1And Job made answer and said, 2If only my passion might be measured, and put into the scales against my trouble! 3For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled. 4For the arrows of the Ruler of all are present with me, and their poison goes deep into my spirit: his army of fears is put in order against me. 5Does the ass of the fields give out his voice when he has grass? or does the ox make sounds over his food? 6Will a man take food which has no taste without salt? or is there any taste in the soft substance of purslain? 7My soul has no desire for such things, they are as disease in my food. 8If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire! 9If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off! 10So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to the words of the Holy One. 11Have I strength to go on waiting, or have I any end to be looking forward to? 12Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh brass? 13I have no help in myself, and wisdom is completely gone from me. 14He whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all. 15My friends have been false like a stream, like streams in the valleys which come to an end: 16Which are dark because of the ice, and the snow falling into them; 17Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of the heat. 18The camel-trains go out of their way; they go up into the waste and come to destruction. 19The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them: 20They were put to shame because of their hope; they came and their hope was gone. 21So have you now become to me; you see my sad condition and are in fear. 22Did I say, Give me something? or, Make a payment for me out of your wealth? 23Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones? 24Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error. 25How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments? 26My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind. 27Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend. 28Now then, let your eyes be turned to me, for truly I will not say what is false to your face. 29Let your minds be changed, and do not have an evil opinion of me; yes, be changed, for my righteousness is still in me. 30Is there evil in my tongue? is not the cause of my trouble clear to me?
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Job justifies his complaints. (1-7) He wishes for death. (8-13) Job reproves his friends as unkind. (14-30) 1-7 Job still justifies himself in his complaints. In addition to outward troubles, the inward sense of God's wrath took away all his courage and resolution. The feeling sense of the wrath of God is harder to bear than any outward afflictions. What then did the Saviour endure in the garden and on the cross, when he bare our sins, and his soul was made a sacrifice to Divine justice for us! Whatever burden of affliction, in body or estate, God is pleased to lay upon us, we may well submit to it as long as he continues to us the use of our reason, and the peace of our conscience; but if either of these is disturbed, our case is very pitiable. Job reflects upon his friends for their censures. He complains he had nothing offered for his relief, but what was in itself tasteless, loathsome, and burdensome. 8-13 Job had desired death as the happy end of his miseries. For this, Eliphaz had reproved him, but he asks for it again with more vehemence than before. It was very rash to speak thus of God destroying him. Who, for one hour, could endure the wrath of the Almighty, if he let loose his hand against him? Let us rather say with David, O spare me a little. Job grounds his comfort upon the testimony of his conscience, that he had been, in some degree, serviceable to the glory of God. Those who have grace in them, who have the evidence of it, and have it in exercise, have wisdom in them, which will be their help in the worst of times. 14-30 In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his friends, but now was disappointed. This he compares to the failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations on the creature, will find it fail when it should help them; whereas those who make God their confidence, have help in the time of need, #Heb 4:16|. Those who make gold their hope, sooner or later will be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it. It is our wisdom to cease from man. Let us put all our confidence in the Rock of ages, not in broken reeds; in the Fountain of life, not in broken cisterns. The application is very close; "for now ye are nothing." It were well for us, if we had always such convictions of the vanity of the creature, as we have had, or shall have, on a sick-bed, a death-bed, or in trouble of conscience. Job upbraids his friends with their hard usage. Though in want, he desired no more from them than a good look and a good word. It often happens that, even when we expect little from man, we have less; but from God, even when we expect much, we have more. Though Job differed from them, yet he was ready to yield as soon as it was made to appear that he was in error. Though Job had been in fault, yet they ought not to have given him such hard usage. His righteousness he holds fast, and will not let it go. He felt that there had not been such iniquity in him as they supposed. But it is best to commit our characters to Him who keeps our souls; in the great day every upright believer shall have praise of God.