Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
Happy. Not that the actual suffering is joyous; but the consideration of the righteousness of Him who sends it, and the end for which it is sent, make it a cause for thankfulness, not for complaints, such as Job had uttered. "No chastening for the present seemeth joyous but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:11). Eliphaz implies that the end in this case is to call back Job from the particular sin of which he takes for granted that Job is guilty. Paul seems to allude to this passage in Hebrews 12:5; so James 1:12; Proverbs 3:12. Eliphaz does not give due prominence to this truth, but rather to Job's sin. It is Elihu alone (32-37) who fully dwells upon the truth that affliction is mercy and justice in disguise for the good of the sufferer.
Despise not - do not refuse to accept it, as heretofore, as though you did not deserve it.