Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
Ver. 2. Can a man be profitable unto God] No, neither doth Job say he can, but the contrary, Job 21:22. Howbeit the God of glory, as he is called, Acts 7:2, although his glory is as himself, infinite and eternal, and, therefore, not capable of our addition or detraction (the sun would shine though all the world were blind), yet, to try how we prize his glory, and what we will do for him, he hath declared that he accounteth himself made glorious by us when we get so far as to conceive of him above all creatures.
As he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?] Or, But he that is wise, &c. See Proverbs 9:12, which Solomon seemeth to have taken hence. Natural reason taught Plautus to bring in a countryman animating his son cheerfully to follow his business thus, Thou ploughest, harrowest, sowest, and reapest for thyself; to thee shall this labour bring in joy. The word here rendered wise sometimes signifieth prosperous, quod prudentibus omnia feliciter cedant, because prudent persons do usually prosper. Prudentiam felicitas fere sequitur, Isaiah 52:13 .