20 If I justify H6663 myself, mine own mouth H6310 shall condemn H7561 me: if I say, I am perfect, H8535 it shall also prove me perverse. H6140
Job H347 hath spoken H1696 without knowledge, H1847 and his words H1697 were without wisdom. H7919
For G1063 in many things G4183 we offend G4417 all. G537 If any man G1536 offend G4417 not G3756 in G1722 word, G3056 the same G3778 is a perfect G5046 man, G435 and able G1415 also G2532 to bridle G5468 the whole G3650 body. G4983
Perverse disputings G3859 of men G444 of corrupt G1311 minds, G3563 and G2532 destitute G650 of the truth, G225 supposing G3543 that gain G4200 is G1511 godliness: G2150 from G575 such G5108 withdraw thyself. G868
Not G3756 as though G3754 I had already G2235 attained, G2983 either G2228 were already G2235 perfect: G5048 but G1161 I follow after, G1377 if G1499 that I may apprehend G2638 that for G1909 which G3739 also G2532 I am apprehended G2638 of G5259 Christ G5547 Jesus. G2424 Brethren, G80 I G1473 count G3049 not G3756 myself G1683 to have apprehended: G2638 but G1161 this one thing G1520 I do, forgetting G1950 those things G3303 which are behind, G3694 and G1161 reaching forth unto G1901 those things which are before, G1715 I press G1377 toward G2596 the mark G4649 for G1909 the prize G1017 of the high G507 calling G2821 of God G2316 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus. G2424 Let G5426 us therefore, G3767 as many as G3745 be perfect, G5046 be G5426 thus G5124 minded: G5426 and G2532 if in any thing G1536 ye be G5426 otherwise G2088 minded, G5426 God G2316 shall reveal G601 even G2532 this G5124 unto you. G5213
And G2532 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Ye G5210 are G2075 they which justify G1344 yourselves G1438 before G1799 men; G444 but G1161 God G2316 knoweth G1097 your G5216 hearts: G2588 for G3754 that which is highly esteemed G5308 among G1722 men G444 is G2076 abomination G946 in the sight G1799 of God. G2316
But G1161 he, willing G2309 to justify G1344 himself, G1438 said G2036 unto G4314 Jesus, G2424 And G2532 who G5101 is G2076 my G3450 neighbour? G4139
But G1161 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 every G3956 idle G692 word G4487 that G3739 G1437 men G444 shall speak, G2980 they shall give G591 account G3056 thereof G4012 G846 in G1722 the day G2250 of judgment. G2920 For G1063 by G1537 thy G4675 words G3056 thou shalt be justified, G1344 and G2532 by G1537 thy G4675 words G3056 thou shalt be condemned. G2613
Then said H559 I, Woe H188 is me! for I am undone; H1820 because I am a man H376 of unclean H2931 lips, H8193 and I dwell H3427 in the midst H8432 of a people H5971 of unclean H2931 lips: H8193 for mine eyes H5869 have seen H7200 the King, H4428 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
And enter H935 not into judgment H4941 with thy servant: H5650 for in thy sight H6440 shall no man living H2416 be justified. H6663
Surely thou hast spoken H559 in mine hearing, H241 and I have heard H8085 the voice H6963 of thy words, H4405 saying, I am clean H2134 without transgression, H6588 I am innocent; H2643 neither is there iniquity H5771 in me. Behold, he findeth H4672 occasions H8569 against me, he counteth H2803 me for his enemy, H341 He putteth H7760 my feet H7272 in the stocks, H5465 he marketh H8104 all my paths. H734 Behold, in this thou art not just: H6663 I will answer H6030 thee, that God H433 is greater H7235 than man. H582 Why dost thou strive H7378 against him? for he giveth not account H6030 of any of his matters. H1697
So these three H7969 men H582 ceased H7673 to answer H6030 Job, H347 because he was righteous H6662 in his own eyes. H5869 Then was kindled H2734 the wrath H639 of Elihu H453 the son H1121 of Barachel H1292 the Buzite, H940 of the kindred H4940 of Ram: H7410 against Job H347 was his wrath H639 kindled, H2734 because he justified H6663 himself H5315 rather than God. H430
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.