If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
Ver. 16. If I have withheld the poor from their desire] The poor man speaketh supplications, he comes to the rich with his God help me, as Lazarus did, Luke 16:20,21, his very name speaks as much, but the rich answereth him roughly, Pro 18:23 Either the answer cutteth off half the petition, as the echo doth the voice; or else he is commanded ad quercum dicere, to tell his tale to the statues and images, as Diogenes used to do; for of living men he could get no hearing. But Job's suitors sped better. Pennyless they were, but not friendless; drawn dry (as the Hebrew word importeth) and such as whose wealth was utterly wasted; but Job shored them up and supplied them. And this he did readily, and at the first asking; they no sooner desired relief but they had it. Job was a cheerful giver, he neither denied nor delayed those that came to him for relief or refuge. Multi contra studiose causas inquirunt quibus se a benefaciendo cohibeant (Merlin). Many seek occasion to put off poor people, and to rid their hands of them.
Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail] Viduae saepe sunt verecundae (Mercer). Widows many times are modest; their eyes are weakened with much weeping, while they remember their former comforts and present crosses. This good Job considered, and therefore soon condescended to their requests. He held it enough that their hearts ached, and would not suffer their eyes to ache with expecting his help, but speedily sped them.
H χαρις η βραδυπους αχαρις εστι χαρις .