Job 34
1Then Elihu continued: 2“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning. 3For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food. 4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. 5For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. 6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ 7What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water? 8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. 9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’ 10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly. 11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences. 12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice. 13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world? 14If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath, 15all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. 16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words. 17Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One, 18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ 19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands. 20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. 21For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. 22There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide. 23For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment. 24He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place. 25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. 26He strikes them for their wickedness in full view, 27because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways. 28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted. 29But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation, 30that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people. 31Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more. 32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’ 33Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know. 34Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say: 35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’ 36If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man. 37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
Life is short. Where are you going?
You just read God’s own words, and one day every one of us will stand before Him. “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). This life will be over sooner than you think — do you know where you are going when it is?
The Bible says, “Man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). If you died today, would you be ready?
Are you a good person?
Most of us think we are. But God doesn’t measure us against other people — He measures us by His Law. Look honestly at the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3–17):
- You shall have no other gods before Me.
- You shall not make for yourself an idol.
- You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
- Honor your father and mother.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness.
- You shall not covet.
Have you ever told a lie — even a small one? Have you ever taken something that wasn’t yours? Have you ever used God’s name as a curse word? Have you ever wanted what belongs to someone else? Jesus said that anyone who looks with lust “has already committed adultery … in his heart” (Matthew 5:28), and the Bible says “everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15).
If we’re honest, we have all broken God’s Law — and “whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). “There is no one righteous, not even one … there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10–12).
That leaves every one of us guilty before a holy God. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and “whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). This is why our world is full of tragedy — and without Christ, every life ends in the greatest tragedy of all.
But God made a way
“God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus lived the perfect life we never could, and on the cross He took the punishment we deserved: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Three days later He rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
It’s like standing guilty in court when the judge steps down and pays your fine himself. Forgiveness is a free gift — you can’t earn it: “It is by grace you have been saved through faith … it is the gift of God, not by works” (Ephesians 2:8–9). “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” Jesus — John 10:10
What will you do with Jesus?
“Repent and believe in the gospel!” (Mark 1:15). Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus alone — “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Don’t put it off — “now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
And when you turn to Him, you won’t be met with a frown — you’ll be met with a celebration. Jesus said, “there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). God says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). He is “mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness … He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). Like the father who ran to embrace his lost son, He is waiting with open arms — and heaven throws a party when you come home (Luke 15:20–24).
If you died today, where would you spend eternity? Today you can be forgiven, made new, and have real, abundant life — now and forever.
Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which is in the public domain.