“Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari ?”
“As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? troubled: Heb. shortened?”
“Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?”
“As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?”
“As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?”
As though he would say, I do not talk with man but with God, who will not answer me, and therefore my mind must needs be troubled.
Troubled. Hebrew, “Why is not my spirit shortened” by death, if your assertion be true? (Haydock) or why may I not be “troubled,” since I have to deal, not with an enlightened judge, but with men who are under the greatest prejudices? (Calmet) — I seem to you to dispute against God. Have I not then reason to tremble? ver. 6. (Haydock) — Though he disputed with men, it was concerning Providence and eternal things. (Worthington)
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Verses 1-6 Job comes closer to the question in dispute. This was, Whether outward prosperity is a mark of the true church, and the true members of it, so that ruin of a man's prosperity proves him a hypocrite? This they asserted, but Job denied. If they looked upon him, they might see misery enough to demand compassion, and their bold interpretations of this mysterious providence should be turned into silent wonder.