The Book of Job Paraphrased, Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIV.
ARGUMENT.
Here Job ſhews himſelf a far more humble and teachable perſon then his three Friends: for, though Elihu had invited him to make what exceptions he pleaſed to his Diſcourſe in the former Chapter, he would not open his mouth; becauſe he plainly ſaw that Elihu had hit upon the thing wherein he was defective. And ſo this young man proceeds to carry the Charge a little higher, and tells him, with more ſharpneſs then before, that there were ſome words in his Diſcourſes which ſounded in his ears, as if he accuſed God's Juſtice and Goodneſs. For what elſe did he mean when he complained that God did not doe him right; and that he deſtroyed alike both good and bad? Which raſh Aſſertions he overthrows from the conſideration of the Sovereign Dominion, Power, Righteouſneſs and Wiſedom of God: and repreſents to him what behaviour and diſcourſe would have better become him, then that which he had uſed.
1. FƲrthermore Elihu anſwered, and ſaid,1. TO this laſt motion Job conſented; and replying never a word, Elihu proceeded in his Diſcourſe, and ſaid,
2. Hear my words, O ye wiſe,men, and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.2. I do not deſire to be Judge alone in this Cauſe, but I appeal to them that are wiſe; and beſeech all thoſe (among you that hear me) who are intelligent, to mark and conſider what I now deliver.
3. For the ear trieth words, as the mouth taſteth meat.3. You can diſcern whether it be true or falſe; for the Mind is as proper a Judg of Diſcourſe, as the Palate is of Meat.
4. Let us chooſe to us judgment: let us know among our ſelves what is good.4. Let us agree to examine the buiſineſs, that we may be able to pronounce a righteous judgment: let us debate among our ſelves, and reſolve, whether Job have a good Cauſe or no.
5. For Job hath ſaid, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.5. For he hath ſaid, I am innocent; and God (who knows I do not deſerve to ſuffer in this manner, XXVII. 2, 6.) will not doe me right:
6. Should I lie againſt my right? my wound is incurable without tranſgreſſion.6. I ſcorn to defend my ſelf with lies; but I muſt ſtill maintain, that this deadly Wound is given me for no Crime of mine.
7. What man is like Job, who drinketh up ſcorning like water?7. Did you ever know ſuch a man as Job, who, in ſtead of adoring the Almighty, (as becomes his Wiſedom and Piety,) takes the liberty to pour out abundance of contemptuous language concerning his Judgments?
8. Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.8. He aſſociates himſelf with Evil-doers; and talks after the ſame rate that the Wicked are wont to do.
9. For he hath ſaid, It profiteth a man nothing, that he ſhall delight himſelf with God.9. For he ſeems to me to be of this opinion, that though a man ſtudy to pleaſe God, he ſhall get nothing by it. IX. 22.
10. 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.10. What think you of this, ye men of wiſedom? Do you not abhor ſuch a thought as much as I, that He who is Almighty ſhould wrong any man, and He who is All-ſufficient ſhould ſwerve from the rule of Righteouſneſs?
11. For the work of a man ſhall he render unto him, and cauſe every man to find according to his ways.11. He will never be charged with ſuch Weakneſs, but always deals with men according as they deſerve: For he that doeth well never fails to find a Reward, and he that doeth ill, meets with a juſt Puniſhment.
12. Yea, ſurely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.12. Surely, I need not fear to affirm this with the greateſt confidence, that the Supreme Judge of the World will never condemn an Innocent perſon; nor will He that poſſeſſes all things be corrupted to pronounce an unrighteous Sentence.
13. Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath diſpoſed the whole world?13. For He did not receive the Government of the world from any above himſelf; nor is there any higher Being, whoſe Authority He may be thought to dread, and for fear of whom He may be tempted to doe unjuſtly.
14. If he ſet his heart upon man, if he gather unto himſelf his ſpirit and his breath;14. No, He made and He ſuſtains all creatures; ſo that if he ſhould contain his Goodneſs within Himſelf, and recall that Spirit and Life which He hath infuſed into them;
15. All fleſh ſhall periſh together, and man ſhall turn again unto duſt.15. Nothing could ſubſiſt one moment: but all Mankind would expire together, and return unto their duſt.
16. If now thou haſt underſtanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.16. If thou art wiſe, mind what I ſay; and conſider alſo what follows.
17. Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is moſt juſt?17. Can he be an enemy to Juſtice Himſelf, who binds us ſo faſt to the practice of it? and wilt thou condemn His Actions, who is moſt powerfull, as well as juſt; and therefore need not ſerve himſelf by any wrongfull dealing?
18. Is it fit to ſay to a king, Thou art wicked, and to princes, Ye are ungodly?18. There is no King on Earth but looks upon it as a great and unſufferable reproach to be called a Tyrant: nor will inferiour Rulers endure you ſhould ſay, that they have no regard to Equity.
19. How much leſs to him that accepteth not the perſons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more then the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.19. Shall we impute then any ſuch thing to Him, before whom a Prince or a Rich man is no more then the meaneſt and pooreſt perſons? who ſhall have the ſame Juſtice from Him with the greateſt, becauſe they are all alike the work of his Hands.
20. 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.20. How ſhould He ſtand in awe of the Power of Kings, or be bribed with the Gifts of the rich, who can ſtrike them all dead in a moment? Whole Nations tremble before Him, and in their deepeſt ſecurity are deſtroyed. He needs not the help of any force on earth to put down a mighty Tyrant; but inviſible powers carry him away.
21. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he ſeeth all his goings.21. For there is no one paſſage of man's Life, but He is acquainted with it: and therefore cannot be ſuſpected through Ignorance of their actions (no more then through fear of their perſons) to overlook their Crimes, or to doe them any Injuſtice.
22. There is no darkneſs, nor ſhadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themſelves.22. They may ſeek to hide their Wickedneſs, when they have committed it; and may make Excuſes and ſubtle Pretences: But they cannot caſt a miſt before His eyes, who ſees into the thickeſt Darkneſs, and the deepeſt Secrets.
23. For he will not lay upon man more then right; that he ſhould enter into judgment with God.23. And therefore, as He will never charge man with that of which he is not guilty; ſo, when He calls him to an account, He will not delay, nor put off his Judgment, to hear what man can ſay for himſelf.
24. He ſhall break in pieces mighty men without number, and ſet others in their ſtead.24. For He needs not be informed how matters ſtand; and therefore breaks in pieces Mighty men, without inquiry or examination of witneſſes againſt them; and confers their Dignity upon others.
25. Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night ſo that they are deſtroyed.25. And by this means ſhews that He knows their works; when He ſo ſuddenly overturns them, that they are cruſhed in pieces.
26. He ſtriketh them as wicked men in the open ſight of others:26. He puniſhes them as men that in his eyes are apparently wicked; and therefore makes them publick Examples for the terrour of their neighbours.
27. Becauſe they turned back from him, and would not conſider any of his ways.27. Becauſe they would not follow his Counſels, nor regard any of his Commands:
28. So that they cauſe the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.28. But went on in their Oppreſſion of the Poor, till they cried to Heaven for Vengeance upon them: and the Cry of ſuch afflicted people God never fails to anſwer.
29. 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 onelyonly:29. And if He will grant ſuch poor wretches reſt and eaſe, who can diſturb them? or if He be angry with their Oppreſſour, who can ſhew him favour? (which is as true of whole Nations, as of one ſingle perſon.)
30. That the hypocrite reign not, leſt the people be enſnared.30. He will not let the wicked Tyrant reign alway, though he pretend Piety and the publick Good never ſo much; leſt the people ſhould be enſnared into ſin by his Example.
31. Surely it is meet to be ſaid unto God, I have born chaſtiſement, I will not offend any more.31. Wherefore it is beſt for an afflicted perſon not to complain, but to ſuſpect himſelf, (though he be never ſo good;) and preſently to ſay to God, I confeſs this Suffering is juſt; I will not offend by pleading my Innocence.
32. That which I ſee not, teach thou me; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more.32. If I have overlook'd any thing that I ſhould have obſerved, do thou ſhew it me: if I have committed any Fault, I will take care to doe ſo no more.
33. Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompenſe it, whether thou refuſe, or whether thou chuſe, and not I: therefore ſpeak what thou knoweſt.33. Haſt thou addreſſed thy ſelf to God in this manner? Anſwer that queſtion; for God will recompenſe it, if thou doſt deſpiſe ſuch good Counſel: which perhaps thou wilt chuſe to doe, but ſo would not I. Speak therefore what thy opinion is.
34. Let men of underſtanding tell me, and let a wiſe man hearken unto me.34. Or let any underſtanding perſon tell us what is their opinion; for ſuch, as I ſaid before, would I have to judge between us.
35. Job hath ſpoken without knowledge, and his words were without wiſedom.35. Job ſeems to me to be very much miſtaken; and his Diſcourſes to be inconſiderate and without reaſon.
36. My deſire is that Job may be tried unto the end, becauſe of his anſwers for wicked men.36. And therefore I am ſo far from wiſhing he may be preſently releaſed from his Afflictions, that I take it to be more deſirable, he ſhould be ſtill tried and proved by them; till he recant the Anſwers in which he hath complained of Divine Providence, after the manner of wicked men.
37. For he addeth rebellion unto his ſin, he clappeth his hands amongſt us, and multiplieth his words againſt God,37. For otherwiſe he will adde greater Offences to thoſe leſſer he hath already committed: he will defend what he hath inconſiderately ſpoken; nay triumph, as if he had gotten the better of us; and, in ſtead of making the Confeſſion to which I have exhorted him, continue to multiply his Complaints againſt God.