1 Elihu spake moreouer, and said,
2 Thinkest thou this to bee right, that thou saydest, My righteousnesse is more then Gods?
3 For thou saydst, what aduantage will it bee vnto thee, and, what profite shall I haue, if I bee cleansed from my sinne?
4 I will answere thee, and thy companions with thee.
5 Looke vnto the heauens and see, and behold the clouds which are higher then thou.
6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou vnto him?
7 If thou be righteous, what giuest thou him? or what receiueth hee of thine hand?
8 Thy wickednesse may hurt a man as thou art, and thy righteousnesse may profit the sonne of man.
9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to crie: they crie out by reason of the arme of the mightie.
10 But none saith, where is God my maker, who giueth songs in the night?
11 Who teacheth vs more then the beasts of the earth, and maketh vs wiser then the foules of heauen.
12 There they crie, (but none giueth answere) because of the pride of euill men.
13 Surely God wil not heare vanitie, neither wil the Almightie regard it.
14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet iudgement is before him, therefore trust thou in him.
15 But now because it is not so, hee hath visited in his anger, yet he knoweth it not in great extremitie:
16 Therefore doeth Iob open his mouth in vaine: he multiplieth words without knowledge.
Elihu speaks of man's conduct. (1-8) Why those who cry out under afflictions are not regarded. (9-13) Elihu reproves Job's impatience. (14-26)1-8 Elihu reproves Job for justifying himself more than God, and called his attention to the heavens. They are far above us, and God is far above them; how much then is he out of the reach, either of our sins or of our services! We have no reason to complain if we have not what we expect, but should be thankful that we have better than we deserve.
9-13 Job complained that God did not regard the cries of the oppressed against their oppressors. This he knew not how to reconcile the justice of God and his government. Elihu solves the difficulty. Men do not notice the mercies they enjoy in and under their afflictions, nor are thankful for them, therefore they cannot expect that God should deliver them out of affliction. He gives songs in the night; when our condition is dark and melancholy, there is that in God's providence and promise, which is sufficient to support us, and to enable us even to rejoice in tribulation. When we only pore upon our afflictions, and neglect the consolations of God which are treasured up for us, it is just in God to reject our prayers. Even the things that will kill the body, cannot hurt the soul. If we cry to God for the removal of an affliction, and it is not removed, the reason is, not because the Lord's hand is shortened, or his ear heavy; but because we are not sufficiently humbled.
14-26 As in prosperity we are ready to think our mountain will never be brought low; so when in adversity, we are ready to think our valley will never be filled up. But to conclude that to-morrow must be as this day, is as absurd as to think that the weather, when either fair or foul, will be always so. When Job looked up to God, he had no reason to speak despairingly. There is a day of judgment, when all that seems amiss will be found to be right, and all that seems dark and difficult will be cleared up and set straight. And if there is Divine wrath in our troubles, it is because we quarrel with God, are fretful, and distrust Divine Providence. This was Job's case. Elihu was directed by God to humble Job, for as to some things he had both opened his mouth in vain, and had multiplied words without knowledge. Let us be admonished, in our afflictions, not so much to set forth the greatness of our suffering, as the greatness of the mercy of God.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.