3 Are your words of pride to make men keep quiet? and are you to make sport, with no one to put you to shame?
Truly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing.
It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!
Will it be good for you to be searched out by him, or have you the thought that he may be guided into error like a man?
Will a wise man make answer with knowledge of no value, or will he give birth to the east wind? Will he make arguments with words in which is no profit, and with sayings which have no value?
And if it is not so, now, who will make it clear that my words are false, and that what I say is of no value?
What man is like Job, a man who freely makes sport of God,
Let their faces be full of shame; so that they may give honour to your name, O Lord.
I did not take my seat among the band of those who are glad, and I had no joy; I kept by myself because of your hand; for you have made me full of wrath.
Saying true and right words, against which no protest may be made, so that he who is not on our side may be put to shame, unable to say any evil of us.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 11
Commentary on Job 11 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 11
Poor Job's wound's were yet bleeding, his sore still runs and ceases not, but none of his friends bring him any oil, any balm; Zophar, the third, pours into them as much vinegar as the two former had done.
Job 11:1-6
It is sad to see what intemperate passions even wise and good men are sometimes betrayed into by the heat of disputation, of which Zophar here is an instance. Eliphaz began with a very modest preface, ch. 4:2. Bildad was a little more rough upon Job, ch. 8:2. But Zophar falls upon him without mercy, and gives him very bad language: Should a man full of talk be justified? And should thy lies make men hold their peace? Is this the way to comfort Job? No, nor to convince him neither. Does this become one that appears as an advocate for God and his justice? Tantaene animis coelestibus irae?-In heavenly breasts can such resentment dwell? Those that engage in controversy will find it very hard to keep their temper. All the wisdom, caution, and resolution they have will be little enough to prevent their breaking out into such indecencies as we here find Zophar guilty of.
Job 11:7-12
Zophar here speaks very good things concerning God and his greatness and glory, concerning man and his vanity and folly: these two compared together, and duly considered, will have a powerful influence upon our submission to all the dispensations of the divine Providence.
Job 11:13-20
Zophar, as the other two, here encourages Job to hope for better times if he would but come to a better temper.