Job 34:10
New International Version
“So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.

New Living Translation
“Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.

English Standard Version
“Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

King James Bible
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

New King James Version
“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.

New American Standard Bible
“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, And from the Almighty to do wrong.

NASB 1995
“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.

NASB 1977
“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Therefore, listen to me, you men with a heart of wisdom. Far be it from God to do injustice, And from the Almighty to do wrong.

Amplified Bible
“Therefore hear me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God that He would do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. It is impossible for God to do wrong, and for the Almighty to act unjustly.

American Standard Version
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

Contemporary English Version
If any of you are smart, you will listen and learn that God All-Powerful does what is right.

English Revised Version
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"You people who have understanding, listen to me. It is unthinkable that God would ever do evil or that the Almighty would ever do wicked things.

Good News Translation
Listen to me, you men who understand! Will Almighty God do what is wrong?

International Standard Version
"Therefore you men of understanding, listen to me! Far be it for God to practice wickedness, or the Almighty to do what is wrong,

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

NET Bible
"Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil.

New Heart English Bible
"Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from Shaddai, that he should commit iniquity.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

World English Bible
“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Therefore, O men of heart, listen to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, "" And [from] the Mighty to do perverseness,

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, O men of heart, hearken to me; Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Mighty to do perverseness:

Smith's Literal Translation
For this, ye men of heart, hear to me: far be it to God from doing evil; and the Almighty from iniquity.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore, ye men of understanding, hear me : far from god be wickedness, and iniquity from the Almighty.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.

New American Bible
Therefore, you that have understanding, hear me: far be it from God to do wickedness; far from the Almighty to do wrong!

New Revised Standard Version
“Therefore, hear me, you who have sense, far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore hearken to me, O you men of understanding; far be it from God that he should do wickedness; and far be it from him that he should commit iniquity.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of this, men of heart, hear me; God forbid God that he would do evil and God forbid that he would commit sin!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that He should do wickedness; And from the Almighty, that He should commit iniquity.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Wherefore hear me, ye that are wise in heart: far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and to pervert righteousness before the almighty.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elihu Confirms God's Justice
9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’ 10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly. 11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.…

Cross References
James 1:13
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.

Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.

Psalm 92:15
to proclaim, “The LORD is upright; He is my Rock, and in Him there is no unrighteousness.”

Habakkuk 1:13
Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

1 John 1:5
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Psalm 5:4
For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; no evil can dwell with You.

Romans 9:14
What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not!

Psalm 145:17
The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.

Isaiah 6:3
And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”

1 Peter 1:16
for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Psalm 18:30
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

1 Samuel 2:2
There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God.

Isaiah 5:16
But the LORD of Hosts will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.

Revelation 15:4
Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Psalm 25:8
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore listen to me you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

understanding.

Job 34:2,3,34
Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge…

Proverbs 6:32
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

Proverbs 15:32
He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

far

Job 8:3
Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

Job 36:23
Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

Job 37:23
Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

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Job 34
1. Elihu accuses Job for charging God with injustice
10. God omnipotent cannot be unjust
31. Man must humble himself unto God
34. Elihu reproves Job














Therefore listen to me
This phrase is a call to attention, urging the audience to heed the speaker's words. In the context of the Book of Job, Elihu is addressing Job and his friends. The Hebrew word for "listen" is "שְׁמַע" (shema), which implies not just hearing but understanding and obeying. This echoes the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4, a central declaration of faith in Judaism, emphasizing the importance of attentive listening to divine wisdom.

you men of understanding
Elihu addresses his audience as "men of understanding," which in Hebrew is "אַנְשֵׁי לֵבָב" (anshei levav). This phrase suggests a deeper level of insight and discernment. In the biblical context, understanding is often associated with wisdom, a gift from God that enables one to discern truth and make righteous judgments. Proverbs 2:6 states, "For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."

Far be it from God
This expression, "חָלִילָה לָאֵל" (chalilah la'El), is a strong Hebrew idiom used to reject an idea emphatically. It underscores the impossibility of God acting contrary to His nature. The phrase is a reminder of God's holiness and righteousness, affirming that He is incapable of evil. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that God is inherently good and just.

to do evil
The Hebrew word for "evil" is "רֶשַׁע" (resha), which refers to wickedness or wrongdoing. In the conservative Christian perspective, God is the ultimate standard of goodness, and His actions are always just and righteous. The assertion that God cannot do evil is foundational to understanding His character and the moral order of the universe.

and from the Almighty
The term "Almighty" is translated from the Hebrew "שַׁדַּי" (Shaddai), a name for God that emphasizes His power and sovereignty. This name is often used in contexts that highlight God's ability to accomplish His will and protect His people. It reassures believers of God's omnipotence and His ultimate control over all creation.

to do wrong
The phrase "to do wrong" is derived from the Hebrew "עָוֶל" (avel), meaning injustice or unrighteousness. This reinforces the idea that God, in His perfect justice, cannot commit acts of injustice. Throughout Scripture, God is portrayed as the righteous judge who upholds justice and defends the oppressed, as seen in Psalm 9:8, "He judges the world with justice; He governs the people with equity."

(10) Ye men of understanding.--Elihu now appeals to the men of understanding, by whom he can hardly mean the three friends of whom he has already spoken disparagingly, but seems rather to appeal to an audience, real or imagined, who are to decide on the merits of what he says. This is an incidental indication that we are scarcely intended to understand the long-continued argument as the record of an actual discussion. Elihu begins to take broader ground than the friends of Job, inasmuch as he concerns himself, not with the problems of God's government, but with the impossibility of His acting unjustly (Genesis 18:25), and the reason he gives is somewhat strange--it is the fact that God is irresponsible, He has not been put in charge over the earth; but His authority is ultimate and original, and being so, He can have no personal interests to secure at all risks; He can only have in view the ultimate good of all His creatures, for, on the other hand, if He really desired to slay them, their breath is in His hands, and He would only have to recall it. The earth and all that is in it belongs to God: it is His own, and not another's entrusted to Him; His self-interest, therefore, cannot come into collision with the welfare of His creatures, because their welfare is the welfare of that which is His--of that, therefore, in which He Himself has the largest interest. The argument is a somewhat strange one to us, but it is sound at bottom, for it recognises God as the prime origin and final hope of all His creatures, and assumes that His will can only be good, and that it must be the best because it is His. (Comp. St. John 10:12-13.)

Verse 10. - Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding (comp. ver. 2). Elihu repeats himself, wishing to call special attention to his justification of God (vers. 10-30). Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness. Elihu probably means that to do wickedness is contrary to the very nature and idea of God; but he does not express himself very clearly. And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. An evil God, a God who can do wrong, is a contradiction in terms - an impossible, inconceivable idea. Devil-worshippers, if there are or ever have been such persons, do not conceive of the object of their worship as really God, but as a powerful malignant spirit. Once rise to the height of the conception of a Power absolutely supreme, omniscient, omnipresent, the Author of all things, and it is impossible to imagine him as less than perfectly good.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore
לָכֵ֤ן ׀ (lā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

listen
שִׁמְע֫וּ (šim·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

to me,
לִ֥י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

you men
אַ֥נֲשֵׁ֥י (’a·nă·šê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of understanding.
לֵבָ֗ב (lê·ḇāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

Far be it
חָלִ֖לָה (ḥā·li·lāh)
Interjection | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2486: For, a profaned thing, far be it!

from God
לָאֵ֥ל (lā·’êl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

to do wrong,
מֵרֶ֗שַׁע (mê·re·ša‘)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7562: Wickedness

and for the Almighty
וְשַׁדַּ֥י (wə·šad·day)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7706: The Almighty

to act unjustly.
מֵעָֽוֶל׃ (mê·‘ā·wel)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5766: Injustice, unrighteousness


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OT Poetry: Job 34:10 Therefore listen to me you men (Jb)
Job 34:9
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