8:2 How long wilt thou speak these [things]? and [how long
shall] the words of thy mouth a [be like] a strong wind?
(a) He declares that their words which would diminish
anything from the justice of God, are but as a puff of
wind that vanishes away.
8:4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast
them away for their b transgression;
(b) That is, has rewarded them according to their iniquity,
meaning that Job should be warned by the example of his
children, that he not offend God.
8:5 If thou c wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy
supplication to the Almighty;
(c) That is, if you turn while God calls you to repentance.
8:7 Though thy beginning d was small, yet thy latter end
should greatly increase.
(d) Though the beginning is not as pleasant as you would
like, yet in the end you will have sufficient
opportunity to please yourself.
8:8 For e enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare
thyself to the search of their fathers:
(e) He wills Job to examine all antiquity and he will find
it true which he here says.
8:9 (For we [are but of] f yesterday, and know nothing,
because our days upon earth [are] a shadow:)
(f) Meaning, that it is not enough to have the experience of
ourselves, but to be confirmed by the examples of those
who went before us.
8:11 Can the rush g grow up without mire? can the flag grow
without water?
(g) As a rush cannot grow without moisture, so the
hypocrite because he does not have faith which is
watered with God's Spirit.
8:14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] a
h spider's web.
(h) Which is today and tomorrow swept away.
8:16 He [is] i green before the sun, and his branch shooteth
forth in his garden.
(i) He compares the just to a tree, which although it is
moved from one place to another, yet flourishes: so the
affliction of the godly turns to their profit.
8:18 If he destroy him from his place, then [it] shall k deny
him, [saying], I have not seen thee.
(k) That is, so that there remains nothing there to prove
whether the tree had grown there or not.
8:19 Behold, this [is] the joy l of his way, and out of the
earth shall others grow.
(l) To be planted in another place, where it may grow as it
pleases.
8:21 Till he fill thy mouth with m laughing, and thy lips with
rejoicing.
(m) If you are godly, he will give you opportunity to
rejoice and if not your affliction will increase.
