Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 34:33

33. Should it be according to thy mind ? he will recompense it; whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose , and not I : therefore speak what thou knowest .

Having advised and directed Iob how to behave himself, and what to say to God in his case, he now proceedeth to enforce his advice by solid arguments. Should it (to wit, God's chastening of thee, about which the great controversie was) be according to thy mind? Heb. from with thee, as thou wouldest have it? Shall thy Opinion or Affection give Laws and Measures to God that he shall afflict onely such Persons and in such a manner and measure, and so long as thou wouldst have him? Doth God need or should he seek [illegible: 1+ letters]or thy advice how to govern the World, and whom, and when to reward or punish? Dost thou quarrel with God, because he punisheth thee▪ worse and longer than thou expectest or de[illegible: 1+ letters]rest?

To wit, thy iniquity expressed, v. 32.

Whether thou ar[illegible: 1+ letters] satisfied or offended with his proceedings, he regards not▪ a [illegible: 1 word] being obliged to give thee an account of his matters, whether thou would refuse his punishments or accept of them.

It is [illegible: 1+ letters]ot I, nor thou, that must prescribe to God▪ but he will do what he pleaseth. Or, but not I, i. e. do thou refuse or choo[illegible: 1+ letters]e as thou pleasest▪ and contend with God for doing with thee otherwise than according to thy opinion or good will; but so would not I do, if i[illegible: 1+ letters] were my case, and I can say nothing for this course which thou takest, and therefore do thou speak what thou knowest, or what thou ca[illegible: 1+ letters]st say for it, as it here follows.

If thou canst say any thing for this practice, here I am ready to hear thy defence and to justifie thee as far as I can truly and righteously do. But this Verse is and may well be otherwise rendred, and that very agreeably to the Hebrew, though still the sence will be the same, Shall he, i. e. God, render, or [illegible: 1 word] it (to wit, thy iniquity) according to thy mind, (i. e. no further than thou dost like and consent) because thou refusest? (to wit, his Chastisement. Is he obliged to forbear punishing thee because thou art not pleased with it? Shall not he dispense either favours or afflictions as he sees fit without thy consent?) shalt thou choose, and not I? (So Eli[illegible: 1+ letters] speaks this in the Name and Person of God: such sudden changes of Persons being not unusual in this Book. Shalt thou, O Iob, choose for me▪ and not I for my self?) therefore speak what thou knowest. If this be thy opinion speak what thou canst in defence of it: and here am I ready to plead for God against thee. So here Elihu returns to speak in his own Person.

Marginal references: Heb. should it be from with thee?