An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Thirdly, Others render thus, He is excellent in power, ¹and in judgement, and plenty in justice, he will not answer. The wo•d which we translate, to afflict, with some alteration in the Hebrew pointing, signifieth also to answer; and so the words carry a sense of the absolute sovereignty of God, who is so great in power, and in judgement, and plenty of justice, that he will not answer; that is, though men complain of his justice, or think he hath done them wrong, or at least is over-severe towards them, yet he will not come to an answer, he will give no man a reason of his ways. Of this Elihu spake expressly (Chap. 33. v. 13.) He giveth not an account ⟨p. 636⟩of any of his matters. God is so powerful that no man can call him to an account, and so just in the use or exercise of his power, that there is no reason why any should. But though this also be a great truth, yet because Elihu had asserted it fully before, as also because this translation is grounded upon a change in the ordinary pointing of the Hebrew word, from which I conceive, with others, we ought not easily to recede, therefore I shall not stay upon it.

Thirdly, Others render thus, He is excellent in power, ¹and in judgement, and plenty in justice, he will not answer. The wo•d which we translate, to afflict, with some alteration in the Hebrew pointing, signifieth also to answer; and so the words carry a sence of the absolute soveraignty of God, who is so great in power, and in judgement, and plenty of justice, that he will not answer; that is, though men complain of his justice, or think he hath done them wrong, or at least is over-severe towards them, yet he will not come to an answer, he will give no man a reason of his wayes. Of this Elihu spake expresly (Chap. 33. v. 13.) He giveth not an account ⟨p. 636⟩of any of his matters. God is so powerful that no man can call him to an account, and so just in the use or exercise of his power, that there is no reason why any should. But though this also be a great truth, yet because Elihu had asserted it fully before, as also because this translation is grounded upon a change in the ordinary pointing of the Hebrew word, from which I conceive, with others, we ought not easily to recede, therefore I shall not stay upon it.