Job 34:18
16 If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
17 Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
- KJV
- Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
- WEB
- who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
- ASV
- [Him] that saith to a king, [Thou art] vile, [Or] to nobles, [Ye are] wicked;
- DARBY
- Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked?
- BLB
- Who says to a king, ‘Worthless,’ [or] to nobles, ‘Wicked’?
- ÅB
- Sier vel noen til en konge: Din niding, eller til en fyrste: Du ugudelige?
- OTB
- Er det ikke Han som erklærer til konger: ‘Du er uten betydning,’
og til adelsmenn: ‘Du er korrupt,’ - B1930
- Sier vel nogen til en konge: Din niding, eller til en fyrste: Du ugudelige?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Exodus 22:28
You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
Read in contextProverbs 17:26
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
Read in contextRomans 13:7
Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Read in contextActs 23:3
Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”
Read in contextJude 1:8
Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.
Read in contextActs 23:5
“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
Read in context2 Peter 2:10
Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.
Read in context1 Peter 2:17
Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Read in context