Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 18:4

4. He teareth himself in his anger: shall the Earth be forsaken for thee ? and shall the rock be removed out of his place ?

i. e. Iob, of whom he speaks in the third person for the second, as Ch. 12. 4. & 16. 7. Obad. 3 3. Or, O thou that tearest thy self. Thou complainest of us for vexing thee with our speeches, when in truth thou art thy own greatest tormenter by thy own impatience and rage.

To wit, by God. Shall God give over the government of the Earth, and Men, and things in it, and suffer all things to fall out by chance, and promiscuously to good and bad men, without any regard to his Truth, or Wisdom, or Justice? Shall God forbear to rule the World righteously, as he hath hitherto done, in favouring good men, and destroying the wicked?

i. e. For thy sake; or to prevent thy Complaints and Clamours.

Shall the Counsels of God, which are more firm and unmoveable than Rocks, and the whole course of his Providence be altered to comply with thy fancies or Humours?

Marginal references: Heb. his Soul.