But Job answered and said, Ver. 1. _But Job answered and said_] Disproving and refuting that proposition of theirs concerning the infelicity of the ungodly by reason, by experience, and by divine authority; all which evince and evidence that neither is prosperity a proof of men's innocence, nor adv... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. Ver. 2. _Hear diligently my speech_] Heb. In hearing hear. The Greek hath it, Hear, hear; that is, hear me out, have so much patience with me as not to interrupt me any more; yea, hear with understanding; let your ους and νους meet; draw... [ Continue Reading ]
Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. Ver. 3. _Suffer me that I may speak_] Say that it be suffering to you to hear me (for now I see you have, as they write of some creatures, _fel in aure_), yet put yourselves to the pain of hearing me, and bear me, though I am burden... [ Continue Reading ]
As for me, [is] my complaint to man? and if [it were so], why should not my spirit be troubled? Ver. 4. _As for me, is my complaint to man?_] _Vult dicere,_ saith Lavater, Job's meaning is, that he complained not to man, but to God himself, who well knew his heart and his innocence, though men misj... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay [your] hand upon [your] mouth. Ver. 5. _Mark me, and be astonied_] Heb. Look upon me. He had said before, Hear and hear, now, Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. Mark it, I say, and stand amazed at it. Did you ever find any on this side hel... [ Continue Reading ]
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. Ver. 6. _Even when I remember I am afraid_] Surprised I am with a most formidable amazement, when I call to mind and consider how ill (by the divine providence) it fareth with me, how well with many wicked; and how little you... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Ver. 7. _Wherefore do the wicked live, become old_] _Vivunt, veteraseunt,_ they are lively and longlived, so that they outlast many better than themselves; being as sound as roaches and as vivacious as the snail, the property where... [ Continue Reading ]
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Ver. 8. _Their seed is established in their sight with them_] Some understand it of their seed sown in the fields, nor blasted nor wasted, but timely gathered into their barns and granaries; and so by offspri... [ Continue Reading ]
Their houses [are] safe from fear, neither [is] the rod of God upon them. Ver. 9. _Their houses are safe from fear_] _Seculi laetitia est impunita nequitia._ No domestic discords, no foreign disturbances, but peaceable possession and enjoyment of what they have; as much welfare as David wished to N... [ Continue Reading ]
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. Ver. 10. _Their bull gendereth, and faileth not, &c._] All things hit, and nothing misseth to make them happy and wealthy; they have profit and pleasure at will, the world comes tumbling in upon them, as towns were... [ Continue Reading ]
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. Ver. 11. _They send forth their little ones like a flock_] _Sunt qui de eorum vitulis intelligunt recens natis,_ saith Mercer. Some understand it to be young calves, but better of young children, which have here their name fr... [ Continue Reading ]
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. Ver. 12. _They take the timbrel and the harp_] They take them, and are taken with them, being melted in sensual delights, which wise men slight. The philosopher told the fiddlers that he could be merry without music. Aristotle s... [ Continue Reading ]
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Ver. 13. _They spend their days in wealth_] Or, in mirth. Heb. In good. They wallow in wealth, and have the world at their will, even more than heart could wish, as David phraseth it in Psalms 73:2,12, which may well serve for a... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. Ver. 14. _Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us_] Lest any should think, saith Merlin here, that Job speaks of such wicked as used a moderation in sinning, and (as the historian said of the emperor) rath... [ Continue Reading ]
What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? Ver. 15. _What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?_] Here the rottenness of their hearts blistereth out at the lips of these rich wretches, these fat bulls of Bashan, such as was Pharaoh, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lo, their good [is] not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me._ Ver. 16. _Lo, their good is not in their hand_] That is, they are not enriched by their own industry, prudence, piety, &c., but God hath exalted them thus, that he may bring them down again with the greater poise; so... [ Continue Reading ]
How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and [how oft] cometh their destruction upon them! [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger. Ver. 17. _How oft is the candle of the wicked put out!_] _q.d._ I confess that which you say concerning God's judgments upon the wicked to be sometimes true in thi... [ Continue Reading ]
They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. Ver. 18. _They are as stubble before the wind_] Lest any man should say, How can these things befall those that are so strongly set and firmly built? Well enough, saith Job, since when they are best bottomed or underlai... [ Continue Reading ]
God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]. Ver. 19. _God layeth up his iniquity for his children_] That is, the punishment of his iniquity, while he visiteth the sins of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate hi... [ Continue Reading ]
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. Ver. 20. _His eyes shall see his destruction_] His slaughter, saith the Greek; his breaking to pieces, saith the Chaldee; this he shall see with his eyes, the destruction of his person, and ruin of his family. The... [ Continue Reading ]
For what pleasure [hath] he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? Ver. 21. _For what pleasure hath he in his house after him?_] _Hoc est, Omnia impiorum, etiam post mortem eorum, maledicta erunt,_ saith Brentius; All that belongs to the wicked shall be accur... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall [any] teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. Ver. 22. _Shall any teach God knowledge?_] None but a presumptuous fool will take upon him to do that. Such as was Alphonso the wise (the fool rather), who feared not to say openly, that if he had been of God's counsel at the c... [ Continue Reading ]
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. Ver. 23. _One dieth in his full strength_] _Iste moritur,_ There is one dieth in his very perfections; or, in the strength of his perfection, when he is in the zenith, in the highest degree, of earthly felicity; and he seemeth to point... [ Continue Reading ]
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. Ver. 24. _His breasts are full of milk, and his bones, &c._] He is well lined within, as we say, having abundance of good blood and fresh spirits in his body; fat and plump, and well liking. He is enclosed in his own fat, Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. Ver. 25. _And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul_] Heb. And this dieth with a bitter soul; in a sad and sorrowful condition; having suffered many a little death all his life long (as godly men especially use t... [ Continue Reading ]
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. Ver. 26. _They shall lie down alike in the dust, and worms, &c._] Death and afflictions are common to them both, as Ecc 9:2-3 How then do ye pronounce me wicked, because afflicted, and free among the dead, free of that company?... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices [which] ye wrongfully imagine against me. Ver. 27. _Behold, I know your thoughts_] _sc._ By your words; as it is no hard matter for a wise man to do, Proverbs 20:5; for otherwise, God only knoweth the heart, 1 Peter 1:24 Psalms 139:3, it is his royalty.... [ Continue Reading ]
For ye say, Where [is] the house of the prince? and where [are] the dwelling places of the wicked? Ver. 28. _For ye say, Where is the house of the prince?_] Ye say though not in so many words, yet upon the matter, Where is this man's (Job's) princely pomp and port, that but even now was so splendid... [ Continue Reading ]
Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, Ver. 29. _Have ye not asked them that go by the way?_] The cause of their rash judgment, Job showeth here to be their ignorance of things known to every ordinary passenger, and such as whereof there are many pregnant proofs... [ Continue Reading ]
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. Ver. 30. _That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction?_] Here is the passenger's verdict; viz. that wicked men escape scot free, and flourish for a season; nevertheless their preservati... [ Continue Reading ]
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him [what] he hath done? Ver. 31. _Who shall declare his way to his face? &c._] Who shall be so bold as to deal plainly with this rich wretch, and tell him his own? _Divitibus ideo deest amicus, quia nihil deest._ Great men have many flatte... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. Ver. 32. _Yet shall he be brought to the grave_] He that was erst so stern and terrible shall shortly be laid low enough, and then _leoni mortuo vel mus insultabit._ the corpse of a lion or a leaping mouse. Though he were such a so... [ Continue Reading ]
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as [there are] innumerable before him. Ver. 33. _The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him_] Here he saith the same as before, but more poetically, and is variously rendered. The Vulgate, alluding to an old p... [ Continue Reading ]
How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? Ver. 34. _How then comfort ye me in vain_] Since ye apply nothing rightly to me, nor affirm nothing rightly of me, but, instead of comforting me, which you came for, ye trouble me. And such are all those _consolatiunc... [ Continue Reading ]