Job's Spirit Is Broken
Study note
Job says his spirit is broken and his days are over. Mockers surround him. He begs God to be the one who stands up for him, because there is no one else who will. He says God has closed his friends' minds to understanding, so they should not be praised for their so-called wisdom.
1 'My spirit has been shattered. My life is nearly over. The grave is waiting there for me.' My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
2 'People who mock me are everywhere. All night long I have to watch them insult me.' Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
3 'God, please put up something as a guarantee for me! Who else is willing to vouch for me?' Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
4 'You have shut their minds so they cannot understand. Therefore you will not let them win this argument.' For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
5 'Whoever sells out their friends to get something in return -- their own children will pay the price.' He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
A Byword Among the People
Study note
Job says God has made him a byword -- a person everyone talks about and mocks. His eyes are dim from sorrow, and his body is like a shadow. While upright people are shocked by what has happened to him, the righteous will hold firmly to their way. But Job finds no wise person among his friends.
6 'God has turned me into someone people use as an insult. They spit in my face whenever they see me.' He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
7 'My eyes have gone dim from all this grief. My whole body is fading like a shadow.' Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
8 'Good people are shocked when they see what has happened to me. Innocent people are outraged at how the godless have treated me.' Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9 'But those who do right will keep on doing right. People with clean hands will only get stronger as time goes on.' The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 'As for all of you, go ahead and try again. I still will not find a single wise person in the bunch.' But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
The Grave Is My Home
Study note
Job's plans and dreams are shattered. His only hope now is the grave. He says to decay, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'You are my mother and my sister.' If the grave is his home, where then is his hope? His hope goes down with him to the dust.
11 'My best days are behind me. Every plan I had has been torn to pieces. The things my heart longed for are gone.' My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
12 'My friends try to convince me that night is day. They tell me, "Light is just around the corner," when all I see is darkness closing in.' They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
13 'What if the grave is the only home waiting for me? What if darkness is the only bed I will ever lie in?' If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
14 'What if I call out to the rotting ground, "You are my father," and say to the worms, "You are my mother and sister"?' I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
15 'Then where does hope fit in? Is there anyone who can spot even a tiny bit of hope for me?' And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
16 'Will hope follow me down to the grave? Will the two of us sink into the dust together?' They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.