Albert Barnes Commentary Job 34:33

"Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest." — Job 34:33 (ASV)

Should it be according to your mind? — Margin, as in Hebrew “from with you” — המעמך hamē‛im ^e kā. There has been much diversity of opinion regarding the meaning of this verse. It is exceedingly obscure in the original and has the appearance of being a proverbial expression. The general sense seems to be that God will not be regulated in his dealings by what may be the views of humans, or by what humans might be disposed to choose or refuse. He will act according to his own views of what is right and proper to be done. The phrase, “should it be according to your mind,” means that it is not to be expected that God will consult the views and feelings of humans rather than his own.

He will recompense it — He will visit with good or evil, prosperity or adversity, according to what he judges to be right.

Whether you refuse, or whether you choose — Whatever may be your preferences or wishes. He will act according to his own views of right. The idea is that God is absolute and independent, and does according to his own pleasure. He is a just Sovereign, dispensing his favors and appointing calamity, not according to the will of individual people, but holding the scales impartially, and doing what “he” esteems to be right.

And not I — Rosenmuller, Drusius, DeWette, and Noyes, render this, “And not he,” supposing that it refers to God, and means that the arrangements which are to affect people should be as “he” pleases, and not such as humans would prefer.

Umbreit explains it as meaning, “It is for you to determine in this matter, not for me. You are the person most interested. I am not particularly concerned. Do you, therefore, speak and determine the matter, if you know what is the truth.”

The Vulgate renders it, “Will God seek that from you because it displeases you? For you have begun to speak, not I: for if you know anything better, speak.” So Coverdale, “Will you not give a reasonable answer? Are you afraid of anything, seeing you began first to speak, and not I?”

The great difficulty of the whole verse may be seen by consulting Schultens, who gives no less than “seventeen” different interpretations that have been proposed—his own being different from all others. He renders it, “Lo, he will repay you in your own way; for you are full of sores—“namque subulceratus es:”—which, indeed, you have chosen, and not I—and what do you know? Speak.”

I confess that I cannot understand the passage, nor do any of the interpretations proposed seem to be free from objections.

I would submit the following, however, as a paraphrase made from the Hebrew, and differing somewhat from any interpretation which I have seen, as possibly expressing the true sense of the whole verse: “Shall it be from you that God will send retribution on it (that is, on human conduct), because you refuse or are reluctant, or because it is not in accordance with your views? For you must choose, and not I. Settle this matter, for it pertains particularly to you, and not to me, and what you know, speak. If you have any views regarding this, let them be expressed, for it is important to know on what principles God deals with people.”