Job 34

Job 34:2

O Ye wise men] Ye that think your selves wise; meaning Jobs friends. Or, if ye wise indeed, ye will get profit by my words, Proverbs 1:5.

Job 34:3

For the ear trieth words] Chap. 11. 12.

mouth] Heb. palate.

Job 34:4

Let us choose to us judgement] Let us lay aside prejudice, and try the matter uprightly.

Job 34:5

I am righteous] Chap, 13. 18. The second thing Elihu accuseth Job of, is, That he had maintained that he had a good cause, but God would not suffer him to plead it: which is, in effect, to accuse God of injustice.

God hath taken away my judgement] Chap. 27. 2.

Job 34:6

Should I lie against my right?] Should I confesse against my conscience that I am wicked, or an hypocrite? I will never do it, chap. 27. 4, 6.

my wound] Heb. nine arrow, chap. 6. 4.

without transgression] Chap. 9. 17. I am sorer punished then my sin deserveth.

Job 34:7

who drinketh up scorning like water?] Chap. 15. 16. Is full of scornfulnesse within, and vomits it out against God, chap. 10. 3. or, doth it as with a kinde of delight and greedinesse.

Job 34:8

Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquitie] Thinks, as wicked men do, That it is in vain to serve God, Malachi 3:14.

Job 34:9

It profiteth a man nothing, that he should delight himself with God] The third thing Job is accused of, is, Discouraging men from piety. Job had not said so in terms, but he gathered it by consequence out of his words, chap. 9. 22. for if God destroy good and bad, what good comes by serving him?

Job 34:10

men of understanding] Heb. men of heart.

far be it from God, that he should do wickednesse] Deuteronomy 32:4. Chap. 8. 3. and 36. 23. Psalms 92:15. Romans 9:14.

that he should do wickednesse] To punish men without a cause, or to punish good and bad alike.

Job 34:11

For the work of a man shall he render unto him] Psalms 62:12. Proverbs 24:12. Jerem. 32. 19. Ezekiel 33:20. Matthew 16:27. Romans 2:6. 2 Corinthians 5:10. 1 Pet. 1. 17. Apoc. 22. 12.

Job 34:13

Who hath given him a charge over the earth?] God is supreme: his will is the rule of justice: how can he do wrong then? Genesis 18:25. Job 8:3. and Job 21:22. Romans 3:5.

the whole world?] Heb. all of it.

Job 34:14

If he set his heart upon man] Psalms 104:29. To destroy him.

upon man] Heb. upon him.

his breath] The breath of life which he gave man.

Job 34:15

All flesh shall perish together] Genesis 3:19. Ecclesiastes 12:7.

Job 34:17

shall even he that hateth right govern?] If God were not just, why should he, or how could he govern the world? Rom. 3. 5, 6.

govern] Heb. binde.

Job 34:18

Is it fit to say to a king] Or, Who saith to a king.

Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked?] Wilt thou condemn God, who judgeth without partiality, and condemns wicked kings.

Job 34:19

How much lesse to him that accepteth not] Or, who accepteth not.

accepteth not the persons] Deuteronomy 10:17. 2 Chronicles 19:7. Acts 10:34. Romans 2:11. Galatians 2:6. Ephesians 6:9. Colossians 3:25. 1 Peter 1:17.

Job 34:20

at midnight] When they look not for it, Exodus 12:29.

the mightie shall be taken away] Heb. they shall take away the mightie.

without hand] Miraculously, and without means, Daniel 2:45.

Job 34:21

For his eyes are upon the ways of man] 2 Chron. 16. 9. Chap. 31. 4. Proverbs 5:21. and Proverbs 15:3. Jeremiah 16:17.

Job 34:23

more then right] God doth not afflict man beyond his desert, that he should have occasion to contend with him, or sue him for false judgement, Ezra 9:13.

enter] Heb. go.

Job 34:24

without number] Heb. without searching out.

Job 34:25

Therefore] Hence it appears, that he knows their sins, because he destroys them.

destroyed] Heb. crushed.

Job 34:26

in the open sight of others] Heb. in the place of beholders. Openly, in the sight of all men, that others may beware.

Job 34:27

from him] Heb. from after him.

Job 34:28

So that they cause the crie of the poor to come unto him] God hears the prayers of the oppressed complaining of their persecutours, Exodus 2:24. Psalm. 12. 5.

Job 34:30

That the hypocrite reign not] He puts down tyrants, that they may oppresse no more.

hypocrite] Or, profane.

Job 34:31

surely it is meet to be said unto God] The one and thirtieth verse may be thus translated: surely thou shouldest addresse thy self to God, saying, I have born chastisement, I will not offend any more. He turns his speech to Job: In stead of striving against Gods justice, thou shouldst seek for mercy from him.

I will not offend any more] Shew me my secret sins, that I may repent of them, Psalms 19:12.

Job 34:33

Should it be according to thy minde?] Heb. Should it be from with thee? The three and thirtieth verse may be read thus, Should he reward it according to thy minde? though thou have despised the one, and chosen the other, yet will not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. That is, why should God reward thy goodnesse or sin, how and when thou wouldest? though thou hast rejected to submit to Gods mercy, and callest for justice, yet I dare not do so: if thou know better, teach me.

Job 34:34

Let men of understanding tell me] The four and thirtieth verse may be read thus; Men of understanding will say as I, and a wise man will hearken unto me. That is, they will like my way better then thine: meaning Jobs.

of understanding] Heb. of heart.

Job 34:35

Job hath spoken without knowledge] Or, That Job. They will consent with me, that Job hath spoken foolishly.

without knowledge] Chap. 35. 16.

Job 34:36

My desire is that Job may be tried] Or, My father, let Job be tried.

unto the end] That he may speak as much as he can, that we may answer him, and all the wicked that shall use such arguments.

Job 34:37

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin] If this be done, he will maintain that errour out of rebellion, that now he maintains out of ignorance.

For he addeth] Or, For else he will adde.

clappeth] Or, will clap.

clappeth his hands] In token of victory over us, Psalms 47:1. and Psalms 98:8.

multiplieth] Or, will multiply.