I would declare to him the number of my steps
To his judge, or to him that contended with him, and drew up the
bill against him; he would forward it, assist in it, furnish
materials for it, give an account of all the transactions of his
life that he could remember; this he says not as though he
thought that God stood in need of any such declaration, since he
better knows the actions of men than they themselves, compasses
their paths, and is acquainted with all their ways; but to show
how confident he was of his innocence, and how little he feared
the strictest and closest examination of his ways and works,
knowing that he had lived with all good conscience unto that day:
and as a prince would I go near unto him;
either he should consider such an hearer and judge of his cause
he desired as a prince, and reverence and respect him as such; he
should be as dear unto him, though his adversary that contended
with him, as a prince; and he should be as ambitious of an
acquaintance with him as with a prince: or rather he means that
he himself as a prince, in a princely manner, and with a princely
spirit, should draw nigh to his judge, to answer to the bill in
writing against him; that he should not come up to the bar like a
malefactor, that shows guilt in his countenance, and by his
trembling limbs, and shrinking back, not caring to come nigh, but
choosing rather to stand at a distance, or get off and escape if
he could; but on the other hand, Job would go up to his judge,
and to the judgment seat, with all the stateliness of a prince,
with an heroic, intrepid, and undaunted spirit; like a "bold
prince", as Mr. Broughton renders the word; see ( Job 23:3 ) .