Job Chapter 16
From The Open Bible Project
16:1 Then Job answered,
16:2 "I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!
16:3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
- (a) Which serve for vain ostentation and for no true comfort.
16:4 I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul's place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,
- (c) I would that you felt what I do.
- (d) That is, mock at your misery, as you do at mine.
16:5 but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
- (e) If this were in my power, yet I would comfort you and not do as you do to me.
16:6 "Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
- (f) If you would say, "Why do you not then comfort yourself?" he answers that the judgments of God are more heavy than he is able to assuage either by words or silence.
16:7 But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company.
- (g) Meaning, God.
- (h) That is, destroyed most of my family.
16:8 You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.
- (i) In token of sorrow and grief.
16:9 He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.
- (k) That is, God by his wrath: and in this diversity of words and high style, he expresses how grievous the hand of God was on him.
16:10 They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
- (l) That is, has handled me contemptuously: for so slapping the cheek signified, (1 Kings 22:24; Mark 14:65)
16:11 God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
- (m) They have led me where they would.
16:12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
16:13 His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground.
- (n) His manifold afflictions.
- (o) I am wounded to the heart.
16:14 He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant.
16:15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.
- (p) Meaning, his glory was brought low.
16:16 My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.
16:17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
- (q) Signifying that he is not able to understand the cause of this his grievous punishment.
- (r) That is, unfeigned and without hypocrisy.
16:18 "Earth, don't cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
- (s) Let my sin be known if I am such a sinner as my adversaries accuse me, and let me find no favour.
16:19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
- (t) Though man condemn me, yet God is witness of my cause.
16:20 My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
- (u) Use painted words instead of true consolation.
16:21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!
- (x) Thus by his great torments he is carried away, and breaks out into passions, and speaks unadvisedly, as though God would intreat man more gently, seeing he has only a short time here to live.
16:22 For when a few years are come, I shall go the way from whence I shall not return.
