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Expanded Comments | Additional Comments |
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1 Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech,
And hearken to all my words.
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2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth;
My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
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3 My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart;
And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
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4 The Spirit of God hath made me,
And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
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Spirit of God – Invisible influence. R4519:6*
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5 If thou canst, answer thou me;
Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
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6 Behold, I am toward God even as thou art:
I also am formed out of the clay.
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7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid,
Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
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8 Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing,
And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
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9 I am clean, without transgression;
I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:
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10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me,
He counteth me for his enemy;
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11 He putteth my feet in the stocks,
He marketh all my paths.
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12 Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just;
For God is greater than man.
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13 Why dost thou strive against him,
For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?
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14 For God speaketh once,
Yes twice, though man regardeth it not.
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Once, yea twice – Thinking men observe the persistency with which questions of right and wrong, justice and injustice, are forced upon their consideration, demanding an expression of their individual principles. B152
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15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falleth upon men,
In slumberings upon the bed;
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16 Then he openeth the ears of men,
And sealeth their instruction,
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Then he openeth – With the thunder tones of the day of trouble. B153
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17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose,
And hide pride from man;
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From his purpose – From his own purpose. B153
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18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit,
And his life from perishing by the sword.
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Soul from the pit – The being from death. R205:4, R277:1
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19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed,
And with continual strife in his bones;
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20 So that his life abhorreth bread,
And his soul dainty food.
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21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen;
And his bones that were not seen stick out.
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22 Yes, his soul draweth near unto the pit,
And his life to the destroyers.
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23 If there be with him an angel,
An interpreter, one among a thousand,
To show unto man what is right for him;
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Messenger – As defender. R5402:6
Among a thousand – A rare one. R5402:6
To shew – To declare. R5402:6
His uprightness – His own righteousness for man. R5402:6
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24 Then God is gracious unto him, and saith,
Deliver him from going down to the pit,
I have found a ransom.
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Then he – God. R5402:6
Him – Man. R5402:6
Deliver – Release him. R5402:6
Down to the pit – Of death, or the grave. R5402:6; E462
Found a ransom – Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom price for all by paying the death penalty that was upon Adam, a corresponding price. R5402:6, R4154:3; E462
God will not let the sinner go unconditionally, but because he has found a ransom. R324:4, R1058:5
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25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s;
He returneth to the days of his youth.
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He shall return – Restitution. R5402:6
Youth – To perennial youth, in which death and decay will find no place. R5402:6
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26 He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him,
So that he seeth his face with joy:
And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.
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Pray unto God – Communion with God. R5402:6
Favourable – They shall find acceptance with God. R5402:6
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27 He singeth before men, and saith,
I have sinned, and perverted that which was right,
And it profited me not:
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I have sinned – An acknowledgment that God is just and that the restitution was unmerited will be required. R5402:6
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28 He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit,
And my life shall behold the light.
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Deliver – Redeem. R5402:6
See the light – May be brought to the light. R5402:6
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29 Lo, all these things doth God work,
Twice, yes thrice, with a man,
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Oftentimes – Margin: twice and thrice. Based on this and on Amos 2:4, the Jewish rabbis limited the granting of forgiveness to a repentant wrong-doer to three times; but our Lord taught forgiveness times without number. R2665:3
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30 To bring back his soul from the pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
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31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me:
Hold thy peace, and I will speak.
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32 If thou hast anything to say, answer me:
Speak, for I desire to justify thee.
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33 If not, hearken thou unto me:
Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom. |
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