That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
Purpose - margin, 'work.' So. Job 36:9. So 'business' in a bad sense (1 Samuel 20:19). Elihu alludes to Job's words (Job 17:11). "Pride" is an open "pit" (Job 33:18) which God hides or covers up lest man should fall into it. Even the godly need to learn the lesson, which trials teach, to 'humble themselves under the mighty hand of God.'