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Expanded Comments |
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1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this,
Mine ear hath heard and understood it.
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Lo – Commencing Job's masterly reply. R5402:1
Hath heard – The false reasonings of his friends (which many improperly quote as inspired). R5402:1
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2 What ye know, the same do I know also:
I am not inferior unto you.
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3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
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4 But ye are forgers of lies;
Ye are all physicians of no value.
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Of no value – His friends told him that he must have been a great sinner and a hypocrite. R5401:6
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5 Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace!
And it would be your wisdom.
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6 Hear now my reasoning,
And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
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7 Will ye speak unrighteously for God,
And talk deceitfully for him?
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8 Will ye show partiality to him?
Will ye contend for God?
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9 Is it good that he should search you out?
Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?
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10 He will surely reprove you,
If ye do secretly show partiality.
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11 Shall not his majesty make you afraid,
And his dread fall upon you?
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12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,
Your defences are defences of clay.
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13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak;
And let come on me what will.
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14 Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my soul in my hand?
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15 Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope:
Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.
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Though he slay me – Though much cast down, he maintained his integrity and his faith in the Lord. R5803:4
He sought in vain for an explanation. R5401:6
Many of God's people since have been similarly confused as to why God permits evil to come upon his faithful servants. R5402:1
Yet will I trust – Job's expression of confidence in God and in his ultimate deliverance. R5402:1
I shall yet receive his favor and learn what he means by these afflictions coming upon me. R5333:4
His trust was not misplaced. After his testings, God gave him back children, houses, lands and friends which foreshadowed the coming blessings of restitution. R5333:4
Mine own ways – Conscious of his own heart-honesty toward God, Job defends himself, but goes to too great an extreme in declaring his own innocence. R5401:6
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16 This also shall be my salvation,
That a godless man shall not come before him.
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17 Hear diligently my speech,
And let my declaration be in your ears.
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18 Behold now, I have set my cause in order;
I know that I am righteous.
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19 Who is he that will contend with me?
For then would I hold my peace and give up the breath.
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20 Only do not two things unto me;
Then will I not hide myself from thy face:
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21 Withdraw thy hand far from me;
And let not thy terror make me afraid.
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22 Then call thou, and I will answer;
Or let me speak, and answer thou me.
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23 How many are mine iniquities and sins?
Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
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24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face,
And holdest me for thine enemy?
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25 Wilt thou harass a driven leaf?
And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
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26 For thou writest bitter things against me,
And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:
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27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks,
And markest all my paths;
Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet:
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28 Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten. |
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