Job 34:18

who says to a king, ¹  ‘Worthless man’ ²  and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’

Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’

Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;

For he says to kings and nobles, ‘You are wicked and unjust.’

Doesn't God always tell it like it is, exposing corrupt rulers as scoundrels and criminals?

He who says to a king, You are an evil-doer; and to rulers, You are sinners;

who says to a king, ‘You scoundrel!’ and to princes, ‘You wicked men!’;

Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘ You are worthless,’ And to nobles, ‘ You are wicked’?

who says to a king, ¹  ‘Worthless man’ ²  and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’

¹ tc Heb “Does one say,” although some smooth it out to say “Is it fit to say?” For the reading “who says,” the form has to be repointed to הַאֹמֵר (ha’omer) meaning, “who is the one saying.” This reading is supported by the LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac. Also it seems to flow better with the following verse. It would be saying that God is over the rulers and can rebuke them. The former view is saying that no one rebukes kings, much less Job rebuking God.

² tn The word בְּלִיָּעַל (bÿliyya’al) means both “worthless” and “wicked.” It is common in proverbial literature, and in later writings it became a description of Satan. It is usually found with “son of.”