Ye — You have engrossed all the reason of mankind; and each of you has as much wisdom as an whole people put together. All the wisdom which is in the world, lives in you, and will be utterly lost when you die. When wise and good men die, it is a comfort to think that wisdom and goodness do not die w... [ Continue Reading ]
But — In these things, which he speaks not in a way of boasting, but for the just vindication both of himself, and of that cause of God, which for the substance of it he maintained rightly, as God himself attests, Job 42:7. Such things — The truth is, neither you nor I have any reason to be puffed u... [ Continue Reading ]
Upon God — Even by my religious neighbours, by those who call upon God, and not in vain; whose prayers therefore I covet, not their reproaches. The just — I, who, notwithstanding all their hard censures dare still own it, that through God's grace I am an upright man.... [ Continue Reading ]
Slip with his feet — And fall into trouble; tho' he had formerly shone as a lamp, he is then looked upon as a lamp going out, as the snuff of a candle, which we throw to the ground and tread upon; and accordingly is despised in the thought of him that is at ease.... [ Continue Reading ]
Are secure — Job's friends had all supposed, that wicked men cannot prosper long in the world. This Job opposes, and maintains, that God herein acts as sovereign, and reserves that exact distribution of rewards and punishments for the other world.... [ Continue Reading ]
But — If thou observest the beasts, and their properties and actions, and events, from them thou mayst learn this lesson: that which Zophar had uttered with so much pomp and gravity, Job 11:7, concerning God's infinite wisdom, saith Job, thou needest not go into heaven or hell to know. but thou mays... [ Continue Reading ]
Lord — This is the only time that we meet with the name Jehovah in all the discourses between Job and his friends. For God in that age was more known by the name of Shaddai, the Almighty.... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth not — This may be a preface to his following discourse; whereby he invites them to hear and judge of his words candidly and impartially; that they and he too might agree in disallowing what should appear to be false, and owning of every truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wisdom — These words contain a concession of what Bildad had said, Job 8:8, and a joining with him in that appeal; but withal, an intimation that this wisdom was but imperfect, and liable to many mistakes; and indeed mere ignorance and folly, if compared with the Divine wisdom, and therefore that an... [ Continue Reading ]
No opening — Without God's permission. Yea, he shuts up in the grave, and none can break open those sealed doors. He shuts up in hell, in chains of darkness, and none can pass that great gulf.... [ Continue Reading ]
The waters — Which are reserved its the clouds, that they may not fall upon the earth. They — The waters upon the earth, springs, and brooks, and rivers. As at the time of the general deluge, to which here is a manifest allusion.... [ Continue Reading ]
With him — The same thing he had said before, Job 12:13, but he repeats it here to prepare the way for the following events, which are eminent instances, both of his power and wisdom. Are his — Wholly subject to his disposal. He governs the deceiver and sets bounds to his deceits, how far they shall... [ Continue Reading ]
Spoiled — The wise counsellors or statesmen, by whom the affairs of kings and kingdoms are ordered, he leadeth away as captives in triumph, being spoiled either of that wisdom which they had, or seemed to have; or of that power and dignity which they had enjoyed. Fools — By discovering their folly,... [ Continue Reading ]
Looseth — He freeth them from that wherewith they bind their subjects to obedience, their power and authority, and that majesty which God stamps upon kings, to keep their people in awe. Girdeth — He reduces them to a mean and servile condition; which is thus expressed, because servants did use to gi... [ Continue Reading ]
The speech — By taking away or restraining the gift of utterance from them. Or, by taking away their understanding which should direct their speech. Trusty — Of those wise and experienced counsellors, that were trusted by the greatest princes.... [ Continue Reading ]
Darkness — The most secret counsels of princes, which are contrived and carried on in the dark.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nations — What hitherto he said of princes, he now applies to nations, whom God does either increase or diminish as he pleases.... [ Continue Reading ]
Grope — Thus are the revolutions of kingdoms brought about by an overruling providence. Heaven and earth are shaken: but the Lord remaineth a king forever.... [ Continue Reading ]