Job 23 Job’ s reply: his desire to plead with God, Job 23:1–5; who should not confound, but strengthen him, Job 23:6–7. He cannot behold God’s way; but he walked in the way of his law, Job 23:8–12. God in his providences bringeth about what he had decreed: Job’ s trouble herein, Job 23:13–17.

i.e. Even at this time, notwithstanding all your promises and pretended consolations, I find no ease or satisfaction in all your discourses; and therefore in this and the following chapters Job seldom applies his discourse to his friends, but only addresseth his speech to God, or bewaileth himself.

Where I might find him, to wit, God, as his friends well knew, and the thing itself showeth. Thou biddest me acquaint myself with him, Job 22:21. I desire nothing more than his acquaintance and presence; but, alas, he hides his face from me that I cannot see him, nor come near him.

I would orderly declare the things which concern and prove the right of my cause; not only debating the controversy between my friends and me, concerning my sincerity or hypocrisy before God, as a witness or judge; but also pleading with God as a party, and modestly inquiring whether he doth not…

I long to know what he would say, either to prove me a hypocrite, or to justify his harsh proceedings against me; and if be should discover to me any secret and unknown sins, for which he contendeth with me, I should humble myself before him, and accept of the punishment of mine iniquity.

Will he oppress me with his sovereign and absolute power, as men do those whom they cannot fairly and justly conquer? He would put strength in me; the word strength, or power, being fitly supplied out of the former branch of the verse, as is very usual in Scripture.

There; at that throne of grace, as it is called, Heb. 4:16, where God lays aside his majesty and power, and judgeth according to his wonted grace and clemency. The righteous; such as I do and dare avow myself to be, to wit, in sincerity, though not in perfection.

I go forward, i.e. towards the east, which in Scripture is accounted the forepart of the world, as the Hebrew name of it signifies, because of the light of the sun, which ariseth there, and draweth the eye of men towards it.

Where he doth work, to wit, in a special and peculiar manner, more than in other parts of the world; for so indeed God did work in those parts which were northward from Job, because there mankind (among whom God delights to be and to work) were most numerous, and most ingenious to discern God’s…

But, though I cannot see him, yet my comfort is, that he seeth me and my heart, and all my actions. Or, for, as this particle commonly signifies. So this verse contains a reason why he so vehemently desired that he might plead his cause with or before God.

My foot hath held, i.e. made a free and fixed choice, and taken fast hold of them; been firmly and strongly settled, and resolved to continue in them, as the word signifies. His steps; either, 1.

Neither have I gone back, i.e. not turned aside to any crooked or sinful path or course of life, human infirmity excepted. I have esteemed, Heb. I have hid, or laid it up, as men do their best treasures, or what they most love and value.

He is in one mind, i.e. notwithstanding all these evidences of my sincere piety, and all my prayers to him, he still continues in the same mind and course of afflicting me. Or, but he is, i.e. if he be, against one, or against any man, as that word is oft used, as he now setteth himself against me.

Or, he will perfect or finish my appointed portion, i.e. those calamities which he hath allotted to me for my portion, which as he hath begun to lay on me, so he is resolved to make a full end of them.

Therefore; in consideration of his glorious majesty, and sovereign and irresistible power, by which he can do whatsoever pleaseth him, without giving any account of his matters. At his presence; when I present him to my thoughts. Or, when he appears or manifesteth himself to me.

Soft, or tender. He hath bruised, and broken, or melted it, so that I have no spirit, nor courage, nor strength in me, as this or the like phrase is used, Deut. 20:3, Ps. 39:11, Isa. 7:4, Jer. 51:46.

Because I was not cut off; because God did not cut me off by death. Before the darkness, i.e. before these dark and dismal miseries came upon me. Or, before the face, or by reason of the darkness, i.e.