Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Job » Chapter 13 » Verse 1-28

Job 13:1-28 King James Version (KJV)

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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.

Job 13:1-28 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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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

Job 13:1-28 American Standard (ASV)

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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.

Job 13:1-28 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

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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.

Job 13:1-28 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

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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.

Job 13:1-28 World English Bible (WEB)

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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.

Job 13:1-28 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

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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 » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 13

Commentary on Job 13 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 13

Job here comes to make application of what he had said in the foregoing chapter; and now we have him not in so good a temper as he was in then: for,

  • I. He is very bold with his friends, comparing himself with them, notwithstanding the mortifications he was under (v. 1, 2). Condemning them for their falsehood, their forwardness to judge, their partiality and deceitfulness under colour of pleading God's cause (v. 4-8), and threatening them with the judgments of God for their so doing (v. 9-12), desiring them to be silent (v. 5, 13, 17), and turning from them to God (v. 3).
  • II. He is very bold with his God.
    • 1. In some expressions his faith is very bold, yet that is not more bold than welcome (v. 15, 16, 18) But,
    • 2. In other expressions his passion is rather too bold in expostulations with God concerning the deplorable condition he was in (v. 14, 19, etc.), complaining of the confusion he was in (v. 20-22), and the loss he was at to find out the sin that provoked God thus to afflict him, and in short of the rigour of God's proceedings against him (v. 23-28).

Job 13:1-12

Job here warmly expresses his resentment of the unkindness of his friends.

  • I. He comes up with them as one that understood the matter in dispute as well as they, and did not need to be taught by them, v. 1, 2. They compelled him, as the Corinthians did Paul, to commend himself and his own knowledge, yet not in a way of self-applause, but of self-justification. All he had before said his eye had seen confirmed by many instances, and his ear had heard seconded by many authorities, and he well understood it and what use to make of it. Happy are those who not only see and hear, but understand, the greatness, glory, and sovereignty of God. This, he thought, would justify what he had said before (ch. 12:3), which he repeats here (v. 2): "What you know, the same do I know also, so that I need not come to you to be taught; I am not inferior unto you in wisdom.' Note, Those who enter into disputation enter into temptation to magnify themselves and vilify their brethren more than is fit, and therefore ought to watch and pray against the workings of pride.
  • II. He turns from them to God (v. 3): Surely I would speak to the Almighty; as if he had said, "I can promise myself no satisfaction in talking to you. O that I might have liberty to reason with God! He would not be so hard upon me as you are.' The prince himself will perhaps give audience to a poor petitioner with more mildness, patience, and condescension, than the servants will. Job would rather argue with God himself than with his friends. See here,
    • 1. What confidence those have towards God whose hearts condemn them not of reigning hypocrisy: they can, with humble boldness, appear before him and appeal to him.
    • 2. What comfort those have in God whose neighbours unjustly condemn them: if they may not speak to them with any hopes of a fair hearing, yet they may speak to the Almighty; they have easy access to him and shall find acceptance with him.
  • III. He condemns them for their unjust and uncharitable treatment of him, v. 4.
    • 1. They falsely accused him, and that was unjust: You are forgers of lies. They framed a wrong hypothesis concerning the divine Providence, and misrepresented it, as if it did never remarkably afflict any but wicked men in this world, and thence they drew a false judgment concerning Job, that he was certainly a hypocrite. For this gross mistake, both in doctrine and application, he thinks an indictment of forgery lies against them. To speak lies is bad enough, though but at second hand, but to forge them with contrivance and deliberation is much worse; yet against this wrong neither innocency nor excellency will be a fence.
    • 2. They basely deceived him, and that was unkind. They undertook his cure, and pretended to be his physicians; but they were all physicians of no value, "idol-physicians, who can do me no more good than an idol can.' They were worthless physicians, who neither understood his case nor knew how to prescribe to him-mere empirics, who pretended to great things, but in conference added nothing to him: he was never the wiser for all they said. Thus to broken hearts and wounded consciences all creatures, without Christ, are physicians of no value, on which one may spend all and be never the better, but rather grow worse, Mk. 5:26.
  • IV. He begs they would be silent and give him a patient hearing, v. 5, 6.
    • 1. He thinks it would be a credit to them if they would say no more, having said too much already: "Hold your peace, and it shall be your wisdom, for thereby you will conceal your ignorance and ill-nature, which now appear in all you say.' They pleaded that they could not forbear speaking (ch. 4:2, 11:2, 3); but he tells them that they would better have consulted their own reputation if they had enjoined themselves silence. Better say nothing than nothing to the purpose or that which tends to the dishonour of God and the grief of our brethren. Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is accounted wise, because nothing appears to the contrary, Prov. 17:28. And, as silence is an evidence of wisdom, so it is a means of it, as it gives time to think and hear.
    • 2. He thinks it would be a piece of justice to him to hear what he had to say: Hear now my reasoning. Perhaps, though they did not interrupt him in his discourse, yet they seemed careless, and did not much heed what he said. He therefore begged that they would not only hear, but hearken. Note, We should be very willing and glad to hear what those have to say for themselves whom, upon any account, we are tempted to have hard thoughts of. Many a man, if he could but be fairly heard, would be fairly acquitted, even in the consciences of those that run him down.
  • V. He endeavours to convince them of the wrong they did to God's honour, while they pretended to plead for him, v. 7, 8. They valued themselves upon it that they spoke for God, were advocates for him, and had undertaken to justify him and his proceedings against Job; and, being (as they thought) of counsel for the sovereign, they expected not only the ear of the court and the last word, but judgment on their side. But Job tells them plainly,
    • 1. That God and his cause did not need such advocates: "Will you think to contend for God, as if his justice were clouded and wanted to be cleared up, or as if he were at a loss what to say and wanted you to speak for him? Will you, who are so weak and passionate, put in for the honour of pleading God's cause?' Good work ought not to be put into bad hands. Will you accept his person? If those who have not right on their side carry their cause, it is by the partiality of the judge in favour of their persons; but God's cause is so just that it needs no such methods for the support of it. He is a God, and can plead for himself (Jdg. 6:31); and, if you were for ever silent, the heavens would declare his righteousness.
    • 2. That God's cause suffered by such management. Under pretence of justifying God in afflicting Job they magisterially condemned him as a hypocrite and a bad man. "This' (says he) "is speaking wickedly' (for uncharitableness and censoriousness are wickedness, great wickedness; it is an offence to God to wrong our brethren); "it is talking deceitfully, for you condemn one whom yet perhaps your own consciences, at the same time, cannot but acquit. Your principles are false and your arguings fallacious, and will it excuse you to say, It is for God?' No, for a good intention will not justify, much less will it sanctify, a bad word or action. God's truth needs not our lie, nor God's cause either our sinful policies or our sinful passions. The wrath of man works not the righteousness of God, nor may we do evil that good may come, Rom. 3:7, 8. Pious frauds (as they call them) are impious cheats; and devout persecutions are horrid profanations of the name of God, as theirs who hated their brethren, and cast them out, saying, Let the Lord be glorified, Isa. 66:5; Jn. 16:2.
  • VI. He endeavours to possess them with a fear of God's judgment, and so to bring them to a better temper. Let them not think to impose upon God as they might upon a man like themselves, nor expect to gain his countenance in their bad practices by pretending a zeal for him and his honour. "As one man mocks another by flattering him, do you think so to mock him and deceive him?' Assuredly those who think to put a cheat upon God will prove to have put a cheat upon themselves. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. That they might not think thus to jest with God, and affront him, Job would have them to consider both God and themselves, and then they would find themselves unable to enter into judgment with him.
    • 1. Let them consider what a God he is into whose service they had thus thrust themselves, and to whom they really did so much disservice, and enquire whether they could give him a good account of what they did. Consider,
      • (1.) The strictness of his scrutiny and enquiries concerning them (v. 9) "Is it good that he should search you out? Can you bear to have the principles looked into which you go upon in your censures, and to have the bottom of the matter found out?' Note, It concerns us all seriously to consider whether it will be to our advantage or no that God searches the heart. It is good to an upright man who means honestly that God should search him; therefore he prays for it: Search me, O God! and know my heart. God's omniscience is a witness of his sincerity. But it is bad to him who looks one way and rows another that God should search him out, and lay him open to his confusion.
      • (2.) The severity of his rebukes and displeasure against them (v. 10): "If you do accept persons, though but secretly and in heart, he will surely reprove you; he will be so far from being pleased with your censures of me, though under colour of vindicating him, that he will resent them as a great provocation, as any prince or great man would if a base action were done under the sanction of his name and under the colour of advancing his interest.' Note, What we do amiss we shall certainly be reproved for, one way or other, one time or other, though it be done ever so secretly.
      • (3.) The terror of his majesty, which if they would duly stand in awe of they would not do that which would make them obnoxious to his wrath (v. 11): "Shall not his excellency make you afraid? You that have great knowledge of God, and profess religion and a fear of him, how dare you talk at this rate and give yourselves so great a liberty of speech? Ought you not to walk and talk in the fear of God? Neh. 5:9. Should not his dread fall upon you, and give a check to your passions?' Methinks Job speaks this as one that did himself know the terror of the Lord, and lived in a holy fear of him, whatever his friends suggested to the contrary. Note,
        • [1.] There is in God a dreadful excellency. He is the most excellent Being, has all excellencies in himself and in each infinitely excels any creature. His excellencies in themselves are amiable and lovely. He is the most beautiful Being; but considering man's distance from God by nature, and his defection and degeneracy by sin, his excellencies are dreadful. His power, holiness, justice, yea, and his goodness too, are dreadful excellencies. They shall fear the Lord and his goodness.
        • [2.] A holy awe of this dreadful excellency should fall upon us and make us afraid. This would awaken impenitent sinners and bring them to repentance, and would influence all to be careful to please him and afraid of offending him.
    • 2. Let them consider themselves, and what an unequal match they were for this great God (v. 12): "Your remembrances (all that in you for which you hope to be remembered when you are gone) are like unto ashes, worthless and weak, and easily trampled on and blown away. Your bodies are like bodies of clay, mouldering and coming to nothing. Your memories, you think, will survive your bodies, but, alas! they are like ashes which will be shovelled up with your dust.' Note, the consideration of our own meanness and mortality should make us afraid of offending God, and furnishes a good reason why we should not despise and trample upon our brethren. Bishop Patrick gives another sense of this verse: "Your remonstrances on God's behalf are no better than dust, and the arguments you accumulate but like so many heaps of dirt.'

Job 13:13-22

Job here takes fresh hold, fast hold, of his integrity, as one that was resolved not to let it go, nor suffer it to be wrested from him. His firmness in this matter is commendable and his warmth excusable.

  • I. He entreats his friends and all the company to let him alone, and not interrupt him in what he was about to say (v. 13), but diligently to hearken to it, v. 17. He would have his own protestation to be decisive, for none but God and himself knew his heart. "Be silent therefore, and let me hear no more of you, but hearken diligently to what I say, and let my own oath for confirmation be an end of the strife.'
  • II. He resolves to adhere to the testimony his own conscience gave of his integrity; and though his friends called it obstinacy that should not shake his constancy: "I will speak in my own defence, and let come on me what will, v. 13. Let my friends put what construction they please upon it, and think the worse of me for it; I hope God will not make my necessary defence to be my offence, as you do. He will justify me (v. 18) and then nothing can come amiss to me.' Note, Those that are upright, and have the assurance of their uprightness, may cheerfully welcome every event. Come what will, bene praeparatum pectus-they are ready for it. He resolves (v. 15) that he will maintain his own ways. He would never part with the satisfaction he had in having walked uprightly with God; for, though he could not justify every word he had spoken, yet, in the general, his ways were good, and he would maintain his uprightness; and why should he not, since that was his great support under his present exercises, as it was Hezekiah's, Now, Lord, remember how I have walked before thee? Nay, he would not only not betray his own cause, or give it up, but he would openly avow his sincerity; for (v. 19) "If hold my tongue, and do not speak for myself, my silence now will for ever silence me, for I shall certainly give up the ghost,' v. 19. "If I cannot be cleared, yet let me be eased, by what I say,' as Elihu, ch. 32:17, 20.
  • III. He complains of the extremity of pain and misery he was in (v. 14): Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? That is,
    • 1. "Why do I suffer such agonies? I cannot but wonder that God should lay so much upon me when he knows I am not a wicked man.' He was ready, not only to rend his clothes, but even to tear his flesh, through the greatness of his affliction, and saw himself at the brink of death, and his life in his hand, yet his friends could not charge him with any enormous crime, nor could he himself discover any; no marvel then that he was in such confusion.
    • 2. "Why do I stifle and smother the protestations of my innocency?' When a man with great difficulty keeps in what he would say, he bites his lips. "Now,' says he, "why may not I take liberty to speak, since I do but vex myself, add to my torment, and endanger my life, by refraining?' Note, It would vex the most patient man, when he has lost every thing else, to be denied the comfort (if he deserves it) of a good conscience and a good name.
  • IV. He comforts himself in God, and still keeps hold of his confidence in him. Observe here,
    • 1. What he depends upon God for-justification and salvation, the two great things we hope for through Christ.
      • (1.) Justification (v. 18): I have ordered my cause, and, upon the whole matter, I know that I shall be justified. This he knew because he knew that his Redeemer lived, ch. 19:25. Those whose hearts are upright with God, in walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit, may be sure that through Christ there shall be no condemnation to them, but that, whoever lays any thing to their charge, they shall be justified: they may know that they shall.
      • (2.) Salvation (v. 16): He also shall be my salvation. He means it not of temporal salvation (he had little expectation of that); but concerning his eternal salvation he was very confident that God would not only be his Saviour to make him happy, but his salvation, in the vision and fruition of whom he should be happy. And the reason why he depended on God for salvation was because a hypocrite shall not come before him. He knew himself not to be a hypocrite, and that none but hypocrites are rejected of God, and therefore concluded he should not be rejected. Sincerity is our evangelical perfection; nothing will ruin us but the want of that.
    • 2. With what constancy he depends upon him: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, v. 15. This is a high expression of faith, and what we should all labour to come up to-to trust in God, though he slay us, that is, we must be well pleased with God as a friend even when he seems to come forth against us as an enemy, ch. 23:8-10. We must believe that all shall work for good to us even when all seems to make against us, Jer. 24:5. We must proceed and persevere in the way of our duty, though it cost us all that is dear to us in this world, even life itself, Heb. 11:35. We must depend upon the performance of the promise when all the ways leading to it are shut up, Rom. 4:18. We must rejoice in God when we have nothing else to rejoice in, and cleave to him, yea, though we cannot for the present find comfort in him. In a dying hour we must derive from him living comforts; and this is to trust in him though he slay us.
  • V. He wishes to argue the case even with God himself, if he might but have leave to settle the preliminaries of the treaty, v. 20-22. He had desired (v. 3) to reason with God, and is still of the same mind. He will not hide himself, that is, he will not decline the trial, nor dread the issue of it, but under two provisos:-
    • 1. That his body might not be tortured with this exquisite pain: "Withdraw thy hand far from me; for, while I am in this extremity, I am fit for nothing. l can make a shift to talk with my friends, but I know not how to address myself to thee.' When we are to converse with God we have need to be composed, and as free as possible from every thing that may make us uneasy.
    • 2. That his mind might not be terrified with the tremendous majesty of God: "Let not thy dread make me afraid; either let the manifestations of thy presence be familiar or let me be enabled to bear them without disorder and disturbance.' Moses himself trembled before God, so did Isaiah and Habakkuk. O God! thou art terrible even in thy holy places. "Lord,' says Job, "let me not be put into such a consternation of spirit, together with this bodily affliction; for then I must certainly drop the cause, and shall make nothing of it.' See what a folly it is for men to put off their repentance and conversion to a sick-bed and a death-bed. How can even a good man, much less a bad man, reason with God, so as to be justified before him, when he is upon the rack of pain and under the terror of the arrests of death? At such a time it is very bad to have the great work to do, but very comfortable to have it done, as it was to Job, who, if he might but have a little breathing-time, was ready either,
      • (1.) To hear God speaking to him by his word, and return an answer: Call thou, and I will answer; or,
      • (2.) To speak to him by prayer, and expect an answer: Let me speak, and answer thou me, v. 22. Compare this with ch. 9:34, 35, where he speaks to the same purport. In short, the badness of his case was at present such a damp upon him as he could not get over; otherwise he was well assured of the goodness of his cause, and doubted not but to have the comfort of it at last, when the present cloud was over. With such holy boldness may the upright come to the throne of grace, not doubting but to find mercy there.

Job 13:23-28

Here,

  • I. Job enquires after his sins, and begs to have them discovered to him. He looks up to God, and asks him what was the number of them (How many are my iniquities?) and what were the particulars of them: Make me to know my transgressions, v. 23. His friends were ready enough to tell him how numerous and how heinous they were, ch. 22:5. "But, Lord,' says he, "let me know them from thee; for thy judgment is according to truth, theirs is not.' This may be taken either,
    • 1. As a passionate complaint of hard usage, that he was punished for his faults and yet was not told what his faults were. Or,
    • 2. As a prudent appeal to God from the censures of his friends. He desired that all his sins might be brought to light, as knowing they would then appear not so many, nor so mighty, as his friends suspected him to be guilty of. Or,
    • 3. As a pious request, to the same purport with that which Elihu directed him to, ch. 34:32. That which I see not, teach thou me. Note, A true penitent is willing to know the worst of himself; and we should all desire to know what our transgressions are, that we may be particular in the confession of them and on our guard against them for the future.
  • II. He bitterly complains of God's withdrawings from him (v. 24): Wherefore hidest thou thy face? This must be meant of something more than his outward afflictions; for the loss of estate, children, health, might well consist with God's love; when that was all, he blessed the name of the Lord; but his soul was also sorely vexed, and that is it which he here laments.
    • 1. That the favours of the Almighty were suspended. God hid his face as one strange to him, displeased with him, shy and regardless of him.
    • 2. That the terrors of the Almighty were inflicted and impressed upon him. God held him for his enemy, shot his arrows at him (ch. 6:4), and set him as a mark, ch. 7:20. Note, The Holy Ghost sometimes denies his favours and discovers his terrors to the best and dearest of his saints and servants in this world. This case occurs, not only in the production, but sometimes in the progress of the divine life. Evidences for heaven are eclipsed, sensible communications interrupted, dread of divine wrath impressed, and the returns of comfort, for the present, despaired of, Ps. 77:7-9; 88:7, 15, 16. These are grievous burdens to a gracious soul, that values God's loving-kindness as better than life, Prov. 18:14. A wounded spirit who can bear? Job, by asking here, Why hidest thou thy face? teaches us that, when at any time we are under the sense of God's withdrawings, we are concerned to enquire into the reason of them-what is the sin for which he corrects us and what the good he designs us. Job's sufferings were typical of the sufferings of Christ, from whom not only men hid their faces (Isa. 53:3), but God hid his, witness the darkness which surrounded him on the cross when he cried out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? If this were done to these green trees, what shall be done to the dry? They will for ever be forsaken.
  • III. He humbly pleads with God his own utter inability to stand before him (v. 25): "Wilt thou break a leaf, pursue the dry stubble? Lord, is it for thy honour to trample upon one that is down already, or to crush one that neither has nor pretends to any power to resist thee?' Note, We ought to have such an apprehension of the goodness and compassion of God as to believe that he will not break the bruised reed, Mt. 12:20.
  • IV. He sadly complains of God's severe dealings with him. He owns it was for his sins that God thus contended with him, but thinks it hard,
    • 1. That his former sins, long since committed, should now be remembered against him, and he should he reckoned with for the old scores (v. 26): Thou writest bitter things against me. Afflictions are bitter things. Writing them denotes deliberation and determination, written as a warrant for execution; it denotes also the continuance of his affliction, for that which is written remains, and, "Herein thou makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth,' that is, "thou punishest me for them, and thereby puttest me in mind of them, and obligest me to renew my repentance for them.' Note,
      • (1.) God sometimes writes very bitter things against the best and dearest of his saints and servants, both in outward afflictions and inward disquiet; trouble in body and trouble in mind, that he may humble them, and prove them, and do them good in their latter end.
      • (2.) That the sins of youth are often the smart of age both in respect of sorrow within (Jer. 31:18, 19) and suffering without, ch. 20:11. Time does not wear out the guilt of sin.
      • (3.) That when God writes bitter things against us his design therein is to make us possess our iniquities, to bring forgotten sins to mind, and so to bring us to remorse for them as to break us off from them. This is all the fruit, to take away our sin.
    • 2. That his present mistakes and miscarriages should be so strictly taken notice of, and so severely animadverted upon (v. 27): "Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, not only to afflict me and expose me to shame, not only to keep me from escaping the strokes of thy wrath, but that thou mayest critically remark all my motions and look narrowly to all my paths, to correct me for every false step, nay, for but a look awry or a word misapplied; nay, thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet, scorest down every thing I do amiss, to reckon for it; or no sooner have I trodden wrong, though ever so little, than immediately I smart for it; the punishment treads upon the very heels of the sin. Guilt, both of the oldest and of the freshest date, is put together to make up the cause of my calamity.' Now,
      • (1.) It was not true that God did thus seek advantages against him. He is not thus extreme to mark what we do amiss; if he were, there were no abiding for us, Ps. 130:3. But he is so far from this that he deals not with us according to the desert, no, not of our manifest sins, which are not found by secret search, Jer. 2:34. This therefore was the language of Job's melancholy; his sober thoughts never represented God thus as a hard Master.
      • (2.) But we should keep such a strict and jealous eye as this upon ourselves and our own steps, both for the discovery of sin past and the prevention of it for the future. It is good for us all to ponder the path of our feet.
  • V. He finds himself wasting away apace under the heavy hand of God, v. 28. He (that is, man) as a rotten thing, the principle of whose putrefaction is in itself, consumes, even like a moth-eaten garment, which becomes continually worse and worse. Or, He (that is, God) like rottenness, and like a moth, consumes me. Compare this with Hos. 5:12, I will be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness; and see Ps. 39:11. Note, Man, at the best, wears fast; but, under God's rebukes especially, he is soon gone. While there is so little soundness in the soul, no marvel there is so little soundness in the flesh, Ps. 38:3.