Geneva Study Bible I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? I made a covenant with mine {a} eyes; why then should I think upon {b} a maid?
(a) I kept my eyes from all wanton looks. (b) Would not God then have punished me? For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to {c} the workers of iniquity?
(c) Job declares that the fear of God was a bridle to stay him from all wickedness. Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine {d} integrity.
(d) He shows what his uprightness stands in, in as much as he was blameless before men and did not sin against the second table. If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart {e} walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;
(e) That is, has accomplished the lust of my eyes. Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out. Then let me sow, and let another {f} eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
(f) According to the curse of the law, De 28:33. If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door; If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. Then let my wife {g} grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
(g) Let her be made a slave. For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase. For it is a fire that consumeth {h} to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
(h) He shows that although man neglects the punishment of adultery, yet the wrath of God will never cease till such are destroyed. If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they {i} contended with me;
(i) When they thought themselves evil intreated by me. What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? What then shall I do when {k} God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
(k) If I had oppressed others, how would I have escaped God's judgment. Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? Did not he that made me in the womb make {l} him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
(l) He was moved to show pity to servants, because they were God's creatures as he was. If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow {m} to fail;
(m) By long waiting for her request. Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) (For from my youth he was brought up with me, {n} as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)
(n) He nourished the fatherless, and maintained the widows cause. If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: If I have lifted {o} up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
(o) To oppress him and to do him harm. Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. Then let mine {p} arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
(p) Let me rot in pieces. For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure. For destruction from God was a {q} terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
(q) I did not refrain from sin for fear of men, but because I feared God. If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; If I beheld the {r} sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
(r) If I was proud of my worldly prosperity and happiness, which is meant by the shining of the sun, and brightness of the moon. And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my {s} hand:
(s) If my own doings delighted me. This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above. This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is {t} above.
(t) By putting confidence in anything but in him alone. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. If the men of my {u} tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
(u) My servants moved me to be avenged of my enemy, yet I never wished him harm. The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller. The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: If I covered {x} my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:
(x) Not confessed it freely, by which it is evident that he justified himself before men, and not before God. Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door? Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families {y} terrify me, that I kept {z} silence, and went not out of the door?
(y) That is, I reverenced the most weak and contemned and was afraid to offend them. (z) I suffered them to speak evil of me, and went not out of my house to avenge it. Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. Oh that one would hear me! behold, my {a} desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
(a) This is a sufficient token of my righteousness, that God is my witness and will justify my cause. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a {b} crown to me.
(b) Should not this book of his accusations be a praise and commendation to me? I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him. I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a {c} prince would I go near unto him.
(c) I will make him account of all my life, without fear. If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain; If my land {d} cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;
(d) As though I had withheld their wages that laboured in it. If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused {e} the owners thereof to lose their life:
(e) Meaning, that he was not a briber or extortioner. Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended. Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The {f} words of Job are ended. (f) That is, the talk which he had with his three friends. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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