Job 5:16

So the poor hath hope,.... Who observing this and that and the other poor man crying to the Lord and saved, hopes that he may be saved by him also; and having had experience of salvation out of one

So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth. The poor hath hope - of the interposition of God.

So this poor man obtaineth what he in some measure hoped or expected from God, to whom he committed his cause; and other poor men will be encouraged by his example to place their hope in God. Iniquity, i. e. wicked men; the abstract for the concrete, as pride, deceit, injustice, are put for proud, deceitful, and unrighteous men, . Stoppeth her mouth, i.e. they are silenced and confounded, being convicted of their own wickedness and folly, and finding that not only the poor are got out of their nets and snares, in which they thought that they had them fast, but also the oppressors themselves are insnared in them; and all this by sudden and unexpected means.

Job 5:16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.Ver. 16. So the poor hath hope] How should it be otherwise? experience will breed confidence. Thou hast, thou wilt, is an ordinary Scriptural medium, Psalms 85:1-4 2 Corinthians 1:10. So, the poor, helpless, hopeless person, who is pined away, spent and utterly exhausted and wasted, both for health and wealth, he hath hope ( spem maiorum et meliorum, greater and better, as Alexander said when he had given away all); and this holds head above water, makes wants plenitudes, and beguiles calamity, as good company doth the way. Neither is hope ever more highly elevated than when our state in all men’ s eyes is at its lowest. I was brought low (or drawn dry, the same word as here), and he helped me, Psalms 116:6. "So he will regard the prayer of the destitute," Psalms 102:17. The Hebrew word there signifies a poor shrub that is in the wilderness low and slender, trod upon by beasts, unregarded, worthless; such a one looketh unto God and is lightened, Psalms 34:5, conceiveth lively hope, hope unfailable through faith unfeigned, having earnest expectation (as the word signifieth) of strong consolation; so that he can truly say with St Paul, When I am weak, then am I strong, 2 Corinthians 12:10. Such prisoners of hope can turn them to the strong holds, Zechariah 9:12. And iniquity stoppeth her mouth] Iniquity, that is, the workers of iniquity, those worst sort of sinners (the word importeth men of manifold perverseness, Maligni et nocendi studiosi. Aquinas), amazed at godly men’ s good successes, contrary to their expectations, shall stand speechless, as he did, Matthew 22:12, convicted of their wickedness, and confounded at God’ s wonderful works. See the like Isaiah 52:15 Psalms 107:42 Micah 7:16 Jeremiah 8:14. Thus Jannes and Jambres were silenced and convinced, but not converted. No more are many today, who yet have as little to say as they. The full accomplishment of this promise is not to be looked for till the last day.

(16) Iniquity stoppeth her mouth.—See Psalms 107:42, where the same phrase occurs.

Verse 16. So the poor] דל dal, he who is made thin, who is wasted, extenuated; hath hope - he sees what God is accustomed to do, and he expects a repetition of gracious dealings in his own behalf; and because God deals thus with those who trust in him, therefore the mouth of impiety is stopped. Religion is kept alive in the earth, because of God's signal interventions in behalf of the bodies and souls of his followers.

16. The end contemplated and reached by the all-embracing sweep of God’s benevolent purpose and providence.

So the poor hath hope - From the interposition of God. They are not left in a sad and comfortless condition. They are permitted to regard God as their protector and friend, and to look forward to another and a better world.

16. So the poor hath hope — As the poor are God’s special care, Heaven’s proteges, it is particularly said of them, that they have hope.