Those who turn from God 'cause the cry of the poor to come to him,' suggesting that by their wickedness, oppressors provoke divine response through the cries of the vulnerable. This verse introduces a concern for the poor and oppressed, suggesting that God hears their cry and responds, implying that divine justice operates to protect the vulnerable from exploitation. Elihu uses this claim to suggest that wickedness particularly involves failing to regard the poor, and that God judges such failures swiftly. Yet the verse also potentially undermines Elihu's argument in relation to Job: Job has not been portrayed as an oppressor of the poor, and his suffering cannot easily be attributed to such wickedness. The verse reveals that Elihu's understanding of divine justice includes a concern for social justice and protection of the vulnerable, yet this framework seems not to address Job's situation, where righteousness and suffering coexist in ways that social justice concerns do not illuminate. The verse demonstrates that even sophisticated theodicy can miss the particular shape of individual suffering.

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