| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| |
|
1 Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech,
And hearken to all my words.
|
|
2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth;
My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
|
|
3 My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart;
And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
|
|
4 The Spirit of God hath made me,
And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
|
Spirit of God – Invisible influence. R4519:6*
|
5 If thou canst, answer thou me;
Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
|
|
6 Behold, I am toward God even as thou art:
I also am formed out of the clay.
|
|
7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid,
Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
|
|
8 Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing,
And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
|
|
9 I am clean, without transgression;
I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:
|
|
10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me,
He counteth me for his enemy;
|
|
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks,
He marketh all my paths.
|
|
12 Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just;
For God is greater than man.
|
|
13 Why dost thou strive against him,
For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?
|
|
14 For God speaketh once,
Yes twice, though man regardeth 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
|
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falleth upon men,
In slumberings upon the bed;
|
|
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
|
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose,
And hide pride from man;
|
From his purpose – From his own purpose. B153
|
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
|
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed,
And with continual strife in his bones;
|
|
20 So that his life abhorreth bread,
And his soul dainty food.
|
|
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen;
And his bones that were not seen stick out.
|
|
22 Yes, his soul draweth near unto the pit,
And his life to the destroyers.
|
|
23 If there be with him an angel,
An interpreter, one among a thousand,
To show unto man what is right for him;
|
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
|
24 Then God 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
|
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s;
He returneth 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
|
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.
|
Pray unto God – Communion with God. R5402:6
Favourable – They shall find acceptance with God. R5402:6
|
27 He singeth before men, and saith,
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
|
28 He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit,
And my life shall behold the light.
|
Deliver – Redeem. R5402:6
See the light – May be brought to the light. R5402:6
|
29 Lo, all these things doth God work,
Twice, yes thrice, with a 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
|
30 To bring back his soul from the pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
|
|
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me:
Hold thy peace, and I will speak.
|
|
32 If thou hast anything to say, answer me:
Speak, for I desire to justify thee.
|
|
33 If not, hearken thou unto me:
Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom. |
|