Job 20

Job 20:2

THerefore] Because thou threatnest us with Gods judgements, chap. 19. 29.

for this I make haste] To wipe away so foul a crimination.

I make haste] Heb. my haste is in me.

Job 20:3

I have heard the check of my reproach] Two things moved him to speak, because Job had touched him, and he thought he had knowledge sufficient to confute Job.

Job 20:4

Knowest thou not this of old] Thou oughtest to know it, for examples of all ages do confirm it.

Job 20:5

That the triumphing of the wicked is short] Psal. 37. 35, 36.

the triumphing of the wicked] That is, their prosperity, that makes them triumph and sing.

is short] Heb. from neer. Newly begun, and will quickly end.

Job 20:6

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens] He would prove Job an hypocrite, because he fell so low, from so great a height.

heavens] Isai. 14. 13, 14. Obad. 3. 4. Matthew 11:23.

clouds] Heb. cloud.

Job 20:7

dung] 1 King 14. 10.

Job 20:8

dream] Psalms 73:20. Isaiah 29:8.

Job 20:9

The eye also which saw him, shall see him no more] Chap. 7. 10.

Job 20:10

His children shall seek to please the poor] Or, the poor shall oppresse his children. They shall be very poor, that must flatter poor men.

his hands shall restore their goods] Which he hath taken away from others by oppression.

Job 20:11

His bones are full of the sin of his youth] Diseases bredin his bones by the sins of his youth, will carry him to his grave.

Job 20:12

Though wickednesse be sweet in his mouth] As poison, that is sweet in the mouth, bringeth destruction when it cometh into the body; so all vice at the first is pleasant, but afterwards God turneth it to destruction, Prov. 23. 31, 32.

he hide it under his tongue] As meat that he would chew and let down: or, sweet meats kept under the tongue.

Job 20:13

but keep it still within his mouth] Do not spue it out. He taxeth Job of hypocrisie, and of an ill minde, though his actions seemed good.

within his mouth] Heb. in the midst of his palate.

Job 20:14

It is the gall of asps] Though his evil purposes were sweet to him, like meat, yet the punishment shall be like poison, to destroy him.

Job 20:15

sw allowed down riches] Isaiah 51:44.

Job 20:16

He shall suck the poison of asps] He compareth evil-gotten goods to the venim of asps, which is most dangerous: noting, that Jobs great riches were not truely come by, and therefore God did plague him justly for the same.

Job 20:17

He shall not see the rivers] Deuteronomy 8:7. Though God give to others abundance of his blessings, yet he shall have no part thereof.

the flouds] Or, streaming-brooks.

honey and butter] Isaiah 7:22.

Job 20:18

according to his substance] Heb. according to the substance of his exchange.

according to his substance, shall the restitution be] The spoilers of the poor shall enjoy their theft but for a time, for God will take it from them, and cause them to make restitution; so that it is but an exchange.

Job 20:19

oppressed] Heb. crushed.

Job 20:20

Surely he shall not feel quietnesse in his belly] Eccles. 5. 13, 14.

feel] Heb. know.

in his belly] A similitude taken from meat, as v. 15. Psalms 59:15. that troubles the belly.

Job 20:21

There shall none of his meat be left] Or, there shall be none left for his meat. He shall leave nothing to his posterity.

Job 20:22

every hand of the wicked shall come upon him] The wicked shall never be at rest; one wicked man shall seek to destroy another.

wicked] Or, troublesome, or, troubled by him.

Job 20:23

while he is eating] Numbers 11:33.

Job 20:24

the bowe of steel shall strike him thorow] When a wicked man fleeth from a lesse evil, he falls into a greater, Isaiah 24:18. Jeremiah 48:43. Am. 5. 19. Or, in the midst of all his jollity, Gods vengeance shall fall upon him, Psal. 78. 30, 31. Dan. 5. 5, 6.

Job 20:25

the glistring sword cometh out of his gall] It bringeth out his bowels with it.

Job 20:26

All darknesse shall be hid in his secret places] Where he thinks to finde safety, he shall meet with horrible troubles.

a fire not blown shall consume him] Calamities, whose causes are unknown, and which proceed immediately from God, Isaiah 30:33. Job 1:16.

Job 20:27

The heaven shall reveal his iniquity] By executing Gods judgements upon him for his wickednesse, Romans 1:18.

Job 20:28

The encrease of his house shall depart] His children shall go into captivity.

his goods shall flow away] Like things carried away with a flood, Psalms 90:5.

the day of his wrath] Gods wrath.

Job 20:29

the heritage appointed unto him by God] Thus God will plague the wicked.

appointed unto him by God] Heb. of his decree from God.