John Trapp on Job 20:4

Verſe 4. Knoweſt thou not this of old?] Whether Zophar intended his own Conſcience or not, before, he here appeareth to Jobs; and ſecretly taxeth him of going againſt it, or, at leaſt of groſſe ignorance: Knoweſt thou not this, which every one knoweth, that is not a meer Novice, and which is proved by the examples and experience of all ages? To wit, Malis male eſſe; that it ſhall be ill with the wicked: This is a generally received maxime, and the Hiſtories of all ages do plainly and plentifully confirm it. Hinc collige, diligenter obſervanda eſſe, &c.Merlin. Hence we may well gather, that Gods Judgements againſt wicked perſons are to be diligently obſerved out of the Hiſtories of all ages, both divine, and humane.

Since man was placed upon the earth] Heb. Since he placed man upon the earth. viz. in that earthly Paradiſe the Garden of Eden. planted on purpoſe for mans pleaſure; where nevertheleſſe he ſtayed not one night. as ſome gather from Pſal. 49.12.Pecorib[illegible: 1 letter] morticinis. but ſoon by his ſin became like the beaſts that periſh, that dye of the murrain ſaith Junius, and ſo are good for nothing. Cain for like cauſe was caſt out, the old world drowned, Sodom and her ſiſters conſumed with fire, &c. There cannot be one inſtance given to the contrary of that which is here affirmed, viz.