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Job xxxv.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 2. God.
Eliu being greatly mortified at Job's silence, uses still more provoking expressions, and pretends to refute one of the holy
man's assertions, which never escaped his lips, though he had complained that God treated him as an enemy, and with more severity
than his sins deserved; (chap. vi. 2.; Calmet) or, that his affliction was greater than his sin, chap. xxiii. 7., &c.
Eliu therefore calumniates him. (Worthington)
Ver. 3. Please
thee, since thou punishest the guiltless. (Menochius) --- If I sin. Job had not said so, but it seemed to follow
from his expressions, chap. xxi. 7. See chap. xxii. 3. Whether sin be committed and punished, or not, what does it profit
God? (Calmet) --- His sovereign perfections require that he should not let sin pass unnoticed, and Job never entertained an
idea to the contrary.
Ver. 4. Thee.
I will shew that you are all wrong. (Haydock) --- I will supply what the three have left imperfect. (Calmet)
Ver. 5. Thee.
Thy sin cannot hurt, nor thy virtue add any thing to God. He is not therefore actuated by resentment, or jealousy, but by
justice. (Calmet) --- He revenges the injury done by the sinner to himself, ver. 8. (St. Augustine, Conf. iii. 8.) --- The
inference is therefore wrong, (Calmet) that God will not regard the sins or punishment of men, because he thence derives no
profit, ver. 3. (Haydock) --- The strong sentences of Eliu agree not (or are ill-applied) to the blessed Job. (St. Gregory
xxvi. 7.) (Worthington)
Ver. 9. Out.
The wicked shall cry out, through vexation, but still they will not address themselves to God, ver. 10. Why are they abandoned,
but because He takes cognizance of all?
Ver. 10. Songs.
Arabic, "thoughts," by means of visions. Chaldean, "where is the Lord, in whose presence the angels sing canticles of praise
in the night?" (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "who has ordered the night watches;" (Haydock) the stars, which display the power
of God? His servants also are filled with interior joy, even in the midst of afflictions. (Calmet)
Ver. 11. Air:
and yet the wicked make not use of their understanding, to have recourse to God under distress. (Calmet)
Ver. 13. Vain.
Hebrew, "falsehood." He will not relieve the hypocrite, who does not cry to him with sincerity. This conduct shews that God
acts with discretion, and hears people according to their deserts. (Calmet)
Ver. 14. Before
him. Try whether the assertion be true. (Haydock) --- Only change thy life, and hope in him, and thou wilt see the good
effects. (Calmet)
Ver. 15. For.
Protestants, "But now because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he (marginal note, Job) knoweth
it not, in great extremity." (Haydock) --- In this world, God punishes not with rigour. (Calmet)
Ver. 16. Knowledge.
I have shewn that God punishes or rewards according to our deserts, and is not indifferent about our sins. If Job have not
experienced the divine bounty, it is because he has not deserved it. (Calmet)
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
Eliu declares that the good or evil done by man cannot reach
God.
1 Moreover Eliu spoke these words.
2 Doth thy thought seem right to thee, that thou shouldst say: I am more
just than God?
3 For thou saidst: That which is right doth not please thee: or what will
it profit thee if I sin?
4 Therefore I will answer thy words, and thy friends with thee.
5 Look up to heaven and see, and behold the sky, that it is higher than
thou.
6 If thou sin, what shalt thou hurt him? and if thy iniquities be multiplied,
what shalt thou do against him?
7 And if thou do justly, what shalt thou give him, or what shall he receive
of thy hand?
8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man that is like thee: and thy justice may
help the son of man.
9 By reason of the multitude of oppressors they shall cry out: and shall
wail for the violence of the arm of tyrants.
10 And he hath not said: Where is God, who made me, who hath given songs
in the night?
11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and instructeth us
more than the fowls of the air.
12 There shall they cry, and he will not hear, because of the pride of
evil men.
13 God therefore will not hear in vain, and the Almighty will look into
the causes of every one.
14 Yea, when thou shalt say: He considereth not: be judged before him,
and expect him.
15 For he doth not now bring on his fury, neither doth he revenge wickedness
exceedingly.
16 Therefore, Job openeth his mouth in vain, and multiplieth words without
knowledge.
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