Job 33:3

My words [shall be of] the uprightness of my heart,.... Not that the uprightness of his heart, or his own personal integrity, should be the subject of his discourse; but what he should say would be

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. I will speak according to my inward conviction.

I shall not speak passionately or partially, as one resolved to defend what I have once said, whether true or false; but from an honest mind, or what I verily believe to be true, and from a sincere desire to do thee good. I shall not speak my own fancies or devices, but only that which by diligent study and Divine inspiration I know to be true, and this I shall do plainly and clearly.

Job 33:3 My words [shall be of] the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.Ver. 3. My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart] i.e. Out of the uprightness of my heart I will deal fairly and faithfully with thee; I will carve thee a piece of my heart, without doubling or dissembling; and why should not downright truth please thee better than a smooth supparasitation ? Bees pass by roses and violets, and sit upon thyme; so should men rather heed sound rebukes, though hot and biting, than flattering discourses, which Solomon fitly calleth, "The song of fools," Ecclesiastes 7:5, a syren’ s song. And another calleth a flatterer a courteous murderer, Eυνουςσφακτης, that killeth in kindness, kisseth and killeth. Cavete vobis ab osculo hoc Iscariotico, Beware of this sweet poison, and covet rather those faithful wounds of a friend, Proverbs 27:6, as David did, Psalms 141:5. And as Vespasian, who carrieth this commendation, that he was Patientissimus veri; verp patient of truth, and as Alphonsus, king of Arragon, who complained of this, that whereas of everything else he had enough, of truth he was very much scanted, there being few about him that would deal candidly and faithfully without flattery or partiality. And my lips shall utter knowledge clearly] i.e. Simply and sincerely, plainly and perspicaciously, I will show my meaning, without either gall or guile. My discourse shall be clear and pure from all dross of deceit, as the original word signifieth. This is a praise proper to God’ s Holy Word, Psalms 9:9-11 Proverbs 30:5. And they that handle it (Tophshe Torah, Jeremiah 2:8) may here learn not to obtrude their own conceits or conjectures for doctrinal truths; but to utter demonstrative things: not to huckster the Word of God, or corrupt it with their own mixtures, as vintners do their wines; "but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God," &c., 2 Corinthians 2:17. Let them not preach one thing and practise another, sed animentur moribus praecepta; lest some Hilary complain as once, That there were many heavenly doctrines in the people’ s ears that never yet had been in the preacher’ s heart.

Verse 3. My words shall be of the uprightness] As God has given me his Spirit, from that Spirit alone will I speak; therefore all my words shall be of uprightness, knowledge, and truth. Knowledge clearly.] דעת ברור daath barur, pure science. I shall lay down no false positions, and I shall have no false consequences.

3. Reiteration of the speaker’s sincerity; he possesses what Job had desiderated on the part of his three friends, uprightness (ch. Job 6:25). my lips shall utter knowledge clearly] lit. and the knowledge of my lips they shall utter purely, with no mixture of falsehood; his lips will express truly the sincere convictions of his mind.

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart - I will speak in sincerity. I will utter nothing that shall be hollow and hypocritical. What I speak shall be the real suggestion of my heart - what I feel and know to be true.

3. That “in the proposition of Job, that he suffers and yet is innocent before God, lies the consequence that man without sin is no better than the man with sin, and that the pious have no