8 For what is the hope H8615 of the hypocrite, H2611 though he hath gained, H1214 when God H433 taketh away H7953 his soul? H5315
9 Will God H410 hear H8085 his cry H6818 when trouble H6869 cometh H935 upon him?
10 Will he delight H6026 himself in the Almighty? H7706 will he always H6256 call H7121 upon God? H433
11 I will teach H3384 you by the hand H3027 of God: H410 that which is with the Almighty H7706 will I not conceal. H3582
12 Behold, all ye yourselves have seen H2372 it; why then are ye thus altogether H1892 vain? H1891
13 This is the portion H2506 of a wicked H7563 man H120 with God, H410 and the heritage H5159 of oppressors, H6184 which they shall receive H3947 of the Almighty. H7706
14 If his children H1121 be multiplied, H7235 it is for H3926 the sword: H2719 and his offspring H6631 shall not be satisfied H7646 with bread. H3899
15 Those that remain H8300 of him shall be buried H6912 in death: H4194 and his widows H490 shall not weep. H1058
16 Though he heap up H6651 silver H3701 as the dust, H6083 and prepare H3559 raiment H4403 as the clay; H2563
17 He may prepare H3559 it, but the just H6662 shall put it on, H3847 and the innocent H5355 shall divide H2505 the silver. H3701
18 He buildeth H1129 his house H1004 as a moth, H6211 and as a booth H5521 that the keeper H5341 maketh. H6213
19 The rich H6223 man shall lie down, H7901 but he shall not be gathered: H622 he openeth H6491 his eyes, H5869 and he is not.
20 Terrors H1091 take hold H5381 on him as waters, H4325 a tempest H5492 stealeth him away H1589 in the night. H3915
21 The east H6921 wind carrieth him away, H5375 and he departeth: H3212 and as a storm hurleth H8175 him out of his place. H4725
22 For God shall cast H7993 upon him, and not spare: H2550 he would fain H1272 flee H1272 out of his hand. H3027
23 Men shall clap H5606 their hands H3709 at him, and shall hiss H8319 him out of his place. H4725
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 27
Commentary on Job 27 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 27
Job had sometimes complained of his friends that they were so eager in disputing that they would scarcely let him put in a word: "Suffer me that I may speak;' and, "O that you would hold your peace!' But now, it seems, they were out of breath, and left him room to say what he would. Either they were themselves convinced that Job was in the right or they despaired of convincing him that he was in the wrong; and therefore they threw away their weapons and gave up the cause. Job was too hard for them, and forced them to quit the field; for great is the truth and will prevail. What Job had said (ch. 26) was a sufficient answer to Bildad's discourse; and now Job paused awhile, to see whether Zophar would take his turn again; but, he declining it, Job himself went on, and, without any interruption or vexation given him, said all he desired to say in this matter.
Job 27:1-6
Job's discourse here is called a parable (mashal), the title of Solomon's proverbs, because it was grave and weighty, and very instructive, and he spoke as one having authority. It comes from a word that signifies to rule, or have dominion; and some think it intimates that Job now triumphed over his opponents, and spoke as one that had baffled them. We say of an excellent preacher that he knows how dominari in concionibus-to command his hearers. Job did so here. A long strife there had been between Job and his friends; they seemed disposed to have the matter compromised; and therefore, since an oath for confirmation is an end of strife (Heb. 6:16), Job here backs all he had said in maintenance of his own integrity with a solemn oath, to silence contradiction, and take the blame entirely upon himself if he prevaricated. Observe,
Job complained much of the reproaches of his friends; but (says he) my heart shall not reproach me, that is, "I will never give my heart cause to reproach me, but will keep a conscience void of offence; and, while I do so, I will not give my heart leave to reproach me.' Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. To resolve that our hearts shall not reproach us when we give them cause to do so is to affront God, whose deputy conscience is, and to wrong ourselves; for it is a good thing, when a man has sinned, to have a heart within him to smite him for it, 2 Sa. 24:10. But to resolve that our hearts shall not reproach us while we still hold fast our integrity is to baffle the designs of the evil spirit (who tempts good Christians to question their adoption, If thou be the Son of God) and to concur with the operations of the good Spirit, who witnesses to their adoption.
Job 27:7-10
Job having solemnly protested the satisfaction he had in his integrity, for the further clearing of himself, here expresses the dread he had of being found a hypocrite.
Job 27:11-23
Job's friends had seen a great deal of the misery and destruction that attend wicked people, especially oppressors; and Job, while the heat of disputation lasted, had said as much, and with as much assurance, of their prosperity; but now that the heat of the battle was nearly over he was willing to own how far he agreed with them, and where the difference between his opinion and theirs lay.