Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 16:18

18. O earth, cover not thou my bloud , and let my cry have no place.

So called not actively; to wit, his own blood, but passively or ob[illegible: 1+ letters]ctively; i. e the blood of others shed by him and lying upon his Conscience. The Earth is said to cover that blood which lies undiscovered and unrevenged: Of which see on Gen. 4. 10, 11. Isa. 26 21. But saith Iob. if I be guilty of destroying any one man by Murder or Oppression, as I am traduced; O Lord, let the Earth disclose it, let it be brought to light, that I may suffer condign punishment for it.

Either 1. passively; to wit, the cries and groans which I have forced from others by my Oppressions: Let those Cries have no place to hide them. Or rather 2. actively, the Cry of my Complaints to men, or Prayers to God; let them find no place in the Ears or Hearts of God or men, if this be true: Or, no place; i. e. no regard, or no power or success▪ in which sense God's Word is said not to have place in evil men Iohn 8. 37. And Esa[illegible: 1+ letters] not to find place of repentance, Heb. 12. 17. i. e. All his Intreaties and Tears could not prevail with his Father to repent of and retract the Blessing given from him to Iacob.