1 Then Job answered and said,
2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
1 Then Job H347 answered H6030 and said, H559
2 Even to day H3117 is my complaint H7879 bitter: H4805 my stroke H3027 is heavier H3513 than my groaning. H585
3 Oh that H5414 I knew H3045 where I might find H4672 him! that I might come H935 even to his seat! H8499
4 I would order H6186 my cause H4941 before H6440 him, and fill H4390 my mouth H6310 with arguments. H8433
5 I would know H3045 the words H4405 which he would answer H6030 me, and understand H995 what he would say H559 unto me.
6 Will he plead H7378 against H5978 me with his great H7230 power? H3581 No; but he would put H7760 strength in me.
7 There the righteous H3477 might dispute H3198 with him; so should I be delivered H6403 for ever H5331 from my judge. H8199
8 Behold, I go H1980 forward, H6924 but he is not there; and backward, H268 but I cannot perceive H995 him:
9 On the left hand, H8040 where he doth work, H6213 but I cannot behold H2372 him: he hideth H5848 himself on the right hand, H3225 that I cannot see H7200 him:
10 But he knoweth H3045 the way H1870 that I take: H5978 when he hath tried H974 me, I shall come forth H3318 as gold. H2091
11 My foot H7272 hath held H270 his steps, H838 his way H1870 have I kept, H8104 and not declined. H5186
12 Neither have I gone back H4185 from the commandment H4687 of his lips; H8193 I have esteemed H6845 the words H561 of his mouth H6310 more than my necessary H2706 food.
13 But he is in one H259 mind, and who can turn H7725 him? and what his soul H5315 desireth, H183 even that he doeth. H6213
14 For he performeth H7999 the thing that is appointed H2706 for me: and many H7227 such H2007 things are with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled H926 at his presence: H6440 when I consider, H995 I am afraid H6342 of him.
16 For God H410 maketh my heart H3820 soft, H7401 and the Almighty H7706 troubleth H926 me:
17 Because I was not cut off H6789 before H6440 the darkness, H2822 neither hath he covered H3680 the darkness H652 from my face. H6440
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 Even to-day is my complaint rebellious: My stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
4 I would set my cause in order before him, And fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me.
6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.
7 There the upright might reason with him; So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not `there'; And backward, but I cannot perceive him;
9 On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.
10 But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept, and turned not aside.
12 I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13 But he is in one `mind', and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14 For he performeth that which is appointed for me: And many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I terrified at his presence; When I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath terrified me;
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
1 And Job answereth and saith: --
2 Also -- to-day `is' my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.
3 O that I had known -- and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,
4 I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill `with' arguments.
5 I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.
6 In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth `it' in me.
7 There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.
8 Lo, forward I go -- and He is not, And backward -- and I perceive him not.
9 `To' the left in His working -- and I see not, He is covered `on' the right, and I behold not.
10 For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me -- as gold I go forth.
11 On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,
12 The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.
13 And He `is' in one `mind', And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired -- and He doth `it'.
14 For He doth complete my portion, And many such things `are' with Him.
15 Therefore, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.
16 And God hath made my heart soft, And the Mighty hath troubled me.
17 For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.
1 And Job answered and said,
2 Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!
4 I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;
5 I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.
7 There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold [him] not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see [him] not.
10 But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.
13 But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.
14 For he will perform [what] is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.
16 For ùGod hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.
1 Then Job answered,
2 "Even today is my complaint rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
4 I would set my cause in order before him, And fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would tell me.
6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.
7 There the upright might reason with him, So I should be delivered forever from my judge.
8 "If I go east, he is not there; If west, I can't find him;
9 He works to the north, but I can't see him; He turns south, but I can't catch a glimpse of him.
10 But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.
11 My foot has held fast to his steps. His way have I kept, and not turned aside.
12 I haven't gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13 But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.
14 For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.
15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
1 And Job made answer and said,
2 Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.
3 If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.
5 I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.
6 Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.
7 There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.
8 See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;
9 I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.
10 For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.
11 My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.
12 I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.
13 But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.
14 For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.
15 For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.
16 For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.
17 For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 23
Commentary on Job 23 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 23
THIRD SERIES.
Job 23:1-17. Job's Answer.
2. to-day—implying, perhaps, that the debate was carried on through more days than one (see Introduction).
bitter—(Job 7:11; 10:1).
my stroke—the hand of God on me (Margin, Job 19:21; Ps 32:4).
heavier than—is so heavy that I cannot relieve myself adequately by groaning.
3. The same wish as in Job 13:3 (compare Heb 10:19-22).
Seat—The idea in the Hebrew is a well-prepared throne (Ps 9:7).
4. order—state methodically (Job 13:18; Isa 43:26).
fill, &c.—I would have abundance of arguments to adduce.
5. he—emphatic: it little matters what man may say of me, if only I know what God judges of me.
6. An objection suggests itself, while he utters the wish (Job 23:5). Do I hereby wish that He should plead against me with His omnipotence? Far from it! (Job 9:19, 34; 13:21; 30:18).
strength—so as to prevail with Him: as in Jacob's case (Ho 12:3, 4). Umbreit and Maurer better translate as in Job 4:20 (I only wish that He) "would attend to me," that is, give me a patient hearing as an ordinary judge, not using His omnipotence, but only His divine knowledge of my innocence.
7. There—rather, "Then": if God would "attend" to me (Job 23:6).
righteous—that is, the result of my dispute would be, He would acknowledge me as righteous.
delivered—from suspicion of guilt on the part of my Judge.
8. But I wish in vain. For "behold," &c.
forward … backward—rather, "to the east—to the west." The Hebrew geographers faced the east, that is, sunrise: not the north, as we do. So "before" means east: "behind," west (so the Hindus). Para, "before"—east: Apara, "behind"—west: Daschina, "the right hand"—south: Bama, "left"—north. A similar reference to sunrise appears in the name Asia, "sunrise," Europe, "sunset"; pure Babylonian names, as Rawlinson shows.
9. Rather, "To the north."
work—God's glorious works are especially seen towards the north region of the sky by one in the northern hemisphere. The antithesis is between God working and yet not being beheld: as in Job 9:11, between "He goeth by," and "I see Him not." If the Hebrew bears it, the parallelism to the second clause is better suited by translating, as Umbreit, "doth hide himself"; but then the antithesis to "behold" would be lost.
right hand—"in the south."
hideth—appropriately, of the unexplored south, then regarded as uninhabitable because of its heat (see Job 34:29).
10. But—correcting himself for the wish that his cause should be known before God. The omniscient One already knoweth the way in me (my inward principles: His outward way or course of acts is mentioned in Job 23:11. So in me, Job 4:21); though for some inscrutable cause He as yet hides Himself (Job 23:8, 9).
when—let Him only but try my cause, I shall, &c.
11. held—fast by His steps. The law is in Old Testament poetry regarded as a way, God going before us as our guide, in whose footsteps we must tread (Ps 17:5).
declined—(Ps 125:5).
12. esteemed—rather, "laid up," namely, as a treasure found (Mt 13:44; Ps 119:11); alluding to the words of Eliphaz (Job 22:22). There was no need to tell me so; I have done so already (Jer 15:16).
necessary—"Appointed portion" (of food; as in Pr 30:8). Umbreit and Maurer translate, "More than my law," my own will, in antithesis to "the words of His mouth" (Joh 6:38). Probably under the general term, "what is appointed to me" (the same Hebrew is in Job 23:14), all that ministers to the appetites of the body and carnal will is included.
13. in one mind—notwithstanding my innocence, He is unaltered in His purpose of proving me guilty (Job 9:12).
soul—His will (Ps 115:3). God's sovereignty. He has one great purpose; nothing is haphazard; everything has its proper place with a view to His purpose.
14. many such—He has yet many more such ills in store for me, though hidden in His breast (Job 10:13).
15. God's decrees, impossible to be resisted, and leaving us in the dark as to what may come next, are calculated to fill the mind with holy awe [Barnes].
16. soft—faint; hath melted my courage. Here again Job's language is that of Jesus Christ (Ps 22:14).
17. Because I was not taken away by death from the evil to come (literally, "from before the face of the darkness," Isa 57:1). Alluding to the words of Eliphaz (Job 22:11), "darkness," that is, calamity.
cut off—rather, in the Arabic sense, brought to the land of silence; my sad complaint hushed in death [Umbreit]. "Darkness" in the second clause, not the same Hebrew word as in the first, "cloud," "obscurity." Instead of "covering the cloud (of evil) from my face," He "covers" me with it (Job 22:11).