21 For His eyes are upon the ways of each one,

And He seeth all his steps.

22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death

Wherein the workers of iniquity might hide themselves.

23 For He needeth not long to regard a man

That he may enter into judgment with God.

As the preceding strophe showed that God's creative order excludes all partiality, so this strophe shows that His omniscience qualifies Him to be an impartial judge. He sees everything, nothing can escape His gaze; He sees through man without being obliged to wait for the result of a judicial investigation. שׂים with על does not here signify: to lay upon (Saad., Gecat.), but as Job 37:15, and as with אל (Job 34:14) or בּ (Job 23:6); to direct one's attention (supply לבּו, Job 1:8) towards anything; the fut. has here a modal signification; עוד is used as e.g., Genesis 46:29 : again and again, continuously; and in the clause expressive of purpose it is אל־אל (instead of אליו, a very favourite combination used throughout the whole book, Job 5:8; Job 8:5; Job 13:3, and so on) from the human standpoint: He, the all-seeing One, needs not to observe him long that he should enter into judgment with God - He knows him thoroughly before any investigation takes place, which is not said without allusion to Job's vehement longing to be able to appear before God's tribunal.

Job 34:27 Parallel Commentaries

turned

1 Samuel 15:11 It repents me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments...

Psalm 125:5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity...

Zephaniah 1:6 And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor inquired for him.

Luke 17:31,32 In that day, he which shall be on the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away...

Acts 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back to perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

from him. Heb. from after him. would

Psalm 28:5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

Psalm 107:43 Whoever is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the LORD.

Proverbs 1:29,30 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD...

Isaiah 1:3 The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master's crib: but Israel does not know, my people does not consider.

Isaiah 5:12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD...

Haggai 2:15-19 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid on a stone in the temple of the LORD...