An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

The Septuagint turn the sense of the words into another channel;¹ as if Elihu spake here in his own vindication, and not in Gods; and so they render the Text personally of Elihu; Far be it from me that I should do wickedly before God; or, that I should pervert Justice before the Almighty; as if Elihu had said; I am now to speak before God, or in Gods presence; God being my witness, ⟨p. 553⟩therefore I had need look to it while I am speaking before the righteous God, that I speak righteously, and while I speak before the God of truth, that I speak according unto truth; far be it from me that I should do wickedly before God; there is a truth in this translation. But this is not a true translation according to the Hebrew; nor is it the truth of this place. Elihu speaking in so weighty a matter might well say far be it from me to pervert justice so much as in a word, because I speak before God, and am in the presence of the Almighty. We should not speak a word amiss in his sight or hearing, who seeth and heareth what all men do and say, whatsoever they are doing or saying, especially, when they are doing or saying that which is of near concernment to himself. This rendering gives us a useful caution. But doubtless Elihu's purpose here was not to show with what reverence of God, himself was about to speak, but that he was about to speak for the vindication of the righteousness of God, which he thought Job had wronged by that assertion when he said, (vers. 9.) It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. Hereupon Elihu with some heat of spirit turns upon him in these words, Far be it from God that he should do wickedly.

The Septuagint turn the sence of the words into another channell;¹ as if Elihu spake here in his own vindication, and not in Gods; and so they render the Text personally of Elihu; Farre be it from me that I should do wickedly before God; or, that I should pervert Justice before the Almighty; as if Elihu had said; I am now to speake before God, or in Gods presence; God being my witnesse, ⟨p. 553⟩therefore I had need look to it while I am speaking before the righteous God, that I speake righteously, and while I speak before the God of truth, that I speak according unto truth; farre be it from me that I should doe wickedly before God; there is a truth in this translation. But this is not a true translation according to the Hebrew; nor is it the truth of this place. Elihu speaking in so weighty a matter might well say farre be it from me to pervert justice so much as in a word, because I speake before God, and am in the presence of the Almighty. We should not speak a word amisse in his sight or hearing, who seeth and heareth what all men doe and say, whatsoever they are doing or saying, especially, when they are doing or saying that which is of neare concernment to himselfe. This rendring gives us a usefull caution. But doubtlesse Elihu's purpose here was not to shew with what reverence of God, himselfe was about to speak, but that he was about to speak for the vindication of the righteousness of God, which he thought Job had wronged by that assertion when he said, (vers. 9.) It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. Hereupon Elihu with some heat of spirit turnes upon him in these words, Farre be it from God that he should doe wickedly.