Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
(Numbers 16:45; Psalms 49:6-7; Matthew 16:26.) Even the "ransom" by Jesus Christ (Job 33:24) will be of no avail to willful despisers (Hebrews 10:26-29).
With his stroke - [saapaq is the same as caapaq (H5607), smite] (Job 34:26). Umbreit translates 'Beware lest the wrath of God (thy severe calamity) lead thee to scorn' (Job 34:7; Job 27:23): literally, to smite the hands in scorn. This accords with the verb in the parallel clause, which ought to be translated, 'Let not the great ransom (of money, which thou canst give) seduce thee' (margin, turn thee aside, as if thou couldst deliver thyself from "wrath" by it). As the "scorn" in the first clause answers to the "judgment of the wicked," Job 36:17, so 'ransom, seduce' to "Will he esteem riches," Job 36:19. Thus Job 36:18 is the transition between Job 36:17; Job 36:19. Maurer for "wrath" translates 'milk' or 'butter,' the very image for wealth which Job himself had used, Job 29:6, 'Beware lest thy milk-like flow of wealth seduce thee in abundance' (so the Hebrew means, Job 20:22). The Hebrew х cheemaah (H2534)] will bear either meaning, milk or wrath. The English version is good Hebrew and good sense.