5 I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.
And call Thou, and I -- I answer, Or -- I speak, and answer Thou me. How many iniquities and sins have I? My transgression and my sin let me know.
Thou hast known that `for' all things Thou art able, And not withheld from Thee is `any' device: `Who `is' this, hiding counsel without knowledge?' Therefore, I have declared, and understand not, Too wonderful for me, and I know not. `Hear, I pray thee, and I -- I do speak, I ask thee, and cause thou me to know.' By the hearing of the ear I heard Thee, And now mine eye hath seen Thee. Therefore do I loathe `it', And I have repented on dust and ashes.
and to me it is for a very little thing that by you I may be judged, or by man's day, but not even myself do I judge, for of nothing to myself have I been conscious, but not in this have I been declared right -- and he who is discerning me is the Lord:
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 23
Commentary on Job 23 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 23
This chapter begins Job's reply to Eliphaz. In this reply he takes no notice of his friends, either because he saw it was to no purpose or because he liked the good counsel Eliphaz gave him in the close of his discourse so well that he would make no answer to the peevish reflections he began with; but he appeals to God, begs to have his cause heard, and doubts not but to make it good, having the testimony of his own conscience concerning his integrity. Here seems to be a struggle between flesh and spirit, fear and faith, throughout this chapter.
Job 23:1-7
Job is confident that he has wrong done him by his friends, and therefore, ill as he is, he will not give up the cause, nor let them have the last word. Here,
Job 23:8-12
Here,
Job 23:13-17
Some make Job to complain here that God dealt unjustly and unfairly with him in proceeding to punish him without the least relenting or relaxation, though he had such incontestable evidences to produce of his innocency. I am loth to think holy Job would charge the holy God with iniquity; but his complaint is indeed bitter and peevish, and he reasons himself into a sort of patience per force, which he cannot do without reflecting upon God as dealing hardly with him, but he must bear it because he cannot help it; the worst he says is that God deals unaccountably with him.