John Trapp on Job 9:20

Verſe 20. If I justifie my ſelf] If, in default of other pleaders, I ſhould undertake to manage my cauſe my ſelf, I ſhould be never the neer.

Mine own mouth ſhall condemn me] i. e. God out of mine own mouth, as finding mine arguments weak and worthleſſe: He knowes us better then we know our ſelves; and when he comes to turn the bottom of the bag upwards (as once Joſephs ſteward did theirs) all our ſecret thefts will out, and thoſe will appear to be faults that we little thought of. A Dutch Divine, when to die, was full of fears and doubts; ſaid ſome to him, you have been ſo employed, and ſo faithful, why ſhould you fear? Oh, ſaid he, the judgment of man, and the judgment of God are different. Vae hominum vitae quantumvis laudabili, ſi remotâ miſericordiâ judicetur; Wo to the moſt praiſe-worthy man alive, if he meet with judgment without mercy. The beſt lamb ſhould abide the ſlaughter, except the ramme were ſacrificed, that Iſaak might be ſaved.

If I ſay, I am perfect] What if God had ſaid ſo, chap. 1.1. yet. Job might not, Prov. 27.2. 2 Cor. 10.18. Or if he do at any time juſtifie himſelf, as chap. 29. & 30 he doth, it is in his own neceſſary and juſt defence, againſt the charge of his friends. Real apologies we muſt ever make for our ſelves when wronged: verbal, if any, muſt be managed with meekneſſe of wiſedome.