1 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.
3 Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
4 Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
5 Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,
6 That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
7 Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.
8 Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.
9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?
10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.
12 Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
13 And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.
14 If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.
15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;
16 For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.
17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.
18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
1 My soul H5315 is weary H5354 of my life; H2416 I will leave H5800 my complaint H7879 upon myself; I will speak H1696 in the bitterness H4751 of my soul. H5315
2 I will say H559 unto God, H433 Do not condemn H7561 me; shew H3045 me wherefore thou contendest H7378 with me.
3 Is it good H2895 unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, H6231 that thou shouldest despise H3988 the work H3018 of thine hands, H3709 and shine H3313 upon the counsel H6098 of the wicked? H7563
4 Hast thou eyes H5869 of flesh? H1320 or seest H7200 thou as man H582 seeth? H7200
5 Are thy days H3117 as the days H3117 of man? H582 are thy years H8141 as man's H1397 days, H3117
6 That thou enquirest H1245 after mine iniquity, H5771 and searchest H1875 after my sin? H2403
7 Thou knowest H1847 that I am not wicked; H7561 and there is none that can deliver H5337 out of thine hand. H3027
8 Thine hands H3027 have made H6087 me and fashioned H6213 me together H3162 round about; H5439 yet thou dost destroy H1104 me.
9 Remember, H2142 I beseech thee, that thou hast made H6213 me as the clay; H2563 and wilt thou bring H7725 me into dust H6083 again? H7725
10 Hast thou not poured me out H5413 as milk, H2461 and curdled H7087 me like cheese? H1385
11 Thou hast clothed H3847 me with skin H5785 and flesh, H1320 and hast fenced H7753 me with bones H6106 and sinews. H1517
12 Thou hast granted H6213 me life H2416 and favour, H2617 and thy visitation H6486 hath preserved H8104 my spirit. H7307
13 And these things hast thou hid H6845 in thine heart: H3824 I know H3045 that this is with thee.
14 If I sin, H2398 then thou markest H8104 me, and thou wilt not acquit H5352 me from mine iniquity. H5771
15 If I be wicked, H7561 woe H480 unto me; and if I be righteous, H6663 yet will I not lift up H5375 my head. H7218 I am full H7649 of confusion; H7036 therefore see H7202 H7200 thou mine affliction; H6040
16 For it increaseth. H1342 Thou huntest H6679 me as a fierce lion: H7826 and again H7725 thou shewest thyself marvellous H6381 upon me.
17 Thou renewest H2318 thy witnesses H5707 against me, and increasest H7235 thine indignation H3708 upon me; H5978 changes H2487 and war H6635 are against me.
18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth H3318 out of the womb? H7358 Oh that I had given up the ghost, H1478 and no eye H5869 had seen H7200 me!
19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried H2986 from the womb H990 to the grave. H6913
20 Are not my days H3117 few? H4592 cease H2308 H2308 then, and let me alone, H7896 H7896 that I may take comfort H1082 a little, H4592
21 Before I go H3212 whence I shall not return, H7725 even to the land H776 of darkness H2822 and the shadow of death; H6757
22 A land H776 of darkness, H5890 as darkness H652 itself; and of the shadow of death, H6757 without any order, H5468 and where the light H3313 is as darkness. H652
1 My soul is weary of my life; I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.
3 Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, That thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands, And shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
4 Hast thou eyes of flesh? Or seest thou as man seeth?
5 Are thy days as the days of man, Or thy years as man's days,
6 That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, And searchest after my sin,
7 Although thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is none that can deliver out of thy hand?
8 Thy hands have framed me and fashioned me Together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.
9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast fashioned me as clay; And wilt thou bring me into dust again?
10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, And curdled me like cheese?
11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews.
12 Thou hast granted me life and lovingkindness; And thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
13 Yet these things thou didst hide in thy heart; I know that this is with thee:
14 If I sin, then thou markest me, And thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.
15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; And if I be righteous, yet shall I not lift up my head; Being filled with ignominy, And looking upon mine affliction.
16 And if `my head' exalt itself, thou huntest me as a lion; And again thou showest thyself marvellous upon me.
17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, And increasest thine indignation upon me: Changes and warfare are with me.
18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me.
19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? cease then, And let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
21 Before I go whence I shall not return, `Even' to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;
22 The land dark as midnight, `The land' of the shadow of death, without any order, And where the light is as midnight.
1 My soul hath been weary of my life, I leave off my talking to myself, I speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I say unto God, `Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive `with' me.
3 Is it good for Thee that Thou dost oppress? That Thou despisest the labour of Thy hands, And on the counsel of the wicked hast shone?
4 Eyes of flesh hast Thou? As man seeth -- seest Thou?
5 As the days of man `are' Thy days? Thy years as the days of a man?
6 That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest?
7 For Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand.
8 Thy hands have taken pains about me, And they make me together round about, And Thou swallowest me up!
9 Remember, I pray Thee, That as clay Thou hast made me, And unto dust Thou dost bring me back.
10 Dost Thou not as milk pour me out? And as cheese curdle me?
11 Skin and flesh Thou dost put on me, And with bones and sinews dost fence me.
12 Life and kindness Thou hast done with me. And Thy inspection hath preserved my spirit.
13 And these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this `is' with Thee.
14 If I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me,
15 If I have done wickedly -- wo to me, And righteously -- I lift not up my head, Full of shame -- then see my affliction,
16 And it riseth -- as a lion Thou huntest me. And Thou turnest back -- Thou shewest Thyself wonderful in me.
17 Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me, And dost multiply Thine anger with me, Changes and warfare `are' with me.
18 And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me.
19 As I had not been, I am, From the belly to the grave I am brought,
20 Are not my days few? Cease then, and put from me, And I brighten up a little,
21 Before I go, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade,
22 A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade -- and no order, And the shining `is' as thick darkness.'
1 My soul is weary of my life: I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say unto +God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou strivest with me.
3 Doth it please thee to oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
4 Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
5 Are thy days as the days of a mortal? are thy years as a man's days,
6 That thou searchest after mine iniquity, and inquirest into my sin;
7 Since thou knowest that I am not wicked, and that there is none that delivereth out of thy hand?
8 Thy hands have bound me together and made me as one, round about; yet dost thou swallow me up!
9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as clay, and wilt bring me into dust again.
10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews;
12 Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy care hath preserved my spirit;
13 And these things didst thou hide in thy heart; I know that this was with thee.
14 If I sinned, thou wouldest mark me, and thou wouldest not acquit me of mine iniquity.
15 If I were wicked, woe unto me! and righteous, I will not lift up my head, being [so] full of shame, and beholding mine affliction; --
16 And it increaseth: thou huntest me as a fierce lion; and ever again thou shewest thy marvellous power upon me.
17 Thou renewest thy witnesses before me and increasest thy displeasure against me; successions [of evil] and a time of toil are with me.
18 And wherefore didst thou bring me forth out of the womb? I had expired, and no eye had seen me.
19 I should be as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? cease then and let me alone, that I may revive a little,
21 Before I go, and never to return, -- to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
22 A land of gloom, as darkness itself; of the shadow of death, without any order, where the light is as thick darkness.
1 "My soul is weary of my life; I will give free course to my complaint. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will tell God, 'Do not condemn me, Show me why you contend with me.
3 Is it good to you that you should oppress, That you should despise the work of your hands, And smile on the counsel of the wicked?
4 Do you have eyes of flesh? Or do you see as man sees?
5 Are your days as the days of mortals, Or your years as man's years,
6 That you inquire after my iniquity, And search after my sin?
7 Although you know that I am not wicked, There is no one who can deliver out of your hand.
8 'Your hands have framed me and fashioned me altogether; Yet you destroy me.
9 Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay. Will you bring me into dust again?
10 Haven't you poured me out like milk, And curdled me like cheese?
11 You have clothed me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews.
12 You have granted me life and loving kindness. Your visitation has preserved my spirit.
13 Yet you hid these things in your heart. I know that this is with you:
14 If I sin, then you mark me. You will not acquit me from my iniquity.
15 If I am wicked, woe to me. If I am righteous, I still shall not lift up my head, Being filled with disgrace, And conscious of my affliction.
16 If my head is held high, you hunt me like a lion. Again you show yourself powerful to me.
17 You renew your witnesses against me, And increase your indignation on me. Changes and warfare are with me.
18 "'Why, then, have you brought me forth out of the womb? I wish I had given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me.
19 I should have been as though I had not been. I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Aren't my days few? Cease then, Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,
21 Before I go where I shall not return from, To the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;
22 The land dark as midnight, Of the shadow of death, without any order, Where the light is as midnight.'"
1 My soul is tired of life; I will let my sad thoughts go free in words; my soul will make a bitter outcry.
2 I will say to God, Do not put me down as a sinner; make clear to me what you have against me.
3 What profit is it to you to be cruel, to give up the work of your hands, looking kindly on the design of evil-doers?
4 Have you eyes of flesh, or do you see as man sees?
5 Are your days as the days of man, or your years like his,
6 That you take note of my sin, searching after my wrongdoing,
7 Though you see that I am not an evil-doer; and there is no one who is able to take a man out of your hands?
8 Your hands made me, and I was formed by you, but then, changing your purpose, you gave me up to destruction.
9 O keep in mind that you made me out of earth; and will you send me back again to dust?
10 Was I not drained out like milk, becoming hard like cheese?
11 By you I was clothed with skin and flesh, and joined together with bones and muscles.
12 You have been kind to me, and your grace has been with me, and your care has kept my spirit safe.
13 But you kept these things in the secret of your heart; I am certain this was in your thoughts:
14 That, if I did wrong, you would take note of it, and would not make me clear from sin:
15 That, if I was an evil-doer, the curse would come on me; and if I was upright, my head would not be lifted up, being full of shame and overcome with trouble.
16 And that if there was cause for pride, you would go after me like a lion; and again put out your wonders against me:
17 That you would send new witnesses against me, increasing your wrath against me, and letting loose new armies on me.
18 Why then did you make me come out of my mother's body? It would have been better for me to have taken my last breath, and for no eye to have seen me,
19 And for me to have been as if I had not been; to have been taken from my mother's body straight to my last resting-place.
20 Are not the days of my life small in number? Let your eyes be turned away from me, so that I may have a little pleasure,
21 Before I go to the place from which I will not come back, to the land where all is dark and black,
22 A land of thick dark, without order, where the very light is dark.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 10
Commentary on Job 10 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 10
Job 10:1-22. Job's Reply to Bildad Continued.
1. leave my complaint upon myself—rather, "I will give loose to my complaint" (Job 7:11).
2. show me, &c.—Do not, by virtue of Thy mere sovereignty, treat me as guilty without showing me the reasons.
3. Job is unwilling to think God can have pleasure in using His power to "oppress" the weak, and to treat man, the work of His own hands, as of no value (Job 10:8; Ps 138:8).
shine upon—favor with prosperity (Ps 50:2).
4-6. Dost Thou see as feebly as man? that is, with the same uncharitable eye, as, for instance, Job's friends? Is Thy time as short? Impossible! Yet one might think, from the rapid succession of Thy strokes, that Thou hadst no time to spare in overwhelming me.
7. "Although Thou (the Omniscient) knowest," &c. (connected with Job 10:6), "Thou searchest after my sin."
and … that none that can deliver out of thine hand—Therefore Thou hast no need to deal with me with the rapid violence which man would use (see Job 10:6).
8. Made—with pains; implying a work of difficulty and art; applying to God language applicable only to man.
together round about—implying that the human body is a complete unity, the parts of which on all sides will bear the closest scrutiny.
9. clay—Job 10:10 proves that the reference here is, not so much to the perishable nature of the materials, as to their wonderful fashioning by the divine potter.
10. In the organization of the body from its rude commencements, the original liquid gradually assumes a more solid consistency, like milk curdling into cheese (Ps 139:15, 16). Science reveals that the chyle circulated by the lacteal vessels is the supply to every organ.
11. fenced—or "inlaid" (Ps 139:15); "curiously wrought" [Umbreit]. In the fœtus the skin appears first, then the flesh, then the harder parts.
12. visitation—Thy watchful Providence.
spirit—breath.
13. is with thee—was Thy purpose. All God's dealings with Job in his creation, preservation, and present afflictions were part of His secret counsel (Ps 139:16; Ac 15:18; Ec 3:11).
14, 15. Job is perplexed because God "marks" every sin of his with such ceaseless rigor. Whether "wicked" (godless and a hypocrite) or "righteous" (comparatively sincere), God condemns and punishes alike.
15. lift up my head—in conscious innocence (Ps 3:3).
see thou—rather, "and seeing I see (I too well see) mine affliction," (which seems to prove me guilty) [Umbreit].
16. increaseth—rather, "(if) I lift up (my head) Thou wouldest hunt me," &c. [Umbreit].
and again—as if a lion should not kill his prey at once, but come back and torture it again.
17. witnesses—His accumulated trials were like a succession of witnesses brought up in proof of his guilt, to wear out the accused.
changes and war—rather, "(thou settest in array) against me host after host" (literally, "changes and a host," that is, a succession of hosts); namely, his afflictions, and then reproach upon reproach from his friends.
20. But, since I was destined from my birth to these ills, at least give me a little breathing time during the few days left me (Job 9:34; 13:21; Ps 39:13).
22. The ideas of order and light, disorder and darkness, harmonize (Ge 1:2). Three Hebrew words are used for darkness; in Job 10:21 (1) the common word "darkness"; here (2) "a land of gloom" (from a Hebrew root, "to cover up"); (3) as "thick darkness" or blackness (from a root, expressing sunset). "Where the light thereof is like blackness." Its only sunshine is thick darkness. A bold figure of poetry. Job in a better frame has brighter thoughts of the unseen world. But his views at best wanted the definite clearness of the Christian's. Compare with his words here Re 21:23; 22:5; 2Ti 1:10.