Geneva Study Bible Furthermore Elihu answered and said, Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. Hear my words, O ye {a} wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
(a) Which are esteemed wise by the world. For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. Let us choose to us {b} judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
(b) Let us examine the matter uprightly. For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken {c} away my judgment.
(c) That is, has afflicted me without measure. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. Should I lie against my {d} right? my wound is {e} incurable without transgression.
(d) Should I say, I am wicked, being an innocent? (e) I am more punished, than my sin deserves. What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? What man is like Job, who drinketh up {f} scorning like water?
(f) Which is compelled to receive your reproach and scorns of many for his foolish words. Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. Which goeth in {g} company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
(g) Meaning that Job was like the wicked, because he seemed not to glorify God and submit himself to his judgments. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. For he hath said, {h} It profiteth a man nothing that he should {i} delight himself with God.
(h) He wrests Job's words who said that God's children are often punished in this world, and the wicked go free. (i) That is, live godly, Ge 5:22. Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; If {k} he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit {l} and his breath;
(k) To destroy him. (l) The breath of life which he gave man. All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? Shall even he that hateth right {m} govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
(m) If God were not just, how could be govern the world? Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art {n} wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
(n) If man by nature fears to speak evil of such as have power, then they should be much more afraid to speak evil of God. How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. In a moment shall they die, {o} and the people shall be troubled at midnight, {p} and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
(o) When they look not for it. (p) The messengers of visitation that God will send. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should {q} enter into judgment with God.
(q) God does not afflict man above measure so that he should have opportunity to contend with him. He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. He shall break in pieces mighty men without {r} number, and set others in their stead.
(r) For all his creatures are at hand to serve him, so that he needs not to seek for any other army. Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed. Therefore he knoweth their {s} works, and he overturneth them in the {t} night, so that they are destroyed.
(s) Make it known that they are wicked. (t) Declare the things that were hid. He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of {u} others;
(u) Meaning, openly in the sight of all men. Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. So that they cause the cry of the poor to {x} come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
(x) By their cruelty and extortion. When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. That the {y} hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
(y) When tyrants sit in the throne of justice which under pretence of executing justice are hypocrites and oppress the people, it is a sign that God has drawn back his countenance of favour from that place. Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: Surely it is meet {z} to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
(z) It only belongs to God to moderate his corrections, and not to man. That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. {a} That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
(a) Thus Elihu speaks in the person of God, as it were mocking Job, because he would be wiser than God. Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. Should it be according to {b} thy mind? he will recompense {c} it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
(b) Will God use your counsel in doing his works? (c) Thus he speaks in the person of God, as though Job should chose and refuse affliction at his pleasure. Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. My desire is that Job may be {d} tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
(d) That he may speak as much as he can, that we may answer him and all the wicked that will use such arguments. For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God. For he {e} addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God. (e) He stands stubbornly to the maintenance of his cause. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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