Luther translates the word mockers and flouters,1 and interprets false teachers that delude the people, and deprave the Scriptures, and this kind of scorning by perverting the Scripture is the worst kind of scorning of all others, it is most abominable, Job, 20.14. The meat in his bowels is turned to the gall of Asps, the word in such mens spirits as these are, is turned into bitterness; these scorners, who were they? the Nobles and the Princes, the Officers in the Court, these were the men which scorned at the people for going up to Jerusalem to worship, what fools are these which will lose the Kings favour, their places at Court, their honours and preferments, and all for a mere circumstance, and a trifle as they thought; and this was at the time of their feasts and jovialities when they might both harden the hearts of the King and people; now he stretched forth his hand to them, that is, 1. He encouraged them, and gave them his hand to kiss; how unlike is this unto God of whom Job speaks that he will not give his hand to the wicked, to malignants. Again, 2.2 to stretch forth his hand is to put forward any work, or further designs on foot, as Herod furthered their wicked designs of the high Priests ⟨p. 666⟩and Scribes in persecuting Christ, by countenancing them, he stretched out his hand to scorners.3 Scorners such as are the basest kind of people, as fiddlers, common jerves &c. as if he were a common companion for them, he put off all Princely dignities and made himself an associate for the basest of men, that could but any ways further his designs.
Luther translates the word mockers and flowters,1 and interprets false teachers that delude the people, and deprave the Scriptures, and this kind of scorning by perverting the Scripture is the worst kind of scorning of all others, it is most abominable, Job, 20.14. The meat in his bowels is turned to the gaul of Asps, the word in such mens spirits as these are, is turned into bitterness; these scorners, who were they? the Nobles and the Princes, the Officers in the Court, these were the men which scorned at the people for going up to Jerusalem to worship, what fools are these which will lose the Kings favor, their places at Court, their honors and preferments, and all for a meer circumstance, and a trifle as they thought; and this was at the time of their feasts and jovialities when they might both harden the hearts of the King and people; now he stretched forth his hand to them, that is, 1. He encouraged them, and gave them his hand to kiss; how unlike is this unto God of whom Job speaks that he will not give his hand to the wicked, to malignants. Again, 2.2 to stretch forth his hand is to put forward any work, or further designs on foot, as Herod furthered their wicked designs of the high Priests ⟨p. 666⟩and Scribes in persecuting Christ, by countenancing them, he stretched out his hand to scorners.3 Scorners such as are the basest kind of people, as fidlers, common jerves &c. as if he were a common companion for them, he put off all Princely dignities and made himself an associate for the basest of men, that could but any waies further his designs.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew], by a word signifying evil men, because scorners are full of all kind of evils.〈non-Latin alphabet〉, by a word signifying evil men, because scorners are ful of al kind of evils.
- 2Job, 8.2•
- 3Acts 12.1
