Job Rebukes His Friends
Study note
Job tells his friends that he has seen and heard everything they know. He wants to speak directly to God, not to them. He calls them liars and worthless doctors. He warns them: will it go well for them when God examines their motives? They claim to speak for God, but they are actually showing favoritism. Their wise sayings are as useful as ashes, and their arguments are as sturdy as clay.
1 'I have seen all of this with my own eyes. My ears have heard it and taken it in.' Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 'Everything you know, I know too. I am just as capable as any of you.' What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3 'But I have no interest in talking to you. I want to speak directly to the Almighty. I want to make my argument before God himself.' Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 'All you do is cover things up with lies. Every one of you is a terrible doctor who cannot heal a thing.' But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5 'The smartest move you could make right now would be to close your mouths completely and say nothing!' O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
6 'Pay attention to the case I am laying out. Listen carefully to the argument I am about to make.' Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 'Are you going to say dishonest things and pretend you are speaking for God? Are you going to twist the truth on his behalf?' Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
8 'Are you going to take God's side just to play favorites? Are you planning to be his lawyers in court?' Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9 'What would happen if God decided to examine you closely? Could you fool God the way you fool other people?' Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
10 'He would surely call you out if you were secretly playing favorites.' He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11 'Would his greatness not fill you with fear? Would sheer terror not fall on you?' Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
12 'All your clever sayings are about as valuable as a handful of ashes. Your arguments are as solid as a mud wall.' Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
Though He Slay Me, I Will Trust Him
Study note
Job asks his friends to be silent. He is willing to risk everything. He says, 'Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.' But he also says he will defend his ways before God. He is confident that God will be his salvation, because no godless person would dare to come before God the way Job is doing. He has prepared his case and is confident he will be declared innocent.
13 'Quiet down and give me a chance to speak! Whatever comes my way because of it, so be it.' Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14 'Why am I risking everything? I am putting my whole life on the line here.' Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15 'Even if he kills me, I will still put my trust in him. But I am going to defend myself to his face.' Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16 'This is what will save me. No wicked person would dare stand before God the way I am doing.' He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17 'Listen closely to every word I say. Let my arguments sink deep into your ears.' Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
18 'I have laid out my case carefully. I am fully confident that I will be found innocent.' Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 'Does anyone here want to argue against me? Because if someone can prove me wrong, I will shut my mouth and die in silence.' Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
Job Pleads with God
Study note
Job now turns to address God directly, asking for two things: stop punishing me, and stop terrifying me. Then Job will be ready to speak. He asks God how many sins he has committed, begging to know what he has done wrong. He compares himself to a driven leaf and dry straw that God is chasing. He accuses God of writing bitter charges against him and punishing him for the sins of his youth.
20 'God, I am only asking for two things, and then I will not try to hide from you:' Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 'First, take your crushing weight off of me. Second, stop scaring me out of my mind.' Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
22 'Then go ahead and call on me, and I will respond. Or let me go first, and you answer.' Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23 'Exactly how many sins and mistakes have I committed? Lay out the specific charges against me.' How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 'Why are you turning your face away from me? Why are you treating me like I am your enemy?' Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
25 'Are you truly going to chase after a leaf blowing in the wind? Are you going to hunt down a piece of dry straw?' Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 'You keep writing down bitter accusations against me. You are making me answer for things I did when I was young.' For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
27 'You have clamped chains on my feet and track my every step. You even examine the bottoms of my feet.' Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
28 'And so here I am, wasting away like something rotting, like a piece of clothing being eaten apart by moths.' And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.