1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
1 Lo, mine eye H5869 hath seen H7200 all this, mine ear H241 hath heard H8085 and understood H995 it.
2 What ye know, H1847 the same do I know H3045 also: I am not inferior H5307 unto you.
3 Surely H199 I would speak H1696 to the Almighty, H7706 and I desire H2654 to reason H3198 with God. H410
4 But H199 ye are forgers H2950 of lies, H8267 ye are all physicians H7495 of no value. H457
5 O that H5414 ye would altogether H2790 hold your peace! H2790 and it should be your wisdom. H2451
6 Hear H8085 now my reasoning, H8433 and hearken H7181 to the pleadings H7379 of my lips. H8193
7 Will ye speak H1696 wickedly H5766 for God? H410 and talk H1696 deceitfully H7423 for him?
8 Will ye accept H5375 his person? H6440 will ye contend H7378 for God? H410
9 Is it good H2895 that he should search you out? H2713 or as one man H582 mocketh H2048 another, do ye so mock H2048 him?
10 He will surely H3198 reprove H3198 you, if ye do secretly H5643 accept H5375 persons. H6440
11 Shall not his excellency H7613 make you afraid? H1204 and his dread H6343 fall H5307 upon you?
12 Your remembrances H2146 are like H4912 unto ashes, H665 your bodies H1354 to bodies H1354 of clay. H2563
13 Hold your peace, H2790 let me alone, that I may speak, H1696 and let come H5674 on me what will.
14 Wherefore do I take H5375 my flesh H1320 in my teeth, H8127 and put H7760 my life H5315 in mine hand? H3709
15 Though H2005 he slay H6991 me, yet will I trust H3176 in him: but I will maintain H3198 mine own ways H1870 before H6440 him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: H3444 for an hypocrite H2611 shall not come H935 before H6440 him.
17 Hear H8085 diligently H8085 my speech, H4405 and my declaration H262 with your ears. H241
18 Behold now, I have ordered H6186 my cause; H4941 I know H3045 that I shall be justified. H6663
19 Who is he that will plead H7378 with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, H2790 I shall give up the ghost. H1478
20 Only do H6213 not two H8147 things unto me: then will I not hide H5641 myself from thee. H6440
21 Withdraw H7368 thine hand H3709 far H7368 from me: and let not thy dread H367 make me afraid. H1204
22 Then call H7121 thou, and I will answer: H6030 or let me speak, H1696 and answer H7725 thou me.
23 How many are mine iniquities H5771 and sins? H2403 make me to know H3045 my transgression H6588 and my sin. H2403
24 Wherefore hidest H5641 thou thy face, H6440 and holdest H2803 me for thine enemy? H341
25 Wilt thou break H6206 a leaf H5929 driven to and fro? H5086 and wilt thou pursue H7291 the dry H3002 stubble? H7179
26 For thou writest H3789 bitter things H4846 against me, and makest me to possess H3423 the iniquities H5771 of my youth. H5271
27 Thou puttest H7760 my feet H7272 also in the stocks, H5465 and lookest narrowly H8104 unto all my paths; H734 thou settest a print H2707 upon the heels H8328 of my feet. H7272
28 And he, as a rotten thing, H7538 consumeth, H1086 as a garment H899 that is moth H6211 eaten. H398
1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all `this', Mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 What ye know, `the same' do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.
4 But ye are forgers of lies; Ye are all physicians of no value.
5 Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my reasoning, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will ye speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him?
8 Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?
10 He will surely reprove you If ye do secretly show partiality.
11 Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defences are defences of clay.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak; And let come on me what will.
14 Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?
15 Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.
16 This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold now, I have set my cause in order; I know that I am righteous.
19 Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.
20 Only do not two things unto me; Then will I not hide myself from thy face:
21 Withdraw thy hand far from me; And let not thy terror make me afraid.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And holdest me for thine enemy?
25 Wilt thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, And markest all my paths; Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet:
28 Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
1 Lo, all -- hath mine eye seen, Heard hath mine ear, and it attendeth to it.
2 According to your knowledge I have known -- also I. I am not fallen more than you.
3 Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.
4 And yet, ye `are' forgers of falsehood, Physicians of nought -- all of you,
5 O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.
6 Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,
7 For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?
8 His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?
9 Is `it' good that He doth search you, If, as one mocketh at a man, ye mock at Him?
10 He doth surely reprove you, if in secret ye accept faces.
11 Doth not His excellency terrify you? And His dread fall upon you?
12 Your remembrances `are' similes of ashes, For high places of clay your heights.
13 Keep silent from me, and I speak, And pass over me doth what?
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?
15 Lo, He doth slay me -- I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.
16 Also -- He `is' to me for salvation, For the profane cometh not before Him.
17 Hear ye diligently my word, And my declaration with your ears.
18 Lo, I pray you, I have set in order the cause, I have known that I am righteous.
19 Who `is' he that doth strive with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.
20 Only two things, O God, do with me: Then from Thy face I am not hidden.
21 Thy hand put far off from me, And Thy terror let not terrify me.
22 And call Thou, and I -- I answer, Or -- I speak, and answer Thou me.
23 How many iniquities and sins have I? My transgression and my sin let me know.
24 Why dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?
25 A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?
26 For Thou writest against me bitter things, And causest me to possess iniquities of my youth:
27 And puttest in the stocks my feet, And observest all my paths, On the roots of my feet Thou settest a print,
28 And he, as a rotten thing, weareth away, As a garment hath a moth consumed him.
1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.
3 But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with ùGod;
4 For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5 Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will ye speak unrighteously for ùGod? and for him speak deceit?
8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for ùGod?
9 Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?
10 He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11 Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.
13 Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what [will]!
14 Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
15 Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.
16 This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face.
17 Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.
20 Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid:
22 Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy?
25 Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth;
27 And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet; --
28 One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.
1 "Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.
3 "Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
4 But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
5 Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
6 Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
10 He will surely reprove you If you secretly show partiality.
11 Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 "Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?
15 Behold, he will kill me; I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
16 This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
18 See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
19 Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
20 "Only don't do two things to me; Then I will not hide myself from your face:
21 Withdraw your hand far from me; And don't let your terror make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and you answer me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
24 Why hide you your face, And hold me for your enemy?
25 Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
26 For you write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:
27 You also put my feet in the stocks, And mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet:
28 Though I am decaying like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
1 Truly, my eye has seen all this, word of it has come to my ear, and I have knowledge of it.
2 The same things are in my mind as in yours; I am equal to you.
3 But I would have talk with the Ruler of all, and my desire is to have an argument with God.
4 But you put a false face on things; all your attempts to put things right are of no value.
5 If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!
6 Give ear to the argument of my mouth, and take note of the words of my lips.
7 Will you say in God's name what is not right, and put false words into his mouth?
8 Will you have respect for God's person in this cause, and put yourselves forward as his supporters?
9 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?
10 He will certainly put you right, if you have respect for persons in secret.
11 Will not his glory put you in fear, so that your hearts will be overcome before him?
12 Your wise sayings are only dust, and your strong places are only earth.
13 Keep quiet, and let me say what is in my mind, whatever may come to me.
14 I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
15 Truly, he will put an end to me; I have no hope; but I will not give way in argument before him;
16 And that will be my salvation, for an evil-doer would not come before him,
17 Give ear with care to my words, and keep what I say in your minds.
18 See now, I have put my cause in order, and I am certain that I will be seen to be right.
19 Is any one able to take up the argument against me? If so, I would keep quiet and give up my breath.
20 Only two things do not do to me, then I will come before your face:
21 Take your hand far away from me; and let me not be overcome by fear of you.
22 Then at the sound of your voice I will give answer; or let me put forward my cause for you to give me an answer.
23 What is the number of my evil-doings and my sins? give me knowledge of them.
24 Why is your face veiled from me, as if I was numbered among your haters?
25 Will you be hard on a leaf in flight before the wind? will you make a dry stem go more quickly on its way?
26 For you put bitter things on record against me, and send punishment on me for the sins of my early years;
27 And you put chains on my feet, watching all my ways, and making a limit for my steps;
28 Though a man comes to nothing like a bit of dead wood, or like a robe which has become food for the worm.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 13
Commentary on Job 13 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 13
Job 13:1-28. Job's Reply to Zophar Continued.
1. all this—as to the dealings of Providence (Job 12:3).
3. Job wishes to plead his cause before God (Job 9:34, 35), as he is more and more convinced of the valueless character of his would-be "physicians" (Job 16:2).
4. forgers of lies—literally, "artful twisters of vain speeches" [Umbreit].
5. (Pr 17:28). The Arabs say, "The wise are dumb; silence is wisdom."
7. deceitfully—use fallacies to vindicate God in His dealings; as if the end justified the means. Their "deceitfulness" for God, against Job, was that they asserted he was a sinner, because he was a sufferer.
8. accept his person—God's; that is, be partial for Him, as when a judge favors one party in a trial, because of personal considerations.
contend for God—namely, with fallacies and prepossessions against Job before judgment (Jud 6:31). Partiality can never please the impartial God, nor the goodness of the cause excuse the unfairness of the arguments.
9. Will the issue to you be good, when He searches out you and your arguments? Will you be regarded by Him as pure and disinterested?
mock—(Ga 6:7). Rather, "Can you deceive Him as one man?" &c.
10. If ye do, though secretly, act partially. (See on Job 13:8; Ps 82:1, 2). God can successfully vindicate His acts, and needs no fallacious argument of man.
11. make you afraid?—namely, of employing sophisms in His name (Jer 10:7, 10).
12. remembrances—"proverbial maxims," so called because well remembered.
like unto ashes—or, "parables of ashes"; the image of lightness and nothingness (Isa 44:20).
bodies—rather, "entrenchments"; those of clay, as opposed to those of stone, are easy to be destroyed; so the proverbs, behind which they entrench themselves, will not shelter them when God shall appear to reprove them for their injustice to Job.
13. Job would wish to be spared their speeches, so as to speak out all his mind as to his wretchedness (Job 13:14), happen what will.
14. A proverb for, "Why should I anxiously desire to save my life?" [Eichorn]. The image in the first clause is that of a wild beast, which in order to preserve his prey, carries it in his teeth. That in the second refers to men who hold in the hand what they want to keep secure.
15. in him—So the margin or keri, reads. But the textual reading or chetib is "not," which agrees best with the context, and other passages wherein he says he has no hope (Job 6:11; 7:21; 10:20; 19:10). "Though He slay me, and I dare no more hope, yet I will maintain," &c., that is, "I desire to vindicate myself before Him," as not a hypocrite [Umbreit and Noyes].
16. He—rather, "This also already speaks in my behalf (literally, 'for my saving acquittal') for an hypocrite would not wish to come before Him" (as I do) [Umbreit]. (See last clause of Job 13:15).
17. my declaration—namely, that I wish to be permitted to justify myself immediately before God.
with your ears—that is, attentively.
18. ordered—implying a constant preparation for defense in his confidence of innocence.
19. if, &c.—Rather, "Then would I hold my tongue and give up the ghost"; that is, if any one can contend with me and prove me false, I have no more to say. "I will be silent and die." Like our "I would stake my life on it" [Umbreit].
20. Address to God.
not hide—stand forth boldly to maintain my cause.
21. (See on Job 9:34 and see Ps 39:10).
22. call—a challenge to the defendant to answer to the charges.
answer—the defense begun.
speak—as plaintiff.
answer—to the plea of the plaintiff. Expressions from a trial.
23. The catalogue of my sins ought to be great, to judge from the severity with which God ever anew crushes one already bowed down. Would that He would reckon them up! He then would see how much my calamities outnumber them.
sin?—singular, "I am unconscious of a single particular sin, much less many" [Umbreit].
24. hidest … face—a figure from the gloomy impression caused by the sudden clouding over of the sun.
enemy—God treated Job as an enemy who must be robbed of power by ceaseless sufferings (Job 7:17, 21).
25. (Le 26:36; Ps 1:4). Job compares himself to a leaf already fallen, which the storm still chases hither and thither.
break—literally, "shake with (Thy) terrors." Jesus Christ does not "break the bruised reed" (Isa 42:3, 27:8).
26. writest—a judicial phrase, to note down the determined punishment. The sentence of the condemned used to be written down (Isa 10:1; Jer 22:30; Ps 149:9) [Umbreit].
bitter things—bitter punishments.
makest me to possess—or "inherit." In old age he receives possession of the inheritance of sin thoughtlessly acquired in youth. "To inherit sins" is to inherit the punishments inseparably connected with them in Hebrew ideas (Ps 25:7).
27. stocks—in which the prisoner's feet were made fast until the time of execution (Jer 20:2).
lookest narrowly—as an overseer would watch a prisoner.
print—Either the stocks, or his disease, marked his soles (Hebrew, "roots") as the bastinado would. Better, thou drawest (or diggest) [Gesenius] a line (or trench) [Gesenius] round my soles, beyond which I must not move [Umbreit].
28. Job speaks of himself in the third person, thus forming the transition to the general lot of man (Job 14:1; Ps 39:11; Ho 5:12).