Geneva Study Bible Then Job answered and said, Then Job answered and said,
How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me. These {a} ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.
(a) That is, many times, as in Ne 4:12. And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error {b} remaineth with myself.
(b) That is, I myself will be punished for it, or you have not yet consulted it. If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach: If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. Know now that God hath {c} overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
(c) He breaks out again into his passions and declares still that his affliction comes from God though he is not able to feel the cause in himself. Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. He hath fenced up my way that I cannot {d} pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
(d) Meaning, out of his afflictions. He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the {e} crown from my head.
(e) Meaning, his children, and whatever was dear to him in this world. He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree. He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like {f} a tree.
(f) Which is plucked up, and has no more hope to grow. He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.
His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle. His {g} troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
(g) His manifold afflictions. He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. {h} They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
(h) My household servants by all these losses Job shows that touching the flesh he had great opportunity to be moved. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body. My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine {i} own body.
(i) Which were hers and mine. Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. My bone {k} cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
(k) Besides these great losses and most cruel unkindness, he was touched in his own person as follows. Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. Have pity upon me, have {m} pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
(m) Seeing I have these just causes to complain, condemn me not as a hypocrite, especially you who should comfort me. Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? Why do ye persecute me as {n} God, and are not satisfied with my {o} flesh?
(n) Is it not enough that God punishes me, unless you by reproaching increase my sorrow? (o) To see my body punished, unless you trouble my mind? Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! That they were graven with {p} an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
(p) He protests that despite his sore passions his religion is perfect and that he in not a blasphemer as they judged him. For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: For I know that my {q} redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
(q) I do not so justify myself before the world, but I know that I will come before the great judge who will be my deliverer and Saviour. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet {r} in my flesh shall I see God:
(r) In this Job declares plainly that he had a full hope, that both the soul and body would enjoy the presence of God in the last resurrection. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the {s} matter is found in me?
(s) Though his friends thought that he was only persecuted by God for his sins, yet he declares that there was a deeper consideration that is, the trial of his faith and patience, and so to be an example for others. Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment. Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the {t} punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment. (t) God will be avenged of this harsh judgment by which you condemned me. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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