Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
The warning stands in Elihu's argument and reproof to Job in chapters 32-37, which form the third of the five parts of the book. There God is set forth as supreme, and Job is called not to regard himself as great. For that reason the verse must be read as part of the whole book rather than taken in isolation.
It cautions against regarding or turning to iniquity, and against choosing iniquity as a way to escape affliction. The right choice is the reverse, to endure affliction rather than commit iniquity. Even those who have been faithful are to submit to God through trials and to magnify His work. Those who love God may trust that He works all things for good, and those who submit to His testing will come forth as gold.
Left to his own choice, a man without true religion prefers sin to affliction and counts sin the smaller evil. He can look calmly on the defilement of his own soul rather than suffer loss of goods, pleasures, or present ease, and that preference exposes the unsoundness of his heart. Saints are known by the opposite principle, that they will never knowingly agree to commit sin even to prevent great personal suffering or loss.
The warning stands in Elihu's argument and reproof to Job in chapters 32-37, which form the third of the five parts of the book. There God is set forth as supreme, and Job is called not to regard himself as great. For that reason the verse must be read as part of the whole book rather than taken in isolation.
It cautions against regarding or turning to iniquity, and against choosing iniquity as a way to escape affliction. The right choice is the reverse, to endure affliction rather than commit iniquity. Even those who have been faithful are to submit to God through trials and to magnify His work. Those who love God may trust that He works all things for good, and those who submit to His testing will come forth as gold.
Left to his own choice, a man without true religion prefers sin to affliction and counts sin the smaller evil. He can look calmly on the defilement of his own soul rather than suffer loss of goods, pleasures, or present ease, and that preference exposes the unsoundness of his heart. Saints are known by the opposite principle, that they will never knowingly agree to commit sin even to prevent great personal suffering or loss.