2 Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me.
If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.
Beware lest ye say, We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man: For he hath not directed his words against me; Neither will I answer him with your speeches. They are amazed, they answer no more: They have not a word to say. And shall I wait, because they speak not, Because they stand still, and answer no more? I also will answer my part, I also will show mine opinion. For I am full of words; The spirit within me constraineth me. Behold, my breast is as wine which hath no vent; Like new wine-skins it is ready to burst. I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications When I cried unto thee.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
And if I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I cannot `contain'.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 20
Commentary on Job 20 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 20
One would have thought that such an excellent confession of faith as Job made, in the close of the foregoing chapter, would satisfy his friends, or at least mollify them; but they do not seem to have taken any notice of it, and therefore Zophar here takes his turn, enters the lists with Job, and attacks him with as much vehemence as before.
But the great mistake was, and (as bishop Patrick expresses it) all the flaw in his discourse (which was common to him with the rest), that he imagined God never varied from this method, and therefore Job was, without doubt, a very bad man, though it did not appear that he was, any other way than by his infelicity.
Job 20:1-9
Here,
Job 20:10-22
The instances here given of the miserable condition of the wicked man in this world are expressed with great fulness and fluency of language, and the same thing returned to again and repeated in other words. Let us therefore reduce the particulars to their proper heads, and observe,
Job 20:23-29
Zophar, having described the many embarrassments and vexations which commonly attend the wicked practices of oppressors and cruel men, here comes to show their utter ruin at last.