Job 27 He will not renounce his integrity, Job 27:1–6. The character of a hypocrite, and his misery, Job 27:7–10. The portion and heritage of the wicked, Job 27:11–23.

When he had waited a while to hear what his friends would reply, and perceived them to be silent. His parable; his grave and weighty, but withal dark and difficult, discourse, such as are oft called parables, as Num. 23:7, Num. 24:3–15, Ps. 49:4, Ps. 88:2, Prov. 26:7.

He confirms the truth and sincerity of his expressions by an oath, because he found them very hard to believe all his professions. My judgment, or my right, or my cause, i.e.

My breath; which is the constant companion and certain sign of life, both coming in with it, Gen. 2:7, and going out with it, 1 Kings 17:17, Ps. 144:4. Or, my soul, or life. The spirit of God; that spirit or soul which God breathed into me, Gen. 2:7, and preserveth in me.

I will speak nothing but the truth with all plainness and impartiality, neither defending myself and cause by vain and false professions of those virtues or graces which I know I have not; nor yet, in compliance with your desire and design, falsely accusing myself of those crimes wherewith you…

That I should justify you, i.e. your opinion and censure concerning me, as one convicted to be impious or hypocritical, by God’s unusual and severe dealing with me.

I hold fast, Heb. I have held fast, i.e., I have not only begun well, but continued in well-doing; which is a plain evidence that I am no hypocrite. Or, the past tense is put for the future, as is usual, I will hold fast, declaratively, as before, I will maintain it, that howsoever you calumniate…

I am so far from loving and practising wickedness, whereof you accuse me, that I abhor the thoughts of it; and if I might and would wish to be revenged of mine enemy, I could wish him no greater mischief than to be a wicked man. He that riseth up against me; either, 1.

There is no reason why I should envy or desire the portion of wicked men; for though they ofttimes prosper in the world, as I have said, and seem to be great gainers, yet death, which hasteneth to all men, and to me especially, will show that they are far greater losers, and die in a most wretched…

A hypocrite doth not pray to God with comfort, or any solid hope that God will hear him, as I know he will hear me, though not in the way which you think.

Will he be able to delight and satisfy himself with God alone, and with his love and favour, when he hath no other matter of delight? This I now do, and this a hypocrite cannot do, because his heart is chiefly set upon the world; and when that fails him, his heart sinks, and the thoughts of God are…

By the hand of God, i.e. by God’s help and inspiration; as God is said to speak to the prophet with or by a strong hand, Isa. 8:11. I will not teach you my own vain conceits, but what God himself hath taught me. Or, concerning (as the prefix beth is oft used, as Ex. 12:43–44, Ps. 63:6, Ps.

I speak no false or strange things, but what is known and confirmed by your own as well as others’ experiences. Why then are ye thus altogether vain, in maintaining such a foolish and false opinion against your own knowledge and experience? Why do you obstinately defend your opinion, and not comply…

This is the portion of a wicked man; that which is mentioned in the following verses; in which Job delivers either, 1. The opinion of his friends, in whose person he utters them, and afterwards declares his dissent from them. Or rather, 2.

It is for the sword; that they may be cut off by the sword, either of war or of justice. Shall not be satisfied with bread; shall be starved, or want necessaries. A figure called meiosis.

Those that remain of him; who survive and escape that sword and famine. Shall be buried in death; either, 1. Shall die, and so be buried. Or, 2. Shall be buried as soon as ever they are dead, either because their relations or dependents feared lest they shored come to themselves again, and trouble…

i.e. In great abundance.

The just shall put it on; either because it shall be given to him by the judge to recompense those injuries which he received from that tyrant; or because the right of it is otherwise transferred upon him by Divine Providence. The innocent shall divide the silver; either, 1.

As a moth; which settleth itself in a garment, but is quickly and unexpectedly brushed off, and dispossessed of its dwelling, and crushed to death. That the keeper maketh; which the keeper of a garden or vineyard suddenly rears up in fruit time, and as quickly and easily pulls it down again.

Shall lie down; either, 1. To sleep; as this word is used, Gen. 19:35, Deut. 6:7;c. Or, 2. In death, of which it is used, 2 Sam. 7:12. He shall not be gathered, to wit, in burial, of which this word is used, 2 Kings 22:20, Jer. 8:2, Jer. 25:33.

Terrors take hold on him, from the sense of his approaching death or judgment. As waters; either, 1. In abundance, one terror after another. Or, 2. Violently and irresistibly, as a river breaking its banks, or a deluge of waters bears down and overwhelms all that is before it.

The east wind, i.e. some violent and terrible judgment, fitly compared to the east wind, which in those parts was most vehement and furious, and withal pestilent and pernicious; of which see Ex. 10:13, Ex. 14:21, Ps. 48:7, Ps. 78:26, Hos. 13:15, Jonah 4:8.

God shall cast upon him his darts or plagues, one after another. And not spare, i.e. shall show no pity nor mercy to him, when he crieth to God for it. He would fain flee out of his hand; he earnestly desires and endeavours by all ways possible to escape the judgments of God, but all in vain.

Men, who shall see and observe these things, shall clap their hands; partly, in token of their joy at the removal of such a public pest and tyrant; and partly, by way of astonishment; and partly, in contempt, and scorn, or derision; all which this gesture signifies in Scripture use; of which see…