Job Expounded, Commentary on Job · Chapter 22
THE THIRD ENcounter of Jobs friends. THE SVMME AND ORDER of the xxii. Chapter.
IOB hauing bene by his friendes very grieuously and vnadvisedly accused, as though it must needs follow, because he was so greatly and so suddenly afflicted, that God therefore was highly displeased with him, as who is neuer angrie with men, vnlesse their sinnes provoke him thereunto neither being mooued, doth any otherwise punish them, then according to the qualitie of their offences: Iobs friends, J say, after they had very fondly accused him, they brought the whole controuersie to this point; That we are to iudge & esteeme of Gods louelove or hatred toward any man, and consequently either of the innocent or wicked life of a man, thereafter as we see his estate in this present life to be flourishing & happie, or miserable & wretched: & that as the punishment of those who lightly offend, is neither grievous nor continuall, but moderate: so they who cōmit heinous sinnes, are not lightly & for a while, but very seuerely & a long time punished; yea and vnlesse they repent, vtterly destroyed. We hauehave heard therefore, howe Iobs friendes affirmed and held these things against him, & how he denyed & disprooved the same, sometime standing vponupon the innocencie of his former life, and appealing vntounto the tribunall seat of God him selfe against his accusers: sometime also shewing in generall by examples alleaged, how that those two grounds of their accusation were very foolish & to no purpose: namely, that all calamities of this life proceed from Gods anger, as also that the wicked are alwaies punished in this life for their transgressions. It was therefore great reason, that these Iobs friendes should either take away this his exception (which they possibly coulde not doe) or omitting that their generall treatise, should betake themselues to the particular, and prooue by manifest and certen testimonies those thinges whereof they had accused Iob, or at the least change their mindes & leaue off to accuse him any longer. But Eliphaz, we see, encoūtring nowe the 3. time with Iob, doeth quite contrarie, who hauing either through forgetfulnesse, or stubburnely passed ouer the question it selfe, and taking an occasion of that, that Iob neither in defending his innocencie, when he was by their sharpe invectiues prouoked thereunto: neither in bewailing his miserie, when he was almost ouerwhelmed with the greatnesse of anguish both of body and minde, had alwayes kept a iust measure, doeth first of all in the foure former verses very bitterly, falsely, and without cause gather, that certaine absurdities as it were necessarily followad vponupon his speeches. Furthermore, he doeth not nowe in the verses 5.6.7.8.9.10.11. couertly, as he had done before, but openly accuse Job, as if he had bene one, who had vncivillie, covetously, and cruellie abused both his authoritie and wealth: yea, and euen to the 20. verse he so chargeth him with impietie, and doeth in such bitter and taunting manner wrest and turne vponupon Job him selfe all those thinges which he had in the 14.15.16. verses of the Chapter going before, very truely and religiously spoken against prophane men, that nowe he seemeth (forsomuch as he neither by reasons nor testimonies doeth avouch these his so bitter accusations) most manifestly to play the part of a spitefull and reprochfull speaker, rather then of an accuser. Last of all, he beginneth, as if he had brought his matters to an excellent passe, to exhort Iob that he would acknowledge these things, and craue at Gods handes merciemercy for his heinous sinnes, putting him in hope that he should surely be restored vntounto his former estate: affirming moreouer, that following this his counsell, he should not onelyonly be received againe into Gods favour, but God should also heare him, if he made intercession for other men. And truely it is a wonderfull thing that Eliphaz did foretell what should afterward fall out: albeit he did it ignorantly and not thinking any thing at all of that which happened. For both Iob him selfe against all exspectation in this life, had an excellent ende of all these calamities: and Eliphaz also with his fellowes were by Jobs intercession restored into Gods fauour.
CHAPTER XXII.
1 ANd Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said,
2 May a man profite God? Nay, he that dealeth wisely profiteth himselfe.
(3 Is it) any pleasure to the Almightie, if thou shalt be righteous? and (is it to him) gaine if thou shalt make thy waies vpright?
1 But Eliphaz the Themanite beeing very angrie to heare Iobs words, answered him in this manner. 2 What meanes this, Iob, saith he, that thou standest so much vponupon thine owne vprightnes? Thou wouldest hauehave men thinke, that God is greatlie beholding to thee for this thy integritie and iustice, so that he may seeme to hauehave done thee wrong, in dealing thus hardlie with thee. But thou art deceiued, if thou suppose that God can reape any benefit or commoditie at mans hands. Nay doubtlesse, but if any man doe well and wiselie, the good and profit redoundeth to him selfe. 3 Can the vertue and godlines of man doe God any pleasure? wil it bring him some delight, which before he wanted, or will any gaine arise thereof to the almightie, who in himselfe and of him selfe is most happie and perfect?
4 Is it for feare of thee that he accuseth thee? or goeth with thee into iudgement?
But what? shall vve thinke that he fearing least thou happilie shouldest hauehave accused him, vvould preuent thee by first taking vponupon him the person of plaintife?
5 Js not thy wickednesse great, and thine iniquities without ende?
6 For thou hast vnconscionablie taken a pleadge of thy brethren, and hast caused them beeing stript out of their clothing to goe naked.
7 To the wearie thou hast not giuen so much as water: and hast withdrawne bread from the hungrie.
8 But the earth was the mightie mans: and the honourable personage sat (that is, bare rule) in it.
9 The widowes (notwithstanding) hast thou sent backe empty, and the armes of the fatherles were broken.
10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and feare amased thee on a sudden.
11 Or else thou seest not the darknesse, and the aboundance of waters hath couered thee.
5 And what shall I neede to vse many words, when as the verie matter it selfe, manifestlie sheweth thy wickednesse to hauehave beene so great, as that thou didst neuer cease to sinne. 6 For thou hast not beene afraid to take a pleadge, without any regard of one more then an other, euen of thy poore and needie kinsfolke, and hast beene so farre from cloathing thē beeing naked, that contrariwise, thou hast wrung from them that little apparell which they had left. 7 Such as are wearie with trauailing, thou hast not so much as refreshed with a cup of cold water, and as for the hungrie, thou hast not vouchsafed them so much as one mouthfull of bread. 8 Neither yet hast thou here any thing that thou maiest pretende. For thy power was such, as that all men were subiect thereunto, insomuch as, thou hauing stollen their harts and good will, through thy false showes of feigned vprightnes, they honoured thee like a king sitting in his throne. 9 But how greatlie thou didst abuse this authoritie, the widowes spoiled of their goods, and the fatherlesse children with violence oppressed, doe sufficientlie testifie. And this is the cause, Iob, that god hath so entangled and wrapped thee with snares on eueryevery side: hence proceedeth that so sudden chaunge, which striketh and pearceth thee euen to the very heart. 11. Vnlesse peraduenture this darknes be so great, that it hath quite taken away all the light of thy minde: and vnlesse thou doest lie whollie ouerwhelmed with such grieuous calamities, as it were with a mightie and violent ouerflowing of waters.
12 (Is) not God in the height of the heauens? And behold the height of the starres, how hye they are.
13 And thou wilt saie, what doth God know? will he iudge through the darknesse?
14 The clouds are his denne, and he doth not see: and he walketh in the circle of heauen.
12 What? didst thou suppose that these things could alwaies lie hidden, till at the length thou hadst a wofull experience, that there sitteth one in those high heauens, who frō thence beholdeth all things? In those heauens, I say, whose top how high and loftie it is, the very starres, which we see▪ doe sufficientlie testifie: yet doth he farre in highnes exceed the height hereof. 13 Take heede therefore, least thou also, ioyning with those wicked and prophane men, of whome thou spakest a little before, doest breake into these wordes & say: What is this that yee call the knowledge of God? Is it possible that out from so high a place, and through the midst of such cloudie darknesse, God should behold and discerne these things? 14 Of this kinde, are these most impudent speches also: God lyeth close hidden amongst the clouds, hee seeth nothing: but he doth solace him selfe with walking within the compasse of the heauens.
15 Doest thou not marke the way of the world, wherein wicked men hauehave walked?
16 Who were cut downe, and (whose) time was not come, and (whose) foundation (was made) an ouerflowing riuer:
17 Who saide vntounto God, Depart from vsus, and what had the almightie done vntounto them?
18 Yes, he filled their houses with good things. Therefore let the counsell of them be farre from mee.
19 The righteous saw (this) & reioyced: and the innocent laughed them to scorne.
20 Because our substance was not destroied: but the fire hath deuoured the remnant of them.
15 If thou wilt not abide to yeld to reason, yet at the least beleeue experience, & remember since the latter age of the old world, what became of them who troad in the pathes of wickednesse. 16 Surelie thou shalt finde that they were suddenlie taken away by vntimelie death: yea and that al things wherein they put their confidence, glided and passed away like the water of a running streame. 17 These, I say, vvere those, who went so farre in their madnesse, that they durst commaund God to depart from them. And what hurt, I pray you, had they receiued from the almightie God? 18 Nay, God stuffed their houses ful euen vp to the top with al manner of good things. Farre be it therefore from me, that I should once harbour in my brest any one thought of these prophane persons: which thing, thou Iob, hast also protested, but how rightlie thou hast done it. I leaue it to thine owne iudgement. 19 And this trulie is the end of such men; which when the righteous and vpright men behold, they reioyce & clap their hands at these iudgements of God, and doe worthelie insult ouer those most damnable wretches. 20. For they see both them selues and their substance to be in safetie; but contrarivvise, the other for iust cause are vtterlie destroied & consumed vvith that fire, vvhichwhich vvas sent dovvne from heauen.
21 Acquaint thy selfe therefore with him, and be at rest: thereby thou shalt hauehave good.
22 Receiue the law out of his mouth, and lay vp his wordes in thine heart.
23 If thou returne to the almightie, thou shalt be made new againe: as be that shall remoue peruersnes farre from thy tabernacle.
24 Cast thy golde on the ground and let the golde of Ophirbe vntounto thee as the pible stones in the brookes:
25 And let the almightie be thy tower (let him I say) be vntounto thee as plentie of siluer.
21 All which things being so, heare I praie thee, Iob, that which I both perswaded thee vntounto before, & now beat vponupon againe. Whereas thou doest with such impatiency beare the iudgements of God, and so greatlie vexe and torment thy selfe, seeke to get into his fauour againe, and quiet thy mind; so shall thou reape much profit thereby. 22 But here thou must cause a wonderfull alteration in thy selfe. For whereas thou hast heretofore followed thine owne lusts and affections, thou must now aske counsel of him, and with all thy hart embrace the words, which proceede out of his mouth. 23 Which thing if thou shalt doe, and shalt turne vntounto that most mightie, and gratious God, al these things, wherin thou hast sinned against him, shalbe farre remooued from thy house, & be thou sure that he will set the vp againe in as good case, as euer thou wert before. 24 Therfore, whereas thou hast bene whollie addicted to this worldlie pelf, now throw thy gold on the ground, and make no more account euen of fine gold most perfectlie tride, then of those stones which we see lie in the bottome of brookes. 25 But let him be all thy refuge, & be vntounto thee in stead of all plentie & aboundance of siluer, who onelyonly hath enough to suffice him selfe & all men.
26 Then trulie shalt thou delight in the almightie, and lift vp thy face vntounto God.
27 Thou shalt praie vntounto him, and he shall heare thee, and thou shalt pay thy vowes.
28 And (when) thou shalt decree any thing, it shalbe established vntounto thee: and vponupon thy waies shall the light shine.
26 Then shall the almightie conueigh into thine heart sound and perfect gladnes, and this thy countenance, which is now altogether cast downeward, thou shalt cheerefullie & without all feare lift vp vntounto God him selfe, 27. Who will heare thee when thou makest thy prayer vntounto him: in consideration of which benefit, thou shalt willinglie and ioyfullie performe those things which thou hadst vowed vntounto him. 28 That which thou requirest of him, yea, whatsoeuer thou entendest or goest about, shalbe accomplished and established vntounto thee, through the direction of his light and brightnes, which shall alwaies guide and goe before thee.
29 When the wicked shalbe kept vnderunder, then shall they say, I am exalted. For (God) doth saue him who is cast downe in his owne eyes.
30 He shall deliuer the impure and (he) shall escape by the purenesse of thine hands.
29 Finallie, what time God shall cast downe and grieuouslie punish the wicked, then shalt thou on the contrarie side, see thy selfe highlie exalted, and with a gratefull minde shalt acknowledge the same. For as he throweth the proud down to the ground, so likewise doth he most bountifullie preserue those, who are lowlie in their owne eyes. 30 Moreouer, god doth so accept of him, who endeauouring to liue vprightlie, humbleth him selfe before him, that euen through the prayers of that man, he wil also pardon the wicked person. Wherfore if thou wilt follow our counsell, thou shalt not onelyonly saue thy selfe, but thou shalt also obteine pardon for other men.