Job 23:17 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Because I was not cut off; because God did not cut me off by death. Before the darkness, i.e. before these dark and dismal miseries came upon me. Or, before the face, or by reason of the darkness, i.e. that God hath not yet cut me off by these calamities, but prolonged nay days under them, that he might increase my torment. Neither hath he covered the darkness from my face; so that I might no longer see or feel my miseries, but might be taken out of them by my long-desired death. Seeing (and consequently having before one's face) is oft put for experiencing, for enjoying good, or feeling evil, as Job 20:17 Psalms 16:10, &c. Or, but he hath covered darkness, to wit, death, which is so called Job 10:21,22, and elsewhere, from my face, i.e. he will not allow me the favour to see death.