2 For this cause my thoughts are troubling me and driving me on.
If one says a word, will it be a weariness to you? but who is able to keep from saying what is in his mind?
Is any one able to take up the argument against me? If so, I would keep quiet and give up my breath.
Take care that you do not say, Wisdom is here; God may overcome him, but not man. I will not put forward words like these, or make use of your sayings in answer to him. Fear has overcome them, they have no more answers to give; they have come to an end of words. And am I to go on waiting while they have nothing to say? while they keep quiet and give no more answers? I will give my answer; I will put forward my knowledge: For I am full of words, I am unable to keep in my breath any longer: My stomach is like wine which is unable to get out; like skins full of new wine, it is almost burst. Let me say what is in my mind, so that I may get comfort; let me give answer with open mouth.
And as for me, I said in my fear, I am cut off from before your eyes; but you gave ear to the voice of my prayer, when my cry went up to you.
He who is slow to be angry has great good sense; but he whose spirit is over-quick gives support to what is foolish.
Be not quick to let your spirit be angry; because wrath is in the heart of the foolish.
And if I say, I will not keep him in mind, I will not say another word in his name; then it is in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am tired of keeping myself in, I am not able to do it.
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.