Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:
Ver. 31. Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement] To convince a man of a fault, and not to advise him how to do better, is to snuff a lamp and not pour more oil into it. Elihu therefore now sets himself to counsel Job, whom he conceiveth he had sufficiently convinced of injury done to God. Surely it is meet, &c. Par est; this is supplied by the translators to make sense; for the original is very concise and dark, and therefore diversely interpreted; as is also all this latter part of the chapter. Some render it thus, But to God who saith, I pardon, I will not destroy, it should be said, That which I see not, teach thou me, &c. Some thus, Therefore we ought thus to speak unto God, I suffer patiently, I will not break asunder; viz. these bonds wherewith thou hast fast bound me. Others thus: Hath Job said to God, I have borne, &c. q.d. Nothing less, as ye all are witnesses. Others again thus: Hath he (that is, the tyrant dethroned, as in the verse aforegoing) said to God, I have been, &c.? Hath he confessed his wickedness, and promised amendment? No such matter, surely; therefore is he justly punished. This is a very good sense, saith Mercer. But to stick to our last and best translation, Surely it is meet, &c., for is it fit that God should cast down the bucklers first, and not have the better of us? Should we not rather disarm his just indignation by a humble yieldance?
I have borne chastisement] Heb. I have borne and will bear, being active in suffering and taking up my cross.
I will not offend any more] Heb. I will not corrupt; to wit, my ways, and so undo myself.