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In his first speech to Job, Elihu has been a cowboy, brazenly calling Job out for his blasphemous words about God. He has not exactly condemned Job as a wicked man; he has condemned Job for his reaction to his suffering and to God. This is unprecedented behavior, since a younger man would never contradict an elder, especially in the presence of other elders. Possibly realizing how disrespectfully he has been acting, and certainly noticing that Job isn’t responding well to his arguments, Elihu begins this second speech with a new approach. He tries to gain the support of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Maybe if other elders are on his side, Elihu can make Job understand that it is wrong to question God, the very Creator of justice.

10 Elihu: So, you men whose hearts have embraced wisdom, listen to me:
        far be it from God to commit evil acts;
        and from the Highest One[a] to engage in wrongdoing!
11     For He is like an employer
        who pays workers according to what they have done;
        He makes sure the rewards they receive match their conduct.
12     Oh, unimaginable thought—that God would cause evil!
        The Highest One does not pervert justice!

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Footnotes

  1. 34:10 Hebrew, Shaddai

10 “So listen to me,(A) you men of understanding.(B)
    Far be it from God to do evil,(C)
    from the Almighty to do wrong.(D)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;(E)
    he brings on them what their conduct deserves.(F)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,(G)
    that the Almighty would pervert justice.(H)

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