Geneva Study Bible Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? Why, seeing times {a} are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his {b} days?
(a) Thus Job speaks in his passions, and after the judgment of the flesh: that is, that he does not see the things that are done at times, nor yet has a peculiar care over all, because he does not punish the wicked or avenge the godly. (b) When he punishes the wicked and rewards the good. Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves {c} together.
(c) And for cruelty and oppression dare not show their faces. Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; {d} rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness {e} yieldeth food for them and for their children.
(d) That is, spares diligence. (e) He and his live by robbing and murdering. They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. They reap every one {f} his corn in the field: and they gather the {g} vintage of the wicked.
(f) Meaning the poor man's. (g) Signifying that one wicked man will not spoil another, but for necessity. They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. They are wet with the showers of the mountains, {h} and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
(h) The poor are driven by the wicked into the rock and holes where they cannot lie dry for the rain. They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. They pluck the fatherless {i} from the breast, and take a pledge of {k} the poor.
(i) That is, they so pillage and plunder the poor widow that she cannot sustain herself that she may be able to nurse her baby. They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry; They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;
Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. Which make oil {l} within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
(l) In such places which are appointed for that purpose; meaning, that those who labour for the wicked, are pined for hunger. Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them. Men {m} groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God {n} layeth not folly to them.
(m) For the great oppression and extortion. (n) Cry out and call for vengeance. They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. They are of those that rebel against the {p} light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
(p) That is, God's word, because they are reproved by it. The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. The eye also of the {q} adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.
(q) By these particular vices and the licence of it, he would prove that God did not punish the wicked and reward the just. In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. He is swift as the {r} waters; their {s} portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
(r) He flees to the waters for his succour. (s) They think that all the world is bent against them and dare not go by the highway. Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned. Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which {t} have sinned.
(t) As the dry ground is never full with waters, so will they never cease sinning till they come to the grave. The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree. {u} The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.
(u) Though God tolerates the wicked for a time, yet their end will be vile destruction, and in this point Job commits to himself and shows his confidence. He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow. He {x} evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
(x) He shows why the wicked will not be lamented, because he did not pity others. He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life. He draweth also the {y} mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.
(y) He declares that after the wicked have destroyed the weakest, they will do the same to the stranger, and therefore are justly punished by God's judgments. Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways. Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.
They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.
And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth? And if it be not {z} so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth? (z) That is, contrary to your reasoning no man can give perfect reasons for God's judgments, let me be reproved. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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