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Job 11:1-20 King James Version (KJV)

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1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

12 For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

Job 11:1-20 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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1 Then answered H6030 Zophar H6691 the Naamathite, H5284 and said, H559

2 Should not the multitude H7230 of words H1697 be answered? H6030 and should a man H376 full of talk H8193 be justified? H6663

3 Should thy lies H907 make H2790 men H4962 hold their peace? H2790 and when thou mockest, H3932 shall no man make thee ashamed? H3637

4 For thou hast said, H559 My doctrine H3948 is pure, H2134 and I am clean H1249 in thine eyes. H5869

5 But H199 oh that H5414 God H433 would speak, H1696 and open H6605 his lips H8193 against thee;

6 And that he would shew H5046 thee the secrets H8587 of wisdom, H2451 that they are double H3718 to that which is! H8454 Know H3045 therefore that God H433 exacteth H5382 of thee less than thine iniquity H5771 deserveth.

7 Canst thou by searching H2714 find out H4672 God? H433 canst thou find H4672 out the Almighty H7706 unto perfection? H8503

8 It is as high H1363 as heaven; H8064 what canst thou do? H6466 deeper H6013 than hell; H7585 what canst thou know? H3045

9 The measure H4055 thereof is longer H752 than the earth, H776 and broader H7342 than the sea. H3220

10 If he cut off, H2498 and shut up, H5462 or gather together, H6950 then who can hinder H7725 him?

11 For he knoweth H3045 vain H7723 men: H4962 he seeth H7200 wickedness H205 also; will he not then consider H995 it?

12 For vain H5014 man H376 would be wise, H3823 though man H120 be born H3205 like a wild ass's H6501 colt. H5895

13 If thou prepare H3559 thine heart, H3820 and stretch H6566 out thine hands H3709 toward him;

14 If iniquity H205 be in thine hand, H3027 put it far away, H7368 and let not wickedness H5766 dwell H7931 in thy tabernacles. H168

15 For then shalt thou lift up H5375 thy face H6440 without spot; H3971 yea, thou shalt be stedfast, H3332 and shalt not fear: H3372

16 Because thou shalt forget H7911 thy misery, H5999 and remember H2142 it as waters H4325 that pass away: H5674

17 And thine age H2465 shall be clearer H6965 than the noonday; H6672 thou shalt shine forth, H5774 thou shalt be as the morning. H1242

18 And thou shalt be secure, H982 because there is H3426 hope; H8615 yea, thou shalt dig H2658 about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest H7901 in safety. H983

19 Also thou shalt lie down, H7257 and none shall make thee afraid; H2729 yea, many H7227 shall make suit H2470 unto thee. H6440

20 But the eyes H5869 of the wicked H7563 shall fail, H3615 and they shall not escape, H6 H4498 and their hope H8615 shall be as the giving up H4646 of the ghost. H5315

Job 11:1-20 American Standard (ASV)

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1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

4 For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine eyes.

5 But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against thee,

6 And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

7 Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

8 It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.

10 If he pass through, and shut up, And all unto judgment, then who can hinder him?

11 For he knoweth false men: He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.

12 But vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born `as' a wild ass's colt.

13 If thou set thy heart aright, And stretch out thy hands toward him;

14 If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.

15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

16 For thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,

17 And `thy' life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Yea, thou shalt search `about thee', and shalt take thy rest in safety.

19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, And they shall have no way to flee; And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.

Job 11:1-20 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

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1 And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: --

2 Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?

3 Thy devices make men keep silent, Thou scornest, and none is causing blushing!

4 And thou sayest, `Pure `is' my discourse, And clean I have been in Thine eyes.'

5 And yet, O that God had spoken! And doth open His lips with thee.

6 And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, `Some' of thine iniquity.

7 By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?

8 Heights of the heavens! -- what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! -- what knowest thou?

9 Longer than earth `is' its measure, And broader than the sea.

10 If He pass on, and shut up, and assemble, Who then dost reverse it?

11 For he hath known men of vanity, And He seeth iniquity, And one doth not consider `it'!

12 And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.

13 If thou -- thou hast prepared thy heart, And hast spread out unto Him thy hands,

14 If iniquity `is' in thy hand, put it far off, And let not perverseness dwell in thy tents.

15 For then thou liftest up thy face from blemish, And thou hast been firm, and fearest not.

16 For thou dost forget misery, As waters passed away thou rememberest.

17 And above the noon doth age rise, Thou fliest -- as the morning thou art.

18 And thou hast trusted because their is hope, And searched -- in confidence thou liest down,

19 And thou hast rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have entreated thy face;

20 And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge hath perished from them, And their hope `is' a breathing out of soul!

Job 11:1-20 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

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1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man of much talk be justified?

3 Should thy fictions make men hold their peace? and shouldest thou mock, and no one make [thee] ashamed?

4 For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

5 But oh that +God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that +God passeth by [much] of thine iniquity!

7 Canst thou by searching find out +God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

8 [It is as] the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 If he pass by, and shut up, and call to judgment, who can hinder him?

11 For he knoweth vain men, and seeth wickedness when [man] doth not consider it;

12 Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born [like] the foal of a wild ass.

13 If thou prepare thy heart and stretch out thy hands toward him,

14 If thou put far away the iniquity which is in thy hand, and let not wrong dwell in thy tents;

15 Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not fear:

16 For thou shalt forget misery; as waters that are passed away shalt thou remember it;

17 And life shall arise brighter than noonday; though thou be enshrouded in darkness, thou shalt be as the morning,

18 And thou shalt have confidence, because there shall be hope; and having searched about [thee], thou shalt take rest in safety.

19 Yea, thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; and many shall seek thy favour.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and [all] refuge shall vanish from them, and their hope [shall be] the breathing out of life.

Job 11:1-20 World English Bible (WEB)

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1 Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

2 "Shouldn't the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?

4 For you say, 'My doctrine is pure, I am clean in your eyes.'

5 But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against you,

6 That he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

7 "Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

8 They are high as heaven. What can you do? Deeper than Sheol: what can you know?

9 The measure of it is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.

10 If he passes by, or confines, Or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

11 For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn't consider it.

12 But vain man can become wise If a man can be born as a wild donkey's colt.

13 "If you set your heart aright, Stretch out your hands toward him.

14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, Don't let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

15 Surely then shall you lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

16 For you shall forget your misery; You shall remember it as waters that are passed away,

17 Life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.

18 You shall be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety.

19 Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; Yes, many shall court your favor.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, They shall have no way to flee; Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit."

Job 11:1-20 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

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1 Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,

2 Are all these words to go unanswered? and is a man seen to be right because he is full of talk?

3 Are your words of pride to make men keep quiet? and are you to make sport, with no one to put you to shame?

4 You may say, My way is clean, and I am free from sin in your eyes.

5 But if only God would take up the word, opening his lips in argument with you;

6 And would make clear to you the secrets of wisdom, and the wonders of his purpose!

7 Are you able to take God's measure, to make discovery of the limits of the Ruler of all?

8 They are higher than heaven; what is there for you to do? deeper than the underworld, and outside your knowledge;

9 Longer in measure than the earth, and wider than the sea.

10 If he goes on his way, shutting a man up and putting him to death, who may make him go back from his purpose?

11 For in his eyes men are as nothing; he sees evil and takes note of it.

12 And so a hollow-minded man will get wisdom, when a young ass of the field gets teaching.

13 But if you put your heart right, stretching out your hands to him;

14 If you put far away the evil of your hands, and let no wrongdoing have a place in your tent;

15 Then truly your face will be lifted up, with no mark of sin, and you will be fixed in your place without fear:

16 For your sorrow will go from your memory, like waters flowing away:

17 And your life will be brighter than day; though it is dark, it will become like the morning.

18 And you will be safe because there is hope; after looking round, you will take your rest in quiet;

19 Sleeping with no fear of danger; and men will be desiring to have grace in your eyes;

20 But the eyes of the evil-doers will be wasting away; their way of flight is gone, and their only hope is the taking of their last breath.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 11

Commentary on Job 11 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 11

Poor Job's wound's were yet bleeding, his sore still runs and ceases not, but none of his friends bring him any oil, any balm; Zophar, the third, pours into them as much vinegar as the two former had done.

  • I. He exhibits a very high charge against Job, as proud and false in justifying himself (v. 1-4).
  • II. He appeals to God for his conviction, and begs that God would take him to task (v. 5) and that Job might be made sensible,
    • 1. Of God's unerring wisdom and his inviolable justice (v. 6).
    • 2. Of his unsearchable perfections (v. 7-9).
    • 3. Of his incontestable sovereignty and uncontrollable power (v. 10).
    • 4. Of the cognizance he takes of the children of men (v. 11, 12).
  • III. He assures him that, upon his repentance and reformation (v. 13, 14), God would restore him to his former prosperity and safety (v. 15-19); but that, if he were wicked it was in vain to expect it (v. 20).

Job 11:1-6

It is sad to see what intemperate passions even wise and good men are sometimes betrayed into by the heat of disputation, of which Zophar here is an instance. Eliphaz began with a very modest preface, ch. 4:2. Bildad was a little more rough upon Job, ch. 8:2. But Zophar falls upon him without mercy, and gives him very bad language: Should a man full of talk be justified? And should thy lies make men hold their peace? Is this the way to comfort Job? No, nor to convince him neither. Does this become one that appears as an advocate for God and his justice? Tantaene animis coelestibus irae?-In heavenly breasts can such resentment dwell? Those that engage in controversy will find it very hard to keep their temper. All the wisdom, caution, and resolution they have will be little enough to prevent their breaking out into such indecencies as we here find Zophar guilty of.

  • I. He represents Job otherwise than what he was, v. 2, 3. He would have him thought idle and impertinent in his discourse, and one that loved to hear himself talk; he gives him the lie, and calls him a mocker; and all this that it might be looked upon as a piece of justice to chastise him. Those that have a mind to fall out with their brethren, and to fall foul upon them, find it necessary to put the worst colours they can upon them and their performances, and, right or wrong, to make them odious. We have read and considered Job's discourses in the foregoing chapters, and have found them full of good sense and much to the purpose, that his principles are right, his reasonings strong, many of his expressions weighty and very considerable, and that what there is in them of heat and passion a little candour and charity will excuse and overlook; and yet Zophar here invidiously represents him,
    • 1. As a man that never considered what he said, but uttered what came uppermost, only to make a noise with the multitude of words, hoping by that means to carry his cause and run down his reprovers: Should not the multitude of words be answered? Truly, sometimes it is no great matter whether it be or no; silence perhaps is the best confutation of impertinence and puts the greatest contempt upon it. Answer not a fool according to his folly. But, if it be answered, let reason and grace have the answering of it, not pride and passion. Should a man full of talk (margin, a man of lips, that is all tongue, vox et praeterea nihil-mere voice) be justified? Should he be justified in his loquacity, as in effect he is if he be not reproved for it? No, for in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin. Should he be justified by it? Shall many words pass for valid pleas? Shall he carry the day with the flourishes of language? No, he shall not be accepted with God, or any wise men, for his much speaking, Mt. 6:7.
    • 2. As a man that made no conscience of what he said-a liar, and one that hoped by the impudence of lies to silence his adversaries (should thy lies make men hold their peace?)-a mocker, one that bantered all mankind, and knew how to put false colours upon any thing, and was not ashamed to impose upon every one that talked with him: When thou mockest shall no man make thee ashamed? Is it not time to speak, to stem such a violent tide as this? Job was not mad, but spoke the words of truth and soberness, and yet was thus misrepresented. Eliphaz and Bildad had answered him, and said what they could to make him ashamed; it was therefore no instance of Zophar's generosity to set upon a man so violently who was already thus harassed. Here were three matched against one.
  • II. He charges Job with saying that which he had not said (v. 4): Thou hast said, My doctrine is pure. And what if he had said so? It was true that Job was sound in the faith, and orthodox in his judgment, and spoke better of God than his friends did. If he had expressed himself unwarily, yet it did not therefore follow but that his doctrine was true. But he charges him with saying, I am clean in thy eyes. Job had not said so: he had indeed said, Thou knowest that I am not wicked (ch. 10:7); but he had also said, I have sinned, and never pretended to a spotless perfection. He had indeed maintained that he was not a hypocrite as they charged him; but to infer thence that he would not own himself a sinner was an unfair insinuation. We ought to put the best construction on the words and actions of our brethren that they will bear; but contenders are tempted to put the worst.
  • III. He appeals to God, and wishes him to appear against Job. So very confident is he that Job is in the wrong that nothing will serve him but that God must immediately appear to silence and condemn him. We are commonly ready with too much assurance to interest God in our quarrels, and to conclude that, if he would but speak, he would take our part and speak for us, as Zophar here: O that God would speak! for he would certainly open his lips against thee; whereas, when God did speak, he opened his lips for Job against his three friends. We ought indeed to leave all controversies to be determined by the judgment of God, which we are sure is according to truth; but those are not always in the right who are most forward to appeal to that judgment and prejudge it against their antagonists. Zophar despairs to convince Job himself, and therefore desires God would convince him of two things which it is good for every one of us duly to consider, and under all our afflictions cheerfully to confess:-
    • 1. The unsearchable depth of God's counsels. Zophar cannot pretend to do it, but he desires that God himself would show Job so much of the secrets of the divine wisdom as might convince him that they are at least double to that which is, v. 6. Note,
      • (1.) There are secrets in the divine wisdom, arcana imperii-state-secrets. God's way is in the sea. Clouds and darkness are round about him. He has reasons of state which we cannot fathom and must not pry into.
      • (2.) What we know of God is nothing to what we cannot know. What is hidden is more than double to what appears, Eph. 3:9.
      • (3.) By employing ourselves in adoring the depth of those divine counsels of which we cannot find the bottom we shall very much tranquilize our minds under the afflicting hand of God.
      • (4.) God knows a great deal more evil of us than we do of ourselves; so some understand it. When God gave David a sight and sense of sin he said that he had in the hidden part made him to know wisdom, Ps. 51:6.
    • 2. The unexceptionable justice of his proceedings. "Know therefore that, how sore soever the correction is that thou art under, God exacteth of thee less than thy iniquity deserves,' or (as some read it), "he remits thee part of thy iniquity, and does not deal with thee according to the full demerit of it.' Note,
      • (1.) When the debt of duty is not paid it is justice to insist upon the debt of punishment.
      • (2.) Whatever punishment is inflicted upon us in this world we must own that it is less than our iniquities deserve, and therefore, instead of complaining of our troubles, we must be thankful that we are out of hell, Lam. 3:39; Ps. 103:10.

Job 11:7-12

Zophar here speaks very good things concerning God and his greatness and glory, concerning man and his vanity and folly: these two compared together, and duly considered, will have a powerful influence upon our submission to all the dispensations of the divine Providence.

  • I. See here what God is, and let him be adored.
    • 1. He is an incomprehensible Being, infinite and immense, whose nature and perfections our finite understandings cannot possibly form any adequate conceptions of, and whose counsels and actings we cannot therefore, without the greatest presumption, pass a judgment upon. We that are so little acquainted with the divine nature are incompetent judges of the divine providence; and, when we censure the dispensations of it, we talk of things that we do not understand. We cannot find out God; how dare we then find fault with him? Zophar here shows,
      • (1.) That God's nature infinitely exceeds the capacities of our understandings: "Canst thou find out God, find him out to perfection? No, What canst thou do? What canst thou know?' v. 7, 8. Thou, a poor, weak, short-sighted creature, a worm of the earth, that art but of yesterday? Thou, though ever so inquisitive after him, ever so desirous and industrious to find him out, yet darest thou attempt the search, or canst thou hope to speed in it? We may, by searching find God (Acts 17:27), but we cannot find him out in any thing he is pleased to conceal; we may apprehend him, but we cannot comprehend him; we may know that he is, but cannot know what he is. The eye can see the ocean but not see over it. We may, by a humble, diligent, and believing search, find out something of God, but cannot find him out to perfection; we may know, but cannot know fully, what God is, nor find out his work from the beginning to the end, Eccl. 3:11. Note, God is unsearchable. The ages of his eternity cannot be numbered, nor the spaces of his immensity measured; the depths of his wisdom cannot be fathomed, nor the reaches of his power bounded; the brightness of his glory can never be described, nor the treasures of his goodness reckoned up. This is a good reason why we should always speak of God with humility and caution and never prescribe to him nor quarrel with him, why we should be thankful for what he has revealed of himself and long to be where we shall see him as he is, 1 Co. 13:9, 10.
      • (2.) That it infinitely exceeds the limits of the whole creation: It is higher than heaven (so some read it), deeper than hell, the great abyss, longer than the earth, and broader than the sea, many parts of which are to this day undiscovered, and more were then. It is quite out of our reach to comprehend God's nature. Such knowledge is too wonderful for us, Ps. 139:6. We cannot fathom God's designs, nor find out the reasons of his proceedings. His judgments are a great deep. Paul attributes such immeasurable dimensions to the divine love as Zophar here attributes to the divine wisdom, and yet recommends it to our acquaintance. Eph. 3:18, 19, That you may know the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, of the love of Christ.
    • 2. God is a sovereign Lord (v. 10): If he cut off by death (margin, If he make a change, for death is a change; if he make a change in nations, in families, in the posture of our affairs),-if he shut up in prison, or in the net of affliction (Ps. 66:11),-if he seize any creature as a hunter his prey, he will gather it (so bishop Patrick) and who shall force him to restore? or if he gather together, as tares for the fire, or if he gather to himself man's spirit and breath (ch. 34:14), then who can hinder him? Who can either arrest the sentence or oppose the execution? Who can control his power or arraign his wisdom and justice? If he that made all out of nothing think fit to reduce all to nothing, or to their first chaos again,-if he that separated between light and darkness, dry land and sea, at first, please to gather them together again,-if he that made unmakes, who can turn him away, alter his mind or stay his hand, impede or impeach his proceedings?
    • 3. God is a strict and just observer of the children of men (v. 11): He knows vain men. We know little of him, but he knows us perfectly: He sees wickedness also, not to approve it (Hab. 1:13), but to animadvert upon it.
      • (1.) He observes vain men. Such all are (every man, at his best estate, is altogether vanity), and he considers it in his dealings with them. He knows what the projects and hopes of vain men are, and can blast and defeat them, the workings of their foolish fancies; he sits in heaven, and laughs at them. He takes knowledge of the vanity of men (that is, their little sins; so some) their vain thoughts and vain words, and unsteadiness in that which is good.
      • (2.) He observes bad men: He sees gross wickedness also, though committed ever so secretly and ever so artfully palliated and disguised. All the wickedness of the wicked is naked and open before the all-seeing eye of God: Will he not then consider it? Yes, certainly he will, and will reckon for it, though for a time he seem to keep silence.
  • II. See here what man is, and let him be humbled, v. 12. God sees this concerning vain man that he would be wise, would be thought so, though he is born like a wild ass's colt, so sottish and foolish, unteachable and untameable. See what man is.
    • 1. He is a vain creature-empty; so the word is. God made him full, but he emptied himself, impoverished himself, and now he is raca, a creature that has nothing in him.
    • 2. He is a foolish creature, has become like the beasts that perish (Ps. 49:20, 73:22), an idiot, born like an ass, the most stupid animal, an ass's colt, not yet brought to any service. If ever he come to be good for any thing, it is owing to the grace of Christ, who once, in the day of his triumph, served himself by an ass's colt.
    • 3. He is a wilful ungovernable creature. An ass's colt may be made good for something, but the wild ass's colt will never be reclaimed, nor regards the crying of the driver. See Job 39:5-7. Man thinks himself as much at liberty, and his own master, as the wild ass's colt does, that is used to the wilderness (Jer. 2:24), eager to gratify his own appetites and passions.
    • 4. Yet he is a proud creature and self-conceited. He would be wise, would he thought so, values himself upon the honour of wisdom, though he will not submit to the laws of wisdom. He would be wise, that is, he reaches after forbidden wisdom, and, like his first parents, aiming to be wise above what is written, loses the tree of life for the tree of knowledge. Now is such a creature as this fit to contend with God or call him to an account? Did we but better know God and ourselves, we should better know how to conduct ourselves towards God.

Job 11:13-20

Zophar, as the other two, here encourages Job to hope for better times if he would but come to a better temper.

  • I. He gives him good counsel (v. 13, 14), as Eliphaz did (ch. 5:8), and Bildad, ch. 8:5. He would have him repent and return to God. Observe the steps of that return.
    • 1. He must look within, and get his mind changed and the tree made good. He must prepare his heart; there the work of conversion and reformation must begin. The heart that wandered from God must be reduced-that was defiled with sin and put into disorder must be cleansed and put in order again-that was wavering and unfixed must be settled and established; so the word here signifies. The heart is then prepared to seek God when it is determined and fully resolved to make a business of it and to go through with it.
    • 2. He must look up, and stretch out his hands towards God, that is, must stir up himself to take hold on God, must pray to him with earnestness and importunity, striving in prayer, and with expectation to receive mercy and grace from him. To give the hand to the Lord signifies to yield ourselves to him and to covenant with him, 2 Chr. 30:8. This Job must do, and, for the doing of it, must prepare his heart. Job had prayed, but Zophar would have him to pray in a better manner, not as an appellant, but as a petitioner and humble suppliant.
    • 3. He must amend what was amiss in his own conversation, else his prayers would be ineffectual (v. 14): "If iniquity be in thy hand (that is, if there be any sin which thou dost yet live in the practice of) put it far away, forsake it with detestation and a holy indignation, stedfastly resolving not to return to it, nor ever to have any thing more to do with it. Eze. 18:31; Hos. 14:9; Isa. 30:22. If any of the gains of iniquity, any goods gotten by fraud or oppression, be in thy hand, make restitution thereof' (as Zaccheus, Lu. 19:8), "and shake thy hands from holding them,' Isa. 33:15. The guilt of sin is not removed if the gain of sin be not restored.
    • 4. He must do his utmost to reform his family too: "Let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles; let not thy house harbour or shelter any wicked persons, any wicked practices, or any wealth gotten by wickedness.' He suspected that Job's great household had been ill-governed, and that, where there were many, there were many wicked, and the ruin of his family was the punishment of the wickedness of it; and therefore, if he expected God should return to him, he must reform what was amiss there, and, though wickedness might come into his tabernacles, he must not suffer it to dwell there, Ps. 101:3, etc.
  • II. He assures him of comfort if he took this counsel, v. 15, etc. If he would repent and reform, he should, without doubt, be easy and happy, and all would be well. Perhaps Zophar might insinuate that, unless God did speedily make such a change as this in his condition, he and his friends would be confirmed in their opinion of him as a hypocrite and a dissembler with God. A great truth, however, is conveyed, That, the work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever, Isa. 32:17. Those that sincerely turn to God may expect,
    • 1. A holy confidence towards God: "Then shalt thou lift up thy face towards heaven without spot; thou mayest come boldly to the throne of grace, and not with that terror and amazement expressed,' ch. 9:34. If our hearts condemn us not for hypocrisy and impenitency, then have we confidence in our approaches to God and expectations from him, 1 Jn. 3:21. If we are looked upon in the face of the anointed, our faces, that were dejected, may be lifted up-that were polluted, being washed with the blood of Christ, may be lifted up without spot. We may draw near in full assurance of faith when we are sprinkled from an evil conscience, Heb. 10:22. Some understand this of the clearing up of his credit before men, Ps. 37:6. If we make our peace with God, we may with cheerfulness look our friends in the face.
    • 2. A holy composedness in themselves: Thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear, not be afraid of evil tidings, thy heart being fixed, Ps. 112:7. Job was now full of confusion (ch. 10:15), while he looked upon God as his enemy and quarrelled with him; but Zophar assures him that, if he would submit and humble himself, his mind would be composed, and he would be freed from those frightful apprehensions he had of God, which put him into such an agitation. The less we are frightened the more we are fixed, and consequently the more fit we are for our services and for our sufferings.
    • 3. A comfortable reflection upon their past troubles (v. 16): "Thou shalt forget thy misery, as the mother forgets her travailing pains, for joy that the child is born; thou shalt be perfectly freed from the impressions it makes upon thee, and thou shalt remember it as waters that pass away, or are poured out of a vessel, which leave no taste or tincture behind them, as other liquors do. The wounds of thy present affliction shall be perfectly healed, not only without a remaining scar, but without a remaining pain.' Job had endeavoured to forget his complaint (ch. 9:27), but found he could not; his soul had still in remembrance the wormwood and the gall: but here Zophar puts him in a way to forget it; let him by faith and prayer bring his griefs and cares to God, an leave them with him, and then he shall forget them. Where sin sits heavily affliction sits lightly. If we duly remember our sins, we shall, in comparison with them, forget our misery, much more if we obtain the comfort of a sealed pardon and a settled peace. He whose iniquity is forgiven shall not say, I am sick, but shall forget his sickness, Isa. 33:24.
    • 4. A comfortable prospect of their future peace. This Zophar here thinks to please Job with, in answer to the many despairing expressions he had used, as if it were to no purpose for him to hope ever to see good days again in this world: "Yea, but thou mayest' (says Zophar) "and good nights too.' A blessed change he here puts him in hopes of.
      • (1.) That though now his light was eclipsed it should shine out again, and more brightly than ever (v. 17),-that even his setting sun should out-shine his noon-day sun, and his evening be fair and clear as the morning, in respect both of honour and pleasure.-that his light should shine out of obscurity (Isa. 58:10), and the thick and dark cloud, from behind which his sun should break forth, would serve as a foil to its lustre,-that it should shine even in old age, and those evil days should be good days to him. Note, Those that truly turn to God then begin to shine forth; their path is as the shining light which increases, the period of their day will be the perfection of it, and their evening to this world will be their morning to a better.
      • (2.) That, though now he was in a continual fear and terror, he should live in a holy rest and security, and find himself continually safe and easy (v. 18): Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope. Note, Those who have a good hope, through grace, in God, and of heaven, are certainly safe, and have reason to be secure, how difficult soever the times are through which they pass in this world. He that walks uprightly may thus walk surely, because, though there are trouble and danger, yet there is hope that all will be well at last. Hope is an anchor of the soul, Heb. 6:19. "Thou shalt dig about thee,' that is, "Thou shalt be as safe as an army in its entrenchments.' Those that submit to God's government shall be taken under his protection, and then they are safe both day and night.
        • [1.] By day, when they employ themselves abroad: "Thou shalt dig in safety, thou and thy servants for thee, and not be again set upon by the plunderers, who fell upon thy servants at plough,' ch. 1:14, 15. It is no part of the promised prosperity that he should live in idleness, but that he should have a calling and follow it, and, when he was about the business of it, should be under the divine protection. Thou shalt dig and be safe, not rob and be safe, revel and be safe. The way of duty is the way of safety.
        • [2.] By night, when they repose themselves at home: Thou shalt take thy rest (and the sleep of the labouring man is sweet) in safety, notwithstanding the dangers of the darkness. The pillar of cloud by day shall be a pillar of fire by night: "Thou shalt lie down (v. 19), not forced to wander where there is no place to lay thy head on, nor forced to watch and sit up in expectation of assaults; but thou shalt go to bed at bedtime, and not only shall non hurt thee, but none shall make thee afraid nor so much as give thee an alarm.' Note, It is a great mercy to have quiet nights and undisturbed sleeps; those say so that are within the hearing of the noise of war. And the way to be quiet is to seek unto God and keep ourselves in his love. Nothing needs make those afraid who return to God as their rest and take him for their habitation.
      • (3.) That, though now he was slighted, yet he should be courted: "Many shall make suit to thee, and think it their interest to secure thy friendship.' Suit is made to those that are eminently wise or reputed to be so, that are very rich or in power. Zophar knew Job so well that he foresaw that, how low soever this present ebb was, if once the tide turned, it would flow as high as ever; and he would be again the darling of his country. Those that rightly make suit to God will probably see the day when others will make suit to them, as the foolish virgins to the wise, Give us of your oil.
  • III. Zophar concludes with a brief account of the doom of wicked people (v. 20): But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. It should seem, he suspected that Job would not take his counsel, and here tells him what would then come of it, setting death as well as life before him. See what will become of those who persist in their wickedness, and will not be reformed.
    • 1. They shall not reach the good they flatter themselves with the hopes of in this world and in the other. Disappointments will be their doom, their shame, their endless torment. Their eyes shall fail with expecting that which will never come. When a wicked man dies his expectation perishes, Prov. 11:7. Their hope shall be as a puff of breath (margin), vanished and gone past recall. Or their hope will perish and expire as a man does when he gives up the ghost; it will fail them when they have most need of it and when they expected the accomplishment of it; it will die away, and leave them in utter confusion.
    • 2. They shall not avoid the evil which sometimes they frighten themselves with the apprehensions of. They shall not escape the execution of the sentence passed upon them, can neither out-brave it nor outrun it. Those that will not fly to God will find it in vain to think of flying from him.