They had spoken rather bravely than truly

Job 6:19 Yet let me alone, till I may swallow down my spittle?

That is, nor afford me the least intermission, no, not a spitting while. He will not suffer me to take my breath, #Job 9:18. Jerome thinks that Job was troubled with a quinsey, or sore throat, which hindered the swallowing of his spittle; neither had he power to spit out the corrupt matter that ran down his throat. Oh what a sweet mercy is health! and how ill able are the best without special support from heaven to bear sickness!

A heavy judgment

Job 6:30. Cannot my taste discern perverse things?

Cannot I distinguish between right and wrong, truth and falsehood? #Job 12:11 34:3.

Is my mouth so far out of taste? &c.

It is a heavy judgment to be given up to an injudicious mind, #Ro 1:28, a reprobate sense.

What guiltiness can you find in my face?

Job 6, Ver. 28. Now therefore be content, look upon me.

Let it suffice you to have thus hardly handled me; cast now a more benign aspect upon me, and be not henceforth so hot and so harsh.

Now therefore be content, regard me, so Mr Broughton translateth it, or look upon me, sc. with a critical eye:

what guiltiness can you find in my face? do I look like a hypocrite, and can you read my conscience in my countenance?

About friends again

1. As brooks run with waters then when there is least need of them; so false friends are most officious when their courtesy might best be spared.
2. As the ice of such brooks is so condensed and hardened that it beareth men, horses, and other things of great weight; so counterfeit friends promise and pretend to be ready to do their utmost to suffer anything for our good and comfort.
3. But as those brooks are dried up in summer, and frozen up in winter, so that we can set no sight on them; in like sort these are not to be found when we are in distress and affliction.
4. As brooks in winter are covered with snow and ice; so these would seem to be whiter than snow when their affections towards us are colder than ice.
5. Lastly, as the ice that was hard and firm, upon a thaw breaketh and melteth; so false friends leave us many times upon very small or no dislikes; as being constant only in their unconstancy.

(Job 6:15)

About friends again…

6:Ver. 15. My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook.

Even you, whom I esteemed as my brethren (for to them he applieth this speech, #Job 6:21), prove hollow and helpless to me; like the river Araris, that moveth so slowly, that it can hardly be discerned, saith Caesar, whether it flow forward or backward (Caesar, de Bell Gal. l. 1); or rather, to a certain fish in that river Araris, called scolopidus; which at the waxing of the moon is as white as the driven snow, and at the waning thereof is as black as a burnt coal.

About friends

From his friend (Job 6:14)

Who is made for the day of adversity, #Pr 17:17, and should show love at all times, and especially in evil times; but poor Job bewaileth the want of such faithful friends, Αφιλον το δυστυχες, Et cum fortuna statque caditque fides.

Who is offended, and I burn not?

Job 6:14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend;

By a sweet tender melting frame of spirit, such as was that of the Church, #Ps 102:13, and that of Paul, #2Co 11:29, “Who is weak, and I am not weak?” sc. by way of sympathy; “who is offended, and I burn not?” when others are hurt, I feel twinges: as the tongue complaineth for the hurt of the toe, and as the heart condoleth with the heel, and there is a fellow feeling amongst all the members; so there is likewise in the mystical body.

Cursing men are cursed men

I have seen the foolish taking root:
but suddenly I cursed his habitation. (Job 5:3)

All these Eliphaz suddenly (even when he was in the ruff of all his jollity, in the height of his flourish) cursed, Heb. pierced, or bored through, not so much by a malediction as a prediction, Male ominatus sum iis, I foresaw and foretold that that happiness would not hold long; I ominously divined it; I both thought it and spake it.

My chief study, and trade of life

Job 4:12 And mine ear received a little thereof.

 Nonnihil pauxillum, quippiam, not all that it might, but as much as it could, as being but a narrow mouthed vessel.

Vide ut modeste loquatur, saith Mercer; See how modestly the man speaketh, not taking upon him any perfection of knowledge, though he were a man of great understanding; his ear caught somewhat of what was revealed, and but somewhat.

The best men, while here, knows only in part; for what reason? We prophesy but in part, #1Co 13:9.