For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
For since the beginning of the world (men) have not heard, nor perceived by the ear. Paul (1 Corinthians 2:9) has for this latter clause "nor have entered into the heart of man" - the virtual sense, sanctioned by his inspired authority: men might hear with the outward ear, but they could only by the Spirit 'perceive' with the 'heart' the spiritual significancy of God's acts, both those in relation to Israel, primarily referred to here, and those relating to the Gospel secondarily, which Paul refers to.
Neither hath the eye seen, O God, besides thee, (what) he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him - or, as the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic, 'nor hath eye seen a god beside thee who doeth (or will do: ya`ªseh (H6213)) such things' (namely, the "terrible things" mentioned in Isaiah 64:3). etc. But the Vulgate supports the English version. And so, seemingly, Paul. What the natural eye, ear, and perception have not seen, without God (as "besides thee" means), is what God doeth for him that waiteth for Him. They refer to God's past marvelous acts in behalf of Israel, as a plea for His now interposing for His people; but the Spirit, as Paul inspiration shows, contemplated further God's revelation in the Gospel, which abounds in marvelous paradoxes never before heard of by carnal ear, not to be understood by mere human sagacity, and when foretold by the prophets, not fully or credited; and even after the manifestation of Christ, not to be understood except through the inward teaching of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9). These are partly past and present, and partly future, therefore Paul substitutes "prepared" for 'doeth,' though his context shows he includes all three. For "waiteth" he has "love Him:" godly waiting on Him must flow from love, and not mere fear.