23 If the scourge H7752 slay H4191 suddenly, H6597 he will laugh H3932 at the trial H4531 of the innocent. H5355
Now therefore that I am come H935 to speak H1696 of this thing H1697 unto my lord H113 the king, H4428 it is because the people H5971 have made me afraid: H3372 and thy handmaid H8198 said, H559 I will now speak H1696 unto the king; H4428 it may be that the king H4428 will perform H6213 the request H1697 of his handmaid. H519
Then thine handmaid H8198 said, H559 The word H1697 of my lord H113 the king H4428 shall now be comfortable: H4496 for as an angel H4397 of God, H430 so is my lord H113 the king H4428 to discern H8085 good H2896 and bad: H7451 therefore the LORD H3068 thy God H430 will be with thee.
And there was a day H3117 when his sons H1121 and his daughters H1323 were eating H398 and drinking H8354 wine H3196 in their eldest H1060 brother's H251 house: H1004 And there came H935 a messenger H4397 unto Job, H347 and said, H559 The oxen H1241 were plowing, H2790 and the asses H860 feeding H7462 beside H3027 them: And the Sabeans H7614 fell H5307 upon them, and took them away; H3947 yea, they have slain H5221 the servants H5288 with the edge H6310 of the sword; H2719 and I only am escaped H4422 alone to tell H5046 thee. While he was yet speaking, H1696 there came H935 also another, and said, H559 The fire H784 of God H430 is fallen H5307 from heaven, H8064 and hath burned up H1197 the sheep, H6629 and the servants, H5288 and consumed H398 them; and I only am escaped H4422 alone to tell H5046 thee. While he was yet speaking, H1696 there came H935 also another, and said, H559 The Chaldeans H3778 made out H7760 three H7969 bands, H7218 and fell H6584 upon the camels, H1581 and have carried them away, H3947 yea, and slain H5221 the servants H5288 with the edge H6310 of the sword; H2719 and I only am escaped H4422 alone to tell H5046 thee. While he was yet speaking, H1696 there came H935 also another, and said, H559 Thy sons H1121 and thy daughters H1323 were eating H398 and drinking H8354 wine H3196 in their eldest H1060 brother's H251 house: H1004 And, behold, there came H935 a great H1419 wind H7307 from H5676 the wilderness, H4057 and smote H5060 the four H702 corners H6438 of the house, H1004 and it fell H5307 upon the young men, H5288 and they are dead; H4191 and I only am escaped H4422 alone to tell H5046 thee.
So went H3318 Satan H7854 forth H3318 from the presence H6440 of the LORD, H3068 and smote H5221 Job H347 with sore H7451 boils H7822 from the sole H3709 of his foot H7272 unto his crown. H6936
Men H4962 groan H5008 from out of the city, H5892 and the soul H5315 of the wounded H2491 crieth out: H7768 yet God H433 layeth H7760 not folly H8604 to them.
Yea, for thy sake are we killed H2026 all the day H3117 long; we are counted H2803 as sheep H6629 for the slaughter. H2878
Or if I send H7971 a pestilence H1698 into that land, H776 and pour out H8210 my fury H2534 upon it in blood, H1818 to cut off H3772 from it man H120 and beast: H929 Though Noah, H5146 Daniel, H1840 and Job, H347 were in it, H8432 as I live, H2416 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 they shall deliver H5337 neither son H1121 nor H518 daughter; H1323 they shall but deliver H5337 their own souls H5315 by their righteousness. H6666 For thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 How much more when I send H7971 my four H702 sore H7451 judgments H8201 upon Jerusalem, H3389 the sword, H2719 and the famine, H7458 and the noisome H7451 beast, H2416 and the pestilence, H1698 to cut off H3772 from it man H120 and beast? H929
Because it is a trial, H974 and what if the sword contemn H3988 even the rod? H7626 it shall be no more, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069
And G1161 others G2087 had G2983 trial G3984 of cruel mockings G1701 and G2532 scourgings, G3148 yea, G1161 moreover G2089 of bonds G1199 and G2532 imprisonment: G5438 They were stoned, G3034 they were sawn asunder, G4249 were tempted, G3985 were slain G599 with G1722 the sword: G5408 G3162 they wandered about G4022 in G1722 sheepskins G3374 and G1722 goatskins; G122 G1192 being destitute, G5302 afflicted, G2346 tormented; G2558
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.