Job 33
PATHere Elihu addresses his speech to Job alone (for he rejected all that the three friends had said, as sufficiently confuted by Job in his dispute with them), and tells him, first, that he was the man who would now plead with him in God’s behalf (as he had often desired), and that he was no equal match for him. And then begins to reprehend those passages which he thought were blamable in Job’s speeches; particularly his ins isting so much upon his integrity: which, though true, should not have been mentioned without due acknowledgment, that the Sovereign of the world had done him no wrong in thus afflicting him; and that it was not fit for him to question the wisdom and justice of God’s providence, because he did not understand it. For the care of God over man, and his kindness to him, he shews, are so apparent, upon so many scores, that they ought not to be denied because of the unaccountable afflictions that may befal us; which we ought rather to think aro one of the ways whereby he doth man good.
Job 33:1
ff HEREFORE, Job, I pray thee, liear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. And truly I think I need not use any farther preface, to persuade thee, O Job, to hear my discourse, and to give an attentive ear to all I have to say.
Job 33:2
Behold, now I have opened my month, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. Behold, now I begin; the words are upon my tongue, if thou art ready to receive them.
Job 33:3
My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart; and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. And I assure thee they shall be the unfeigned language of mine heart, which it shall not be hard for thee to understand: for the instructions they give thee shall be clearly and perspicuously delivered.
Job 33:4
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. And first of all consider, that I am no other creature than what thou art; a man whom the power of God hath formed, and then inspired with life.
Job 33:5
If thou canst answer m, set thy words in order before me, stand np.~\ Thou nccdest not therefore decline the encounter; but if thou art able to answer, set thy forces in order against me, and stand up to oppose me. Ver. C. Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.] Thou hast formerly desired (ix. 33. xiii. 3.) that somebody would appear in God’s stead, to reason the case with thee: behold, thou hast thy wish; I am the man that appears for him, who am made of the same matter with thyself.
Job 33:7
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. Look upon me, the combat is not unequal; (as thou complainedstwhcn thou lookedst upon God, ix. 34. xiii. 21.) thou scest no dreadful majesty in me to affright thee, nor any power to oppress thee.
Job 33:8
Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying. I do not accuse thee neither, as thy three friends have done, of crimes uncertain or unknown, but of what I myself, with mine own ears, have heard thee utter.
Job 33:9
J am clean without transgression, lam innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. For • surely thou hast said more than once, (x. 7. xiii. 23. xvi. 17, &c. xxxi.) I am pure and without any fault, in my heart and in my actions, both towards God and towards man.
Job 33:10
Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy. Behold, He who I thought would have vindicated my innocence, seeks for occasions to fall out with me, and for slight matters declares himself mine enemy.
Job 33:11
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. Whom he keeps so fast in prison, that I cannot stir, and watches so narrowly, that I can find no way to escape.
Job 33:12
Behold, in this thou art not just; I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. This is thy complaining language, and mark what I say to thee: though I cannot accuse thee, as thy friends have done, of other sins, yet in this thou dost offend; and I must reprehend thee for it, hy remembering thee, that there is no comparison between God and man.
Job 33:13
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. And therefore, why dost thou presume to dispute with him, and call him to an account for his actions, who will not reveal to us all the secrets of his providence?
Job 33:14
For God speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man per ceiveth it not.* Not that God envies knowledge to us, for he teaches man more ways than one, arid a great deal more than he takes care to learn.
Job 33:15
In a dream, in a visioii of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed. One way is by a dream (which you may cadi a night-vision), when men fall into a deep sleep, or lie on their beds between sleeping and waking.
Job 33:16
Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction. Then (when their minds arc free from the • business and cares of the day) he secretly whispers in-* struction in their ears, and imprints it upon their minds.
Job 33:17
That he. may withdraw man from his puipose, and hide pride from man. Not to make them understand, indeed, all the secret reasons of his providence, but to turn man from his evil way, and to dispose him with all humility to submit himself to his heavenly instructor.
Job 33:18
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sivord. Who by this means mercifully preserves him (if he obey his admonition) from running on to his own destruction, and rescues him from the violent death which the sword of justice, or of an enemy, would have inflicted on him.
Job 33:19
Behold, my belly is as tvine tvJiich hath no vent,• it is ready to burst like new bottles. My thoughts work within me, like new wine in a vessel: and we arc both alike in danger to burst, tmless there be a vent. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain.’] Another way (and more common than this by dreams) is the painful diseases wherewith he chastises man, and lays him low on his bed, though his constitution of body be never so firm and strong.
Job 33:20
I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips, and answer. 1 must speak, therefore, if it be but to ease myself: I will open my lips, as they do such vessels, and make an answer, because I cannot with safety hold" my peace any longer. So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.] In which languishing case he loathes his food; yea, nauseates that very meat which formerly was his greatest delight.
Job 33:21
Let me not, I pray yon, accept any man’s person; neither let me give flattering titles unto man. And, I beseech you, let me speak with all freedom; with regard only to the cause, and not to the person: and do not expect that I should compliment, and give to man any glorious titles. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones, that were not seen stick out J] Which makes so great a change in him, that his flesh, which formerly appeared plump and fair, cannot be seen; and his bones stick out, which formerly did not appear.
Job 33:22
For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away. For T do not understand that art of soothing men into a great opinion of themselves: or if I did> I should not venture to use it; lest he that made me should presently stop my mouth for not dealing plainly. Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.] There is but a step between him and his grave; the pangs of death being ready to seize on him.
Job 33:23
If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness. If then (which is a third way whereby God teaches men) there come a Divine, r/ipsscnger unto him, a rare, person that can expound the mind of God, and persuade the sick man to repent and amend, his life;
Job 33:24
Tlien he is gracious uriioliim, and saith, Deliver Mm from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom. He shall beseech. God.tpbq gracious to him, saying, Spare him, good Lord, and rescue hjm from going dowiv to the grave; let it satisfy thee that thou hast corrected him, and that I have found him; a, penitent.,
Job 33:25
His flesh t shall be fresher titan a-, child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth. Presently the sick man shall begin to recover, apd become a new man in his body as well as in his mind: his flesh shall look as fresh as when, he was a child; and he shall be restored to the vigour and strength, of his youthful age. Ver. 2G. He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourableuntohim; and he shall see his face withjoy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.] His prayer, also shall be acceptable to God, and prevail for tho blessings he asks:, he shall go into the house of God, and with the most joyful voice give thanks unto him, and praise his goodness; yrho will then acquit him,, and rcstoro this poor man to his favour.
Job 33:27
He looketh upon men; and if any say, J have, sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited. m$ not. And he (as becomes a true, penitent), casting his eyes upon his neighbours, shall openly confess and say, I have offended God, and he, hath. justly chastised me; I have done wickedly, and he hath punished me according.to ray desert:
Job 33:28
He will deliver his soul from going into tlie pit, and his life shall see the light. But hath redeemed me from that death into which I was going; and not only made me live, but given me hope that I shall enjoy prosperous days. •
Job 33:29
Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man. Behold, in all this, the wonderful goodness of God; who by so many means very often admonishes man:
Job 33:30
To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. To reduce him from those evil courses which had just brought him to his grave, and to raise him up again to live in all true happiness and pleasure.
Job 33:31
Mark well, OJob; hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I tvill speak. Mark this well, O Job, for it may very much concern thee: consider what I have said; and if thou pleasestto hear me patiently, I will still instruct thee more fully.,
Job 33:32
If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak; for I desire to justify thee. Or if thou hast any thing to object to what I have said, I am willing to hear it: speak before I go any further; for I heartily desire thou mayest clear thyself, and appear a righteous person.
Job 33:33
If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom. If thou hast no exception against my discourse, then continue thy attentions, and silently listen to me, and I will teach thee more wisdom.