Geneva Study Bible Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Can a man be {a} profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
(a) Though man was just, yet God could not profit from this his justice; and therefore when he punished him, he had no regard to his justice, but to his sin. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment? Will he reprove thee for fear {b} of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?
(b) Lest you should reprove or hurt him? Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. For thou hast taken a {c} pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
(c) You have been cruel and without charity, and would do nothing for the poor, but for your own advantage. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it. But as for the mighty man, he {d} had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
(d) When you were in power and authority you did not do justice but wrong. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the {e} fatherless have been broken.
(e) You have not only not shown pity, but oppressed them. Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee; Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;
Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee. Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and {f} abundance of waters cover thee.
(f) That is, manifold afflictions. Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! Is not God in the {g} height of heaven? and behold the height of the {h} stars, how high they are!
(g) He accuses Job of impiety and contempt of God, as thought he would say, If you pass not for men, yet consider the height of God's majesty. (h) That so much the more by that excellent work you may fear God, and reverence him. And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven. Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.
Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? Hast thou marked the old way {k} which wicked men have trodden?
(k) How God has punished them from the beginning? Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: Which were {l} cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
(l) He proves God's providence by the punishment of the wicked, whom he takes away before they can bring their wicked purposes to pass. Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. Yet he {m} filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
(m) He answers to that which Job had said, Job 21:7 that the wicked have prosperity in this world; desiring that he might not be a partaker of the like. The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn. The righteous see it, and are glad: {n} and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
(n) The just rejoice at the destruction of the wicked for two reasons, first because God shows himself judge of the world and by this means continues his honour and glory: secondly because God shows that he had care over his in that he punished their enemies. Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth. Whereas {o} our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of {p} them the fire consumeth.
(o) That is, the state and preservation of the godly, is hid under God's wings. (p) Meaning of the wicked. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Acquaint now thyself {q} with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
(q) He exhorts Job to repentance, and to return to God. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt {r} be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
(r) God will restore to you all your substance. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Then shalt thou lay up gold as {s} dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
(s) Which will be in abundance like dust. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.
For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the {t} light shall shine upon thy ways.
(t) That is, the favour of God. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. {u} When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
(u) God will deliver his when the wicked are destroyed round about them, as in the flood and in Sodom. He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands. He shall deliver the {x} island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands. (x) God will deliver a whole country from peril, even for the just man's sake. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
    |