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Expanded Comments | Additional Comments |
| 1 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, 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 be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. |
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| 4 The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. |
Spirit of God – Invisible influence. R4519:6*
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| 5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. |
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| 6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. |
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| 7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. |
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| 8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine 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, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. |
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| 13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. |
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| 14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. |
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, |
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. |
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. |
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 the multitude of his bones with strong pain: |
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| 20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
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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 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. |
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| 23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness: |
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 he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. |
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 shall return to the days of his youth: |
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 shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. |
Pray unto God – Communion with God. R5402:6
Favourable – They shall find acceptance with God. R5402:6
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| 27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; |
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 will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. |
Deliver – Redeem. R5402:6
See the light – May be brought to the light. R5402:6
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| 29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, |
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, to 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 any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. |
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| 33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom. |
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