34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
34 "Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me,
34 Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say:
34 "All right-thinking people say - and the wise who have listened to me concur -
34 "Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me:
34 After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 34:34
Commentary on Job 34:31-37
(Read Job 34:31-37)
When we reprove for what is amiss, we must direct to what is good. Job's friends would have had him own himself a wicked man. Let will only oblige him to own that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips. Let us, in giving reproof, not make a matter worse than it is. Elihu directs Job to humble himself before God for his sins, and to accept the punishment. Also to pray to God to discover his sins to him. A good man is willing to know the worst of himself; particularly, under affliction, he desires to be told wherefore God contends with him. It is not enough to be sorry for our sins, but we must go and sin no more. And if we are affectionate children, we shall love to speak with our Father, and to tell him all our mind. Elihu reasons with Job concerning his discontent under affliction. We are ready to think every thing that concerns us should be just as we would have it; but it is not reasonable to expect this. Elihu asks whether there was not sin and folly in what Job said. God is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works, Psalm 145:17. The believer saith, Let my Saviour, my wise and loving Lord, choose every thing for me. I am sure that will be wisest, and the best for his glory and my good.