| Geneva Study Bible Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art {n} wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? (n) If man by nature fears to speak evil of such as have power, then they should be much more afraid to speak evil of God. Wesley's Notes 34:18 Wicked - Though a king may be wicked, yet his subjects neither may nor dare call him so. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 18. Literally, (Is it fit) to be said to a king? It would be a gross outrage to reproach thus an earthly monarch, much more the King of kings (Ex 22:28). But Maurer with the Septuagint and Vulgate reads, (It is not fit to accuse of injustice Him) who says to a king, Thou art wicked; to princes, Ye are ungodly; that is, who punishes impartially the great, as the small. This accords with Job 34:19. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 34:16-30 Elihu appeals directly to Job himself. Could he suppose that God was like those earthly princes, who hate right, who are unfit to rule, and prove the scourges of mankind? It is daring presumption to condemn God's proceedings, as Job had done by his discontents. Elihu suggests divers considerations to Job, to produce in him high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him to submit. Job had often wished to plead his cause before God. Elihu asks, To what purpose? All is well that God does, and will be found so. What can make those uneasy, whose souls dwell at ease in God? The smiles of all the world cannot quiet those on whom God frowns. |