John Trapp on Job 9:17

Verſe 17. For he breaketh me with a tempeſt] q. d. This is one thing alſo that maketh me think I am not heard, becauſe I am not helped; but after my prayer I am in as bad a caſe as before, and ſeem to have a repulſe from God. Afflictions continued are no evidence that prayer is not heard; yet uſually it is very inevident to an afflicted perſon, that his prayer is heard. The Hebrew (and ſo the Vulgar) hath it, He will break me, that is, ſaith one, If I ſhould plead before him as pure, although I might temporally, or for a time be delivered, yet I ſhould not finally eſcape deſtruction, although I ſhould give him none other cauſe. Whereby we may ſee upon what danger of being torn in pieces by Gods judgments, our juſticiaries put themſelves, that will needs go to God in their own righteouſneſſe, as the proud Phariſee, Luke 18. The calamity of theſe merit-mongers ſhall riſe ſuddenly. Behold a whirle-wind, or a tempeſt of the Lord goeth forth in fury, even a grievous whirle-wind; it ſhall fall grievouſly upon the head of theſe wicked ones, Jer. 23.19. This Saint Paul knew, and therefore did his utmoſt that he might be found in Chriſt (ſc. when ſought for by the juſtice of God) not having his own righteouſneſſe, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, the righteouſneſſe which is of God by faith. Philip. 3 9.

And multiplieth my wounds without cauſe] i. e. Without any other cauſe then to try me, and prove my patience, which now Job began to perceive, as Philip gathereth, or without any manifeſt cauſe, and perceivable by an afflicted man, ſo Aquinas ſenſeth it. God hath not told me the reaſon of his chaſtenings; but to increaſe my grief, he concealeth from me the cauſe of them; and yet he multiplieth ſtill my ſores and my ſorrows. Or without cauſe, that is, without any ſuch cauſe as his friends alledged againſt him, viz. that he was a rank hypocrite.