Bible Commentaries

Hear my words, O ye ^a wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

(a) Which are esteemed wise by the world.

Let us choose to us ^b judgment: let us know among ourselves what [is] good.

(b) Let us examine the matter uprightly.

For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken ^c away my judgment.

(c) That is, has afflicted me without measure.

Should I lie against my ^d right? my wound [is] ^e incurable without transgression.

(d) Should I say, I am wicked, being an innocent?

(e) I am more punished, than my sin deserves.

What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh up ^f scorning like water?

(f) Which is compelled to receive your reproach and scorns of many for his foolish words.

Which goeth in ^g company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

(g) Meaning that Job was like the wicked, because he seemed not to glorify God and submit himself to his judgments.

For he hath said, ^h It profiteth a man nothing that he should ⁱ delight himself with God.

(h) He wrests Job's words who said that God's children are often punished in this world, and the wicked go free.

(i) That is, live godly, (Genesis 5:22).

If ^k he set his heart upon man, [if] he gather unto himself his spirit ^l and his breath;

(k) To destroy him.

(l) The breath of life which he gave man.

Shall even he that hateth right ^m govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

(m) If God were not just, how could be govern the world?

[Is it fit] to say to a king, [Thou art] ⁿ wicked? [and] to princes, [Ye are] ungodly?

(n) If man by nature fears to speak evil of such as have power, then they should be much more afraid to speak evil of God.

In a moment shall they die, ^o and the people shall be troubled at midnight, ^p and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

(o) When they look not for it.

(p) The messengers of visitation that God will send.

For he will not lay upon man more [than right]; that he should ^q enter into judgment with God.

(q) God does not afflict man above measure so that he should have opportunity to contend with him.

He shall break in pieces mighty men without ^r number, and set others in their stead.

(r) For all his creatures are at hand to serve him, so that he needs not to seek for any other army.

Therefore he knoweth their ^s works, and he overturneth [them] in the ^t night, so that they are destroyed.

(s) Make it known that they are wicked.

(t) Declare the things that were hid.

He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of ^u others;

(u) Meaning, openly in the sight of all men.

So that they cause the cry of the poor to ^x come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

(x) By their cruelty and extortion.

That the ^y hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

(y) When tyrants sit in the throne of justice which under pretence of executing justice are hypocrites and oppress the people, it is a sign that God has drawn back his countenance of favour from that place.

Surely it is meet ^z to be said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:

(z) It only belongs to God to moderate his corrections, and not to man.

^a [That which] I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

(a) Thus Elihu speaks in the person of God, as it were mocking Job, because he would be wiser than God.

[Should it be] according to ^b thy mind? he will recompense ^c it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

(b) Will God use your counsel in doing his works?

(c) Thus he speaks in the person of God, as though Job should chose and refuse affliction at his pleasure.

My desire [is that] Job may be ^d tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men.

(d) That he may speak as much as he can, that we may answer him and all the wicked that will use such arguments.

For he ^e addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

(e) He stands stubbornly to the maintenance of his cause.