1Job acknowledgeth God's justice, wisdom, and power, against which there is no contending: 14he disclaimeth all thought of justifying himself; 20but insisteth that a man's innocency is not to be judged by the good or evil that befalls him in this world: 25he bringeth evidence of his own misfortunes, but will not presume to dispute with the author of them, who is so much above him.
1THEN Job answered and said,
2I know it is 1so of a truth: but how should mana be just 2with God?
1 Namely, as you say, that God indeed is righteous, punishing the evil, and protecting the good. This I do know so well that it never came into my mind to charge God with unrighteousness.
a Psalm 143:2.
2 That is, before God. So the Hebrew word is taken 1 Sam. 2:26; Psalm 130:4.
3If he will contend with him, he 3cannot answer him one of a thousand.
3 That is, man shall be found guilty a thousand times over, that is, very often, yea, almost endless. A certain number for an uncertain. See Lev. 26 on verse 8.
44He is wise 5in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
4 Namely, God. See Job 3 on verse 20.
5 By the Hebrews the word heart is sometimes taken for the seat of the understanding, and consequently also for the understanding and wisdom itself. Exod. 28:3; Job 11:12; 34:34; Prov. 2:10; 6:32; 19:8; Hosea 4:11.
5Which removeth the mountains, and they know 6not: which overturneth them in his anger.
6 That is, unawares and beyond all expectation, namely, of the people who dwell upon them. Compare Job 7 on verse 10. Or, by way of comparison there is here ascribed life and motion unto things inanimate. See Job 28 on verse 14.
6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the 7pillars thereof 8tremble.
7 That is, its lowest bases and foundations.
8 That is, do even quake and tremble for terror. Compare herewith Job 26:11.
7Which commandeth 9the sun, and 10it riseth not; and 11sealeth up the stars.
9 Hebr. Saith to the sun. To say or to speak for to command. See 2 Chron. 29 on verse 24.
10 Namely, ordinarily, whiles the night must continue over such and such lands’ horizon, or extraordinarily, when God is pleased to bring some alteration in the course of the sun, Joshua 10:20; 2 Kings 20:11.
11 Namely, by the light of day, which hides the stars, even as by a seal the contents of the letter are hidden from sight. The sense is: that God makes the day; as in the first part of this verse the making of the night is ascribed to Him. Or, it may be understood of some extraordinary and miraculous obscuring or withholding of the light of the stars. Thus the word sealing is taken in Isa. 29:11; Dan. 9:24; 12:4, 9.
8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens,b and treadeth upon the 12waves of the sea.
b Gen. 1:6.
12 That is, upon the flood, and the high swollen waves of the sea, which God calms and makes plain, as if He did level and made them smooth with His feet.
9Which maketh 13Arcturus, 14Orion, and 15Pleiades, and the 16chambers of the south.
13 A certain constellation of the heavens, called likewise by many to this day, but otherwise Arctos or Ursa. Some do understand here the constellation called Arcturus. See hereof likewise Job 38:32.
14 A constellation, which appears in December until the spring time. See likewise hereof Job 38:31; Amos 5:8.
15 Also a constellation or celestial sign, called by the Latinate Vergiliæ, and Pleiads by the Greeks, and by us called the seven stars, appearing in the spring; whereof see also Job 38:31.
16 Or, rooms, or, private cabinets. Understand hereby the stars that are about the south pole, because they are for the most part not seen by us who live about the north pole, and are called secret or private rooms, withdrawing chambers.
1017Whichc doeth great things 18past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
17 See Job 5:9, and thereupon the annotations.
c Job 5:9; Psalm 72:18; 77:14; 86:10; Rom. 11:33.
18 Hebr. unto no searching.
11Lo, he 19goeth by me, and I see him not: he 20passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
19 Namely, with the testimony of His wisdom, power, goodness and righteousness, which He does variously express in His works, and permits to be viewed by us, yet cannot be sufficiently fathomed by us, Rom. 11:33.
20 Hebr. hasten away, namely, from the place. Spoken of God according to the manner of men, in regards of His works, which He does whether in wrath or in mercy. See Job 4 on verse 15.
1221Behold, he 22taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
21 That is, He shall deprive people, by reason of their sins, their goods and life, which He had given them.
22 Compare 2 Sam. 16:10; Isa. 45:9; Jer. 18:6; Rom. 9:20.
13If God will not withdraw 23his anger, the 24proud helpers do stoop under him.
23 That is, not withhold His judgment, when He has determined to execute the same according to His righteous sentence, how eagerly so ever the wicked strive and spurn against it, seeking to escape them by force or to prevent by others.
24 Hebr. the helpers of pride, that is, those, who arrogantly presume, that they shall be able to help themselves or others.
14How much less shall I 25answer him, and choose out my words to reason 26with him?
25 That is, to be able to answer Him, namely, when He shall call me to judgment. Also in the next verse.
26 The Hebrew particle him is sometimes taken for against, as Deut. 9:7; Job 10:17; Psalm 94:16; Prov. 30:31.
15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I 27not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
27 That is, not firmly entirely. For, Job, being quite cast down through the grievousness of his affliction and terrified by the greatness of the Divine majesty, was not able for a time to imagine any possibility of a speedy deliverance out of his misery.
17For he breaketh me with a 28tempest, and multiplieth my 29wounds 30without cause.
28 Namely, of the judgments and visitations, which were fallen upon him, and which he compares to a tempest by reason of their sudden, unexpected, fierce and terrible calamity. Compare Job 27:20; Psalm 83:15; Prov. 10:25; Ezek. 13:11, 13, 14; Amos 1:14.
29 Understand the miseries, which by the visitation of the Lord had seized upon his body, goods and family.
30 Namely, whereby I would have deserved such a punishment more than other men, or, having committed any such execrable crime, that would deserve such an extraordinary punishment. See Job 2 on verse 3.
18He will not suffer me to take 31my breath, but filleth me with 32bitterness.
31 Hebr. bring again my spirit; that is, to have any respite or relief, but He persists continually to fill me with these plagues, and to ensnare at the same time. Compare Job 7 on verse 4. Spirit for breath; also Job 19:17.
32 That is, with sad and grievous afflictions. Compare 2 Kings 4 on verse 27.
1933If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall 34set me a time to plead?
33 That is, if the dispute between God and me shall be decided and determined by power.
34 Hebr. make me gather? That is, who shall make us to meet that we may plead together, and that at last there may be given a sentence between us?
2035If I justify myself, 36mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, 37it shall also prove me perverse.
35 Namely, before God. Other, Though I be righteous.
36 That is, I shall nevertheless be forced to confess that I am a poor sinner; or, even by that which my own mouth shall utter, God shall nevertheless be able to convince me of sin. Of the word condemn see Job 10 on verse 2.
37 That is, God or my own mouth shall prove to me that I am wrong; for, He shall question me so wisely that in my defense He shall find matter enough to condemn me; and although in this present dispute I do maintain a good cause against mine friends, yet I know myself to be a sinful man before God, and therefore liable to be condemned.
21Though I were perfect, yet would I not 38know my 39soul: I would despise my life.
38 Or, esteem. Hebr. not know; that is, not regard, care for, improve. Compare the annotation at Gen. 18 on verse 19. Other, I shall not know my soul or myself, as if I were nothing by myself for fear of the Divine majesty.
39 That is, my life. See Gen. 19 on verse 17. The explanation follows in the end of this verse. Or, myself not. See 1 Kings 19 on verse 4.
2240This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfectd and the wicked.
40 Namely, that I can hardly swallow; it is this, that I, being godly, must nevertheless disdain my life by reason of the manifold evils and vexations which seized on me in the same.
d Eccl. 9:2, 3; Mal. 3:14.
23If the scourgee41slay suddenly, he will 42laugh at the 43trial of the innocent.
e whip (noun)*
41 Namely, the godly together with the wicked.
42 Namely, according to the outward semblance of this life, but not according to the hidden truth of things; for, according to the outward appearance there seems to be no difference here between the good and the bad; which has always perplexed many godly here, Psalm 37:1; 73:2, etc.; Eccl. 8:14; Jer. 12:1; Hab. 1:13, 14; Mal. 3:14; but otherwise it is true what we read in Psalm 73:17, 18; Jer. 12:3; Mal. 3:16, 17; 1 Cor. 11:32; Heb. 12:10, 11.
43 See Gen. 22 on verse 1.
24The earth is 44given 45into the hand of the wicked: 46he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and 47who is he?
44 Namely, by God’s government.
45 That is, into the power of the wicked; whereas man would think the godly ought to have much more the upper hand and the chief command in the world.
46 Understand that God blinds the eyes of the understanding of the rulers of the world, that they are not able to discern between good and bad, for the punishing of vice and rewarding of virtue.
47 Namely, he who does it. Other, where and who is he? How God is now said to do evil see Gen. 45 on verse 5; 1 Kings 12 on verse 15.
2548Nowf my days are 49swifter than a post:g they flee away, they see 50no good.
48 As if he said: If I had any prosperity, the same was suddenly gone; but the wicked’s prosperity is lasting, Psalm 73:4.
f Job 7:6, 7.
49 That is, quicker. See Job 7 on verse 6.
g messenger carrying letters*
50 That is, no enjoyment. See Job 7 on verse 7.
26They are passed away 51as the 52swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
51 That is, like unto, as appears by the second clause of this verse. Or, with.
52 Hebr. ships of desire, that is, which sail so swiftly, that they seem to have a desire and longing to the place where they have to be. Or, understand ships, which, being laden with desirable, that is, precious wares, do what they can to speed and expedite their voyage that they may bring their rich commodities home soon, and make money by it.
27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my 53heaviness, and comfort myself:
53 Hebr. face, that is, my distempered carriage and sad countenance.
28I am afraid of all my 54sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me 55innocent.
54 Namely, that they shall hinder me to perform what I said.
55 That is, not let me go unpunished. See 1 Kings 2 on verse 9.
29If I be 56wicked, why then labour I in 57vain?
56 Or, guilty, liable to punishment; likewise be declared wicked or guilty, because Thou shalt always maintain Thy right, however much I may endeavor to defend myself.
57 That is, why shall I take any pains now to no purpose, or labor in vain to plead my cause?
30Ifh I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never 58so clean;
h Jer. 2:22.
58 Other, in cleanness.
31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the 59ditch, and mine own 60clothes shall abhor me.
59 Namely, which is muddy, slimy and very dirty, and out of which I must needs come forth exceedingly defiled and stinking before Thee. He speaks by comparison. The sense is: that his pleading, however it may be set out and adorned with goodly words and terms, would be of no help if the Lord would enter into judgment against him.
60 That is, whatsoever is next or near and belonging to me, shall loath and abhor me by reason of my uncleanness. The expression is hyperbolical.
32Forihe is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
i Eccl. 6:10; Jer. 49:19.
33Neither is there any 61days-manj betwixt us, that might lay 62his hand upon us both.
61 Or, judge.
j mediator
62 Namely, both, by his authority to prescribe laws and orders unto us whereby to order our pleading, and likewise to determine our dispute at last by his sentence. Observe that the laying of hands has been a sign of power and command. Other, that could lay his hands on both of us; that is, were able to execute the sentence.
3463Letk him take his 64rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
63 As if he said: If I were dismissed from this suffering, and had but to deal with one like myself, whose majesty could strike no terror in me, I could soon make it appear that those plagues came not upon me for any such gross or heinous sins and wickedness, as ye perceive they do.
k Job 13:20; 33:7.
64 That is, His punishment and chastisement. Also 2 Sam. 7:14; Job 21:9; 37:13; Psalm 89:32; Isa. 10:5; Lam. 3:1.
35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but 65it is not so 66with me.
65 Namely, as my friends do represent, or would make me seem to be.
66 That is, in my own conscience, feeling and experience. Other, thus I am not by myself.