Logos Bible Study

Job 34:29–33

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34:29But if God49 is quiet, who can condemn50 him?

If he hides his face, then who can see him?

Yet51 he is over the individual and the nation alike,52

34:30so that the godless man should not rule,

and not lay snares for the people.53

Job Is Foolish to Rebel

34:31“Has anyone said to God,

‘I have endured chastisement,54

but I will not act wrongly any more.

34:32Teach me what I cannot see.55

If I have done evil, I will do so no more.’

34:33Is it your opinion56 that God57 should recompense it,

because you reject this?58

But you must choose, and not I,

so tell us what you know.

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Footnotes

  1. 49 Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  2. 50 The verb in this position is somewhat difficult, although it does make good sense in the sentence—it is just not what the parallelism would suggest. So several emendations have been put forward, for which see the commentaries.
  3. 51 The line simply reads “and over a nation and over a man together.” But it must be the qualification for the points being made in the previous lines, namely, that even if God hides himself so no one can see, yet he is still watching over them all (see H. H. Rowley, Job [], 222).
  4. 52 The word translated “alike” (Heb “together”) has bothered some interpreters. In the reading taken here it is acceptable. But others have emended it to gain a verb, such as “he visits” (Beer), “he watches over” (Duhm), “he is compassionate” (Kissane), etc. But it is sufficient to say “he is over.”
  5. 53 This last verse is difficult because it is unbalanced and cryptic. Some have joined the third line of v. 29 with this entire verse to make a couplet. But the same result is achieved by simply regarding this verse as the purpose of v. 29. But there still are some words that must be added. In the first colon, “[he is over the nations] … preventing from ruling.” And in the second colon, “laying” has to be supplied before “snares.”
  6. 54 The Hebrew text has only “I lift up” or “I bear” (= I endure). The reading “I have been led astray” is obtained by changing the vowels to read a passive. If the is retained, an object has to be supplied, such as “chastisement” (so , ) or “punishment” (). If not, then a different reading would be followed (e.g., “I was misguided” []; “I am guilty” []).
  7. 55 Heb “what I do not see,” more specifically, “apart from [that which] I see.”
  8. 56 Heb “is it from with you,” an idiomatic expression meaning “to suit you” or “according to your judgment.”
  9. 57 Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  10. 58 There is no object on the verb, and the meaning is perhaps lost. The best guess is that Elihu is saying Job has rejected his teaching.

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

When he is quiet, who can condemn?

When he hides his face, who can behold him,

whether it be a nation or a man?—

that a godless man should not reign,

that he should not ensnare the people.

“For has anyone said to God,

‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;

teach me what I do not see;

if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

Will he then make repayment to suit you,

because you reject it?

For you must choose, and not I;

therefore declare what you know.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?

If he hides his face, who can see him?

Yet he is over individual and nation alike,

to keep the godless from ruling,

from laying snares for the people.

“Suppose someone says to God,

‘I am guilty but will offend no more.

Teach me what I cannot see;

if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’

Should God then reward you on your terms,

when you refuse to repent?

You must decide, not I;

so tell me what you know.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

But when God is silent, who can declare him guilty?

When he hides his face, who can see him?

Yet he watches over both individuals and nations,

so that godless men should not rule

or ensnare the people.

Suppose someone says to God,

“I have endured my punishment;

I will no longer act wickedly.

Teach me what I cannot see;

if I have done wrong, I won’t do it again.”

Should God repay you on your terms

when you have rejected his?

You must choose, not I!

So declare what you know.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

But if he chooses to remain quiet,

who can criticize him?

When he hides his face, no one can find him,

whether an individual or a nation.

He prevents the godless from ruling

so they cannot be a snare to the people.

“Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned,

but I will sin no more’?

Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me.

If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’?

“Must God tailor his justice to your demands?

But you have rejected him!

The choice is yours, not mine.

Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

but he remains quiet, and who can condemn?

And he hides his face, and who can behold him?

Yet he is over a nation and over a person alike,

so that godless human beings should not reign,

nor those who ensnare the people.

“Indeed, does anyone say to God, ‘I have endured chastisement;

I will not act corruptly again;

teach me yourself what I cannot see;

if I have done wrong, I will not repeat it’?

According to your judgment, must he repay it because you rejected this?

Indeed, you must choose, and not I, so declare what you know.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?

And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?

Whether it be done against a nation,

Or against a man only:

That the hypocrite reign not,

Lest the people be ensnared.

Surely it is meet to be said unto God,

I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

That which I see not teach thou me:

If I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it,

Whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I:

Therefore speak what thou knowest.

Public Domain