Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

“I will not "speak wickedly for God," as the friends (Job 13:4, 7, 8) --that is, vindicate God by unsound arguments.”

Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

“Rather, "strength of understanding" (heart) the force of the repetition of "mighty"; as "mighty" as God is, none is too low to be "despised" by Him; for His "might" lies especially in "His strength of understanding," whereby He searches out the most minute things, so…”

And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction, then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.

“If they be afflicted, it is no proof that they are hypocrites, as the friends maintain, or that God disregards them, and is indifferent whether men are good or bad, as Job asserts: God is thereby "disciplining them," and "showing them their sins," and if…”

The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help. They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.

“Same sentiment as Job 36:11, 12, expanded. hypocrites--or, the ungodly [MAURER]; but "hypocrites" is perhaps a distinct class from the openly wicked (Job 36:12). heap up wrath--of God against themselves (Ro 2:5). UMBREIT translates, "nourish their wrath against God," instead of "crying" unto Him.”

They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.

“Rather (De 23:17), Their life is (ended) as that of (literally, "among") the unclean, prematurely and dishonorably. So the second clause answers to the first.”

Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.

“As the "scorn" in the first clause answers to the "judgment of the wicked" (Job 36:17), so "ransom" ("seduce") to "will he esteem riches" (Job 36:19). Thus, Job 36:18 is the transition between Job 36:17 and Job 36:19.”

Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.

“UMBREIT'S translation: "To ascend (which is really, as thou wilt find to thy cost, to descend) to the people below" (literally, "under themselves"), answers better to the parallelism and the Hebrew.”

Remember to magnify His work, which men have praised in song.

“Instead of arraigning, let it be thy fixed principle to magnify God in His works (Ps 111:2-8; Re 15:3); these, which all may "see," may convince us that what we do not see is altogether wise and good (Ro 1:20).”

All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.

“See--namely, with wondering admiration [MAURER]. man may behold--rather, "(yet) mortals (a different Hebrew word from 'man') behold it (only) from afar off," see but a small "part" (Job 26:14).”

Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

“God's greatness in heaven and earth: a reason why Job should bow under His afflicting hand. know him not--only in part (Job 36:25; 1Co 13:12). his years-- (Ps 90:2; 102:24, 27); applied to Jesus Christ (Heb 1:12).”

See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.

“God's garment is woven of celestial light and of the watery depths, raised to the sky to form His cloudy canopy. The phrase, "cover Himself with the roots of the sea," is harsh; but the image is grand.”

For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.

“These (rain and lightnings) are marvellous and not to be understood (Job 36:29), yet necessary. "For by them He judgeth (chastiseth on the one hand), &c. (and on the other, by them) He giveth meat" (food), &c.”

He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.

“Thus, as in Job 36:31, the twofold effects of His waters are set forth, so here, of His light; in the one hand, destructive lightning against the wicked; in the other, the genial light for good to His friends, &c.”

Then there comes a roaring sound; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds.

“The thunderclap follows at an interval after the flash. stay them--He will not hold back the lightnings (Job 37:3), when the thunder is heard [MAURER]. Rather, take "them" as the usual concomitants of thunder, namely, rain and hail [UMBREIT] (Job 40:9).”

God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.

“The sublimity of the description lies in this, that God is everywhere in the storm, directing it whither He will [BARNES]. See Ps 29:1-11, where, as here, the "voice" of God is repeated with grand effect. The thunder in Arabia is sublimely terrible.”

For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’

“Be--more forcible than "fall," as UMBREIT translates Ge 1:3. to the small rain, &c.--He saith, Be on the earth. The shower increasing from "small" to "great," is expressed by the plural "showers" (Margin), following the singular "shower." Winter rain (So 2:11).”

He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them.

“UMBREIT for "watering," &c., translates; "Brightness drives away the clouds, His light scattereth the thick clouds"; the parallelism is thus good, but the Hebrew hardly sanctions it.”

Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.

“Literally, "He maketh it (the rain-cloud) find place," whether for correction, if (it be destined) for His land (that is, for the part inhabited by man, with whom God deals, as opposed to the parts uninhabited, on which rain is at other times appointed to…”

Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?

“Hebrew, "Hast thou understanding of the balancings," &c., how the clouds are poised in the air, so that their watery gravity does not bring them to the earth?”

Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness.

“Men cannot explain God's wonders; we ought, therefore, to be dumb and not contend with God. If Job thinks we ought, "let him teach us, what we shall say." order--frame. darkness--of mind; ignorance.”

Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?

“What I a mortal say against God's dealings is not worthy of being told HIM. In opposition to Job's wish to "speak" before God (Job 13:3, 18-22). if . . .”

Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.

“But God cannot be "found out," because of His "Majesty" (Job 37:23). Thus the twenty-eighth chapter corresponds; English Version is simpler. the north--Brightness is chiefly associated with it (see on Job 23:9).”

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

“This and the disciplinary design of trial to the godly is the great lesson of this book. He does not solve the difficulty by reference to future retribution: for this was not the immediate question; glimpses of that truth were already given in the fourteenth…”

while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

“The creation morn is appropriately associated with these, it being the commencement of this world's day. The stars are figuratively said to sing God's praises, as in Ps 19:1; They are symbols of the angels, bearing the same relation to our earth, as angels do…”

In your days, have you commanded the morning or assigned the dawn its place, that it might spread to the ends of the earth and shake the wicked out of…

“Passing from creation to phenomena in the existing inanimate world. Hast thou--as God daily does. commanded the morning--to rise. since thy days--since thou hast come into being.”