My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men.
Ver. 36. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end] Or, unto victory, till he be vanquished and set down, Usque ad victoriam (Trem). It is conceived that Job, by clapping his hands, as Job 34:37, or by the set of his countenance, or some other way, had discovered his dislike of and discontent at that which Elihu had spoken. He therefore begs of God to continue afflicting him, till he be in a better mind, Crux sancta est et salubris. This he doth by a special instinct for Job's good, and not out of any desire for revenge. So Farel pronounced a curse upon young Calvin's studies, in case he should refuse to join with him in the Lord's work at Geneva, where a Church had been newly planted; this so thunderstruck him, that he dared not stir from there to his dying day, At ego tibi studia tua praetexenti denuncio Omnipotentis Dei nomine, &c. (Calv. Vit.). Some read it, My Father, let Job be tried. It is not to be doubted but those ancients also called God by this sweet name of Father. See John 8:41. Beza makes Elihu thus bespeaking Job, for honour's sake, O my Father, Job shall be yet still tried. The Tigurines read, Haec autem in medium affero, These things I produce, that Job's things may be most exactly discussed, and wicked men's mouths stopped.
Because of his answers for wicked men] Who will take liberty by him to excuse their iniquity, and speak dishonourably of God, as he hath done.