16 If I had called, H7121 and he had answered H6030 me; yet would I not believe H539 that he had hearkened H238 unto my voice. H6963
And Moses H4872 spake H1696 so unto the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 but they hearkened H8085 not unto Moses H4872 for anguish H7115 of spirit, H7307 and for cruel H7186 bondage. H5656
And Gideon H1439 said H559 unto him, Oh H994 my Lord, H113 if H3426 the LORD H3068 be with us, why then is all this befallen H4672 us? and where be all his miracles H6381 which our fathers H1 told H5608 us of, saying, H559 Did not the LORD H3068 bring us up H5927 from Egypt? H4714 but now the LORD H3068 hath forsaken H5203 us, and delivered H5414 us into the hands H3709 of the Midianites. H4080
In my distress H6862 I called H7121 upon the LORD, H3068 and cried H7768 unto my God: H430 he heard H8085 my voice H6963 out of his temple, H1964 and my cry H7775 came H935 before H6440 him, even into his ears. H241
If I regard H7200 iniquity H205 in my heart, H3820 the Lord H136 will not hear H8085 me: But verily H403 God H430 hath heard H8085 me; he hath attended H7181 to the voice H6963 of my prayer. H8605 Blessed H1288 be God, H430 which hath not turned away H5493 my prayer, H8605 nor his mercy H2617 from me.
[[A Song H7892 of degrees.]] H4609 When the LORD H3068 turned again H7725 the captivity H7870 of Zion, H6726 we were like them that dream. H2492
And G1161 while they G846 yet G2089 believed not G569 for G575 joy, G5479 and G2532 wondered, G2296 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Have ye G2192 here G1759 any G5100 meat? G1034
And G2532 when she knew G1921 Peter's G4074 voice, G5456 she opened G455 not G3756 the gate G4440 for G575 gladness, G5479 but G1161 ran in, G1532 and told how G518 Peter G4074 stood G2476 before G4253 the gate. G4440 And G1161 they said G2036 unto G4314 her, G846 Thou art mad. G3105 But G1161 she constantly affirmed G1340 that it was G2192 even so. G3779 Then G1161 said they, G3004 It is G2076 his G846 angel. G32 But G1161 Peter G4074 continued G1961 knocking: G2925 and G1161 when they had opened G455 the door, and saw G1492 him, G846 G2532 they were astonished. G1839
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 9
Commentary on Job 9 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 9
In this and the following chapter we have Job's answer to Bildad's discourse, wherein he speaks honourably of God, humbly of himself, and feelingly of his troubles; but not one word by way of reflection upon his friends, or their unkindness to him, nor in direct reply to what Bildad had said. He wisely keeps to the merits of the cause, and makes no remarks upon the person that managed it, nor seeks occasion against him. In this chapter we have,
Job 9:1-13
Bildad began with a rebuke to Job for talking so much, ch. 8:2. Job makes no answer to that, though it would have been easy enough to retort it upon himself; but in what he next lays down as his principle, that God never perverts judgment, Job agrees with him: I know it is so of a truth, v. 2. Note, We should be ready to own how far we agree with those with whom we dispute, and should not slight, much less resist, a truth, though produced by an adversary and urged against us, but receive it in the light and love of it, though it may have been misapplied. "It is so of a truth, that wickedness brings men to ruin and the godly are taken under God's special protection. These are truths which I subscribe to; but how can any man make good his part with God?' In his sight shall no flesh living be justified, Ps. 143:2. How should man be just with God? Some understand this as a passionate complaint of God's strictness and severity, that he is a God whom there is no dealing with; and it cannot be denied that there are, in this chapter, some peevish expressions, which seem to speak such language as this. But I take this rather as a pious confession of man's sinfulness, and his own in particular, that, if God should deal with any of us according to the desert of our iniquities, we should certainly be undone.
Job 9:14-21
What Job had said of man's utter inability to contend with God he here applies to himself, and in effect despairs of gaining his favour, which (some think) arises from the hard thoughts he had of God, as one who, having set himself against him, right or wrong, would be too hard for him. I rather think it arises from the sense he had of the imperfection of his own righteousness, and the dark and cloudy apprehensions which at present he had of God's displeasure against him.
Job 9:22-24
Here Job touches briefly upon the main point now in dispute between him and his friends. They maintained that those who are righteous and good always prosper in this world, and none but the wicked are in misery and distress; he asserted, on the contrary, that it is a common thing for the wicked to prosper and the righteous to be greatly afflicted. This is the one thing, the chief thing, wherein he and his friends differed; and they had not proved their assertion, therefore he abides by his: "I said it, and say it again, that all things come alike to all.' Now,
Job 9:25-35
Job here grows more and more querulous, and does not conclude this chapter with such reverent expressions of God's wisdom and justice as he began with. Those that indulge a complaining humour know not to what indecencies, nay, to what impieties, it will hurry them. The beginning of that strife with God is as the letting forth of water; therefore leave it off before it be meddled with. When we are in trouble we are allowed to complain to God, as the Psalmist often, but must by no means complain of God, as Job here.