Job 24:23

Heb. He giveth to him to be in safety, or all things necessary for his safety, &c. This verse is understood either,

1. Of the oppressor; if the oppressor give a man his hand or promise that he shall live in safety by him, or if the oppressed give gifts to the oppressor to purchase his quiet and safety, and, as it follows, he resteth upon that assurance given him; yet his, i.e. the oppressor s, eyes are upon their ways; he watcheth for their halting, and seeks for all occasions to quarrel with them, and to destroy them. Or rather,

2. Of God; and so the words are fitly rendered thus, He, i.e. God, giveth or granteth to him, i.e. to the oppressor, to be in safety, i.e. to live a quiet and comfortable life, and he resteth secure, or he resteth or leaneth upon him, i.e. upon God; his former experience of God's favour makes him confident of the continuance of it: so he is not only happy in his present enjoyments, but also in his freedom from distracting fears of future miseries; and his, i.e. God s, eyes are upon their ways, i.e. God blesseth and prospereth him in all his undertakings, as this phrase most commonly signifies, as Deuteronomy 11:12 Ezra 5:5 Psalms 33:18. Or, yet his eyes are upon their ways, i.e. although God giveth them such strange successes, this doth not proceed from his ignorance or regardlessness of their wicked actions; for he sees and observes them all, and will in due time punish them, though not always in this life, nor as soon as their sins are committed, but in such time and way as he in deep wisdom seeth most fit.