Job Chapter 19

From The Open Bible Project

19:1 Then Job answered,

19:2 "How long will you torment me, and crush me with words?

19:3 You have reproached me ten times. You aren't ashamed that you attack me.

• (a) That is, many times, as in (Nehemiah 4:12).

19:4 If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.

• (b) That is, I myself will be punished for it, or you have not yet consulted it.

19:5 If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach;

19:6 know now that God has subverted me, and has surrounded me with his net.

• (c) He breaks out again into his passions and declares still that his affliction comes from God though he is not able to feel the cause in himself.

19:7 "Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard. I cry for help, but there is no justice.

19:8 He has walled up my way so that I can't pass, and has set darkness in my paths.

• (d) Meaning, out of his afflictions.

19:9 He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.

• (e) Meaning, his children, and whatever was dear to him in this world.

19:10 He has broken me down on every side, and I am gone. My hope he has plucked up like a tree.

• (f) Which is plucked up, and has no more hope to grow.

19:11 He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries.

19:12 His troops come on together, build a siege ramp against me, and encamp around my tent.

• (g) His manifold afflictions.

19:13 "He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.

19:14 My relatives have gone away. My familiar friends have forgotten me.

19:15 Those who dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger. I am an alien in their sight.

• (h) My household servants by all these losses Job shows that touching the flesh he had great opportunity to be moved.

19:16 I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer. I beg him with my mouth.

19:17 My breath is offensive to my wife. I am loathsome to the children of my own mother.

• (i) Which were hers and mine.

19:18 Even young children despise me. If I arise, they speak against me.

19:19 All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.

19:20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

• (k) Besides these great losses and most cruel unkindness, he was touched in his own person as follows.

19:21 "Have pity on me, have pity on me, you my friends; for the hand of God has touched me.

• (m) Seeing I have these just causes to complain, condemn me not as a hypocrite, especially you who should comfort me.

19:22 Why do you persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

• (n) Is it not enough that God punishes me, unless you by reproaching increase my sorrow?
• (o) To see my body punished, unless you trouble my mind?

19:23 "Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!

19:24 That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!

• (p) He protests that despite his sore passions his religion is perfect and that he in not a blasphemer as they judged him.

19:25 But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.

• (q) I do not so justify myself before the world, but I know that I will come before the great judge who will be my deliverer and Saviour.

19:26 After my skin is destroyed, then in my flesh shall I see God,

• (r) In this Job declares plainly that he had a full hope, that both the soul and body would enjoy the presence of God in the last resurrection.

19:27 Whom I, even I, shall see on my side. My eyes shall see, and not as a stranger. "My heart is consumed within me.

19:28 If you say, 'How we will persecute him!' because the root of the matter is found in me,

• (s) Though his friends thought that he was only persecuted by God for his sins, yet he declares that there was a deeper consideration that is, the trial of his faith and patience, and so to be an example for others.

19:29 be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment."

• (t) God will be avenged of this harsh judgment by which you condemned me.