Geneva Study Bible Elihu also proceeded, and said, Elihu also proceeded, and said,
Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. I will fetch {a} my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
(a) He shows that when we speak of God, we must lift our spirits higher than our natural sense is able to reach. For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. For truly my words shall not be false: he that is {b} perfect in knowledge is with thee.
(b) You will perceive that I am a faithful instructor, and that I speak to you in the name of God. Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is {c} mighty in strength and wisdom.
(c) Strong and constant, and of understanding: for these are the gifts of God, and he loves them in man: but as much as God punished Job now, it is a sign that these are not in him. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. He {d} preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
(d) Therefore he will not preserve the wicked, but to the humble and afflicted heart he will show grace. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with {e} kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
(e) He prefers the godly to honour. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. Then he sheweth them their {f} work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
(f) He will move their hearts to feel their sins that they may come to him by repentance as he did Manasseh. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die {g} without knowledge.
(g) That is, in their folly or obstinacy, and so shall cause their own destruction. But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. But the hypocrites {h} in heart heap up wrath: they {i} cry not when he bindeth them.
(h) Which are maliciously bent against God, and flatter themselves in their vices. (i) When they are in affliction they do not seek God for help, as Asa in 2Ch 16:12. They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. They die in {k} youth, and their life is among the unclean.
(k) They die of some vile death, and that before they come to age. He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and {l} that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
(l) If you had been obedient to God, he would have brought you to freedom and wealth. But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. But thou hast fulfilled the {m} judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
(m) You are altogether after the manner of the wicked: for you murmur against the justice of God. Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. {n} Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
(n) God punishes you, lest you forget God in your wealth and so perish. Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. {o} Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
(o) Do not be curious in seeking the cause of God's judgments, when he destroys any. Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. Take heed, regard not {p} iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
(p) And so murmur against God through impatiency. Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. Every man may see it; man may behold it {q} afar off.
(q) The works of God are revealed, that a man may see them afar off, and know God by the same. Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. Behold, God is great, {r} and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
(r) Our infirmity hinders us so that we cannot attain the perfect knowledge of God. For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: For he maketh small the drops of water: they {s} pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
(s) That is, the rain comes from those drops of water which he keeps in the clouds. Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his {t} tabernacle?
(t) Meaning, of the clouds, which he calls the tabernacle of God. Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. Behold, he spreadeth his light upon {u} it, and covereth the {x} bottom of the sea.
(u) Upon the cloud. (x) That men cannot come to the knowledge of the springs of it. For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. For by them judgeth he {y} the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
(y) He shows that the rain has a double use: the one that it declares God's judgments, when it overflows any places, and the other that it makes the land fruitful. With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh {z} betwixt.
(z) That is, one cloud to dash against another. The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour. {a} The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour. (a) The cold vapour shows him: that is, the cloud of the hot exhalation, which being taken in the cold cloud mounts up toward the place where the fire is, and so anger is engendered; that is, noise and thunderclaps. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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