Job 34:9

9. It profiteth a man nothing, etc. Job had, indeed, used a similar expression, (Job 21:15,) but had applied it to the wicked. He had maintained the contrary, (Job 17:9; Job 21:15; Job 28:28,) though it must be admitted that some of Job’s repinings are susceptible of such an interpretation (Job 9:22-25; Job 21:7; Job 24:1) as he himself seems to have felt at the close of his description of the happiness of the wicked. (Job 21:7-15.) The variations, if not errors, Elihu makes in his citations from Job are no more than might have been expected from one who had to rely solely on his memory for the points made in the course of the long discussion. They serve to illustrate and demonstrate the reality of the debate, and more particularly the genuineness of the Elihu section. Had Elihu’s speeches been an interpolation, (see Excursus VI,) as some German commentators hold, ordinary prudence, to say nothing of human workmanship in general, would have furnished joinering different from this.