse to repent? For you must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.

Men of understanding will say to me, and any wise man who hears me will agree:

"Job speaks without knowledge; his words show no insight."

If only Job were tested to the limit for answering like a wicked man!

For to his sin he adds rebellion; he claps his hands in scorn among us and multiplies his words against God.

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Résumé2

Chapitre 34

Main Theme: Elihu defends God's justice and accuses Job of speaking unjustly against God.

Content: Elihu quotes Job's claims that he is righteous while God has denied him justice (vv. 5–6), and sharply rejects this. He argues that God never acts unjustly—he repays people according to their deeds and holds the life of all creation in his hand (vv. 11–15). Elihu emphasizes that God sees all human ways and that no one can hide from him (vv. 21–22). The chapter concludes with Elihu wishing for Job to be tested to the utmost, because he adds rebellion to his sin by speaking against God (vv. 36–37).

Key Words/Images:

God's justice (vv. 10–12): Elihu declares it unthinkable that God would act unjustly or pervert justice.
God's life-giving Spirit (vv. 14–15): All life depends on God's Spirit; if he were to withdraw it, all flesh would perish.
God's omniscience (vv. 21–22): No darkness or shadow of death can hide wicked deeds from God's eyes.
Job's rebellion (v. 37): Elihu accuses Job of adding rebellion to his sin by speaking many words against God.

Contexte historique

Key Concepts

The chapter contains several Hebrew words and expressions that require explanation. The word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) occurs repeatedly (vv. 4, 5, 6, 12, 17, 23) and denotes both "judgment" and "justice" – a central concept in Elihu’s argument concerning God’s character. He asserts that God cannot pervert mishpat because he is the ultimate Judge.

The expression בְּלִיַּעַל (beliyya'al) in verse 18, translated as "worthless" or "scoundrel", was in an ancient Near Eastern context a serious insult against a king. Elihu uses this rhetorically to show that although people dare not call an earthly king such a name, Job indirectly accuses God of something similar. The term צַלְמָוֶת (tsalmawet) in verse 22, often translated "shadow of death", describes the deepest darkness where no one can hide from God – a poetic image of God’s all-seeing nature.

Events and Customs

Elihu’s appeal to "wise men" and "understanding ones" (vv. 2, 10, 34) reflects the Old Testament wisdom tradition in which elders and scholars gathered to discuss theological and ethical questions. This form of public debate with witnesses was known in the ancient Near East, and Elihu calls upon his listeners as a kind of jury to judge between his arguments and Job’s.

The idea that God can remove powerful rulers "in an instant" without human intervention (vv. 20, 24) reflects a widespread ancient Near Eastern experience with sudden regime changes. In contrast to surrounding cultures that often attributed such events to fate or competing gods, Elihu asserts that the God of Israel alone has sovereign control over all earthly powers.

Personnages3

Job4 Eliab (Eliab, son of Helon, leader from the tribe of Zebulun)1 God1

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Mots-clés7

Elihu — A young man who speaks to Job's friends and criticizes their viewpoints, while defending God's justice.
Justice — A moral principle that involves acting in accordance with divine laws and ethical norms.
Wisdom — The ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, and sound judgment.
Fear of God — An awe and reverence for God that leads to obedience and devotion.
Punishment — The consequences or response from God toward human sin and disobedience against His will.
Legal case — A metaphor for a situation in which God evaluates human actions and determines their fate.
Power — God's supreme ability and authority over the universe and all that exists.