For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
Job 17:4 stands within Job 15–17, where Job answers Eliphaz's renewed accusations by protesting his innocence and expressing a desire for death. It declares that his friends had been shut out from understanding of his case, and for that reason God would not lift them up. They were speaking out of their own wisdom and observation, holding truly enough that evil is finally punished and good finally rewarded, yet erring in taking Job's suffering as proof that God was displeased with him.
Job 17:4 stands within Job 15–17, where Job answers Eliphaz's renewed accusations by protesting his innocence and expressing a desire for death. It declares that his friends had been shut out from understanding of his case, and for that reason God would not lift them up. They were speaking out of their own wisdom and observation, holding truly enough that evil is finally punished and good finally rewarded, yet erring in taking Job's suffering as proof that God was displeased with him.