Job 34:10–12
Elihu argues that God does no wrong and does not twist justice
Study it word by word10Therefore, men of heart, listen to me: far be it from El to do wickedness, and from Shaddai to do injustice.
11For the work of a human being he repays to him, and according to the path of a man he makes it find him.
12Yes, truly, El does not act wickedly, and Shaddai does not pervert justice.
In its context
8and goes in company with those who work wickedness, and walks with men of wickedness?
9For he has said, ‘It does not profit a man to take pleasure in Elohim.’
…
13Who put in his charge the earth? And who set up the whole world?
14If he set his heart on him, if his spirit and his breath to himself he gathered,
Its words in the original
- אַנֲשֵׁיanashe· man, husband, each
Man, male; with a possessive, husband. Also "each one", "anyone". It is "ish", distinct from "adam" (human being); it is used for the man in contrast with the woman ("ishah").
- לֵבָבlevav· heart
Heart: the inner part of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.
- שִׁמְעוּshimu· hear, listen, obey
Hear, listen. In the Bible listening truly includes paying heed; so it often means "obey". In the causative form, make heard, proclaim.
- חָלִלָchalila· far be it!
"Far be it!", "by no means!": an expression that rejects something as unthinkable.
- אֵלel· El, God, god
"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".
- רֶשַׁעresha· wickedness
Wickedness: what is unjust and evil.
- שַׁדַּיshaday· Shaddai, Almighty
"Shaddai": an ancient name of God, above all in Genesis and Job. It is usually translated "Almighty"; the exact origin of the word is not certain.
- עָוֶלavel· injustice, wrong
Injustice; what is crooked, what is not right.
- פֹעַלfoal· deed, work
Deed, work, what someone does.
- אָדָםadam· human being, man, Adam
The Hebrew word "adam". It has three uses: (1) humanity in general, men and women alike: "human beings" (Genesis 1:27); (2) a particular man; in Genesis 2-4, the first man, "the man"; (3) the personal name of that first man, "Adam". In Hebrew "adam" sounds like "adamah", the ground he was formed from (Genesis 2:7).
- יְשַׁלֶּםyeshalem· repay; be complete
Repay, give back what is owed; be complete, be at peace.
- אֹרַחorach· path, way
Way, path; one's usual manner. "The way of women" is menstruation. Also a caravan.
- יַמְצִאֶyamtsie· find
Find, come upon; also obtain, reach; in the passive, be found, be present.
- אָמְנָםamnam· truly, surely
Truly, surely: a word that strongly affirms what is said.
- יַרְשִׁיעַyarshia· be guilty; condemn
Be guilty, act wickedly; in another form, declare guilty, condemn.
- יְעַוֵּתyeavet· pervert, make crooked
To bend, to pervert; to make what is straight crooked. Said above all of justice and right.
- מִשְׁפָּטmishpat· justice, judgment
What is right and the decision that establishes it: the judgment of a judge, someone's right, a rule or ordinance, a custom. "Do righteousness and justice" is to treat each one as is due.