Bible Commentaries

I know [it is] so of a truth: but how should man be ^a just with God?

(a) Job here answers Eliphaz and Bildad's oration, touching the justice of God, and his innocency, confessing God to be infinite in justice and man to be nothing in respect.

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a ^b thousand.

(b) Of a thousand things, which God could lay to his charge, man cannot answer him one.

Which ^c shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

(c) He declares the infirmity of man, by the mighty and incomprehensible power that is in God, showing what he could do if he would set forth his power.

Which maketh ^d Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

(d) These are the names of certain stars by which he means that all stars both known and unknown are at his appointment.

Lo, he goeth ^e by me, and I see [him] not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

(e) I am not able to comprehend his works, which are common and daily before my eyes, much less in those things, which are hid and secret.

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? ^f who will say unto him, What doest thou?

(f) He shows that when God executes his power, he does it justly, as no one can control him.

[If] God ^g will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers ^h do stoop under him.

(g) God will not be appeased for anything that man can say for himself for his justification.

(h) That is, all the reasons that men can lay to approve their cause.

How much less shall I answer him, [and] choose out ⁱ my words [to reason] with him?

(i) How should I be able to answer him by eloquence? By which he notes his friends, who although they were eloquent in talk, did not believe in their hearts, that which they spoke.

Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I ^k not answer, [but] I would make supplication to my judge.

(k) Meaning, in his own opinion, signifying that man will sometimes flatter himself to be righteous which before God is an abomination.

If I ^l had called, and he had answered me; [yet] would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

(l) While I am in pain I cannot break forth into many inconveniences although I still know that God is just.

For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds ^m without cause.

(m) I am not able to feel my sins so great, as I feel the weight of his plagues; and this he speaks to condemn his dullness and to justify God.

If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] ⁿ strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?

(n) After he has accused his own weakness, he continues to justify God and his power.

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: ^o [if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

(o) If I stood in my own defence yet God would have just cause to condemn me if he examined my heart and conscience.

This [is] one [thing], therefore I said [it], He destroyeth the ^p perfect and the wicked.

(p) If God punishes according to his justice, he will destroy them who are counted perfect as well as them that are wicked.

If the scourge ^q slay suddenly, he will ^r laugh at the trial of the innocent.

(q) That is, the wicked.

(r) This is spoken according to our apprehension, as though he would say, If God destroyed only the wicked, (Job 5:3), why would he allow the innocent to be so long tormented by them?

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: ^s he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, [and] who ^t [is] he?

(s) That they cannot see to do justice.

(t) That can show the contrary?

If ^u I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort [myself]:

(u) I think not to fall into these afflictions, but my sorrows bring me to these manifold infirmities, and my conscience condemns me.

[If] I be wicked, why then ^x labour I in vain?

(x) Why does God not destroy me at once? thus he speaks according to the infirmity of the flesh.

If I wash ^y myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

(y) Though I seem pure in my own eyes, yet all is but corruption before God.

Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own ^z clothes shall abhor me.

(z) Whatever I would use to cover my filthiness with, it would disclose me even more.

Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, ^a [that] might lay his hand upon us both.

(a) Who might make an accord between God and me, speaking of impatience, and yet confessing God to be just in punishing him.

[Then] would I speak, and not fear him; ^b but [it is] not so with me.

(b) Signifying that God's judgments keep him in awe.