1 But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
1 But Job H347 answered H6030 and said, H559
2 Oh that H3863 my grief H3708 were throughly H8254 weighed, H8254 and my calamity H1942 H1962 laid H5375 in the balances H3976 together! H3162
3 For now it would be heavier H3513 than the sand H2344 of the sea: H3220 therefore my words H1697 are swallowed up. H3886
4 For the arrows H2671 of the Almighty H7706 are within H5978 me, the poison H2534 whereof drinketh up H8354 my spirit: H7307 the terrors H1161 of God H433 do set themselves in array H6186 against me.
5 Doth the wild ass H6501 bray H5101 when he hath grass? H1877 or loweth H1600 the ox H7794 over his fodder? H1098
6 Can that which is unsavoury H8602 be eaten H398 without salt? H4417 or is there H3426 any taste H2940 in the white H7388 of an egg? H2495
7 The things that my soul H5315 refused H3985 to touch H5060 are as my sorrowful H1741 meat. H3899
8 Oh that I might have H935 my request; H7596 and that God H433 would grant H5414 me the thing that I long for! H8615
9 Even that it would please H2974 God H433 to destroy H1792 me; that he would let loose H5425 his hand, H3027 and cut me off! H1214
10 Then should I yet have comfort; H5165 yea, I would harden H5539 myself in sorrow: H2427 let him not spare; H2550 for I have not concealed H3582 the words H561 of the Holy One. H6918
11 What is my strength, H3581 that I should hope? H3176 and what is mine end, H7093 that I should prolong H748 my life? H5315
12 Is my strength H3581 the strength H3581 of stones? H68 or is my flesh H1320 of brass? H5153
13 Is not my help H5833 in me? and is wisdom H8454 driven quite H5080 from me?
14 To him that is afflicted H4523 pity H2617 should be shewed from his friend; H7453 but he forsaketh H5800 the fear H3374 of the Almighty. H7706
15 My brethren H251 have dealt deceitfully H898 as a brook, H5158 and as the stream H650 of brooks H5158 they pass away; H5674
16 Which are blackish H6937 by reason of the ice, H7140 and wherein the snow H7950 is hid: H5956
17 What time H6256 they wax warm, H2215 they vanish: H6789 when it is hot, H2527 they are consumed out H1846 of their place. H4725
18 The paths H734 of their way H1870 are turned aside; H3943 they go H5927 to nothing, H8414 and perish. H6
19 The troops H734 of Tema H8485 looked, H5027 the companies H1979 of Sheba H7614 waited H6960 for them.
20 They were confounded H954 because they had hoped; H982 they came H935 thither, and were ashamed. H2659
21 For now ye are nothing; ye see H7200 my casting down, H2866 and are afraid. H3372
22 Did I say, H559 Bring H3051 unto me? or, Give a reward H7809 for me of your substance? H3581
23 Or, Deliver H4422 me from the enemy's H6862 hand? H3027 or, Redeem H6299 me from the hand H3027 of the mighty? H6184
24 Teach H3384 me, and I will hold my tongue: H2790 and cause me to understand H995 wherein I have erred. H7686
25 How forcible H4834 are right H3476 words! H561 but what doth your arguing H3198 reprove? H3198
26 Do ye imagine H2803 to reprove H3198 words, H4405 and the speeches H561 of one that is desperate, H2976 which are as wind? H7307
27 Yea, ye overwhelm H5307 the fatherless, H3490 and ye dig H3738 a pit for your friend. H7453
28 Now therefore be content, H2974 look H6437 upon me; for it is evident H6440 unto you if I lie. H3576
29 Return, H7725 I pray you, let it not be iniquity; H5766 yea, return again, H7725 my righteousness H6664 is in it.
30 Is there H3426 iniquity H5766 in my tongue? H3956 cannot my taste H2441 discern H995 perverse things? H1942
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore have my words been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuseth to touch `them'; They are as loathsome food to me.
8 Oh that I might have my request; And that God would grant `me' the thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 And be it still my consolation, Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?
14 To him that is ready to faint kindness `should be showed' from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;
16 Which are black by reason of the ice, `And' wherein the snow hideth itself:
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish; When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The caravans `that travel' by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.
21 For now ye are nothing; Ye see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Give unto me? Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?
23 Or, Deliver me from the adversary's hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?
26 Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?
27 Yea, ye would cast `lots' upon the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
1 And Job answereth and saith: --
2 O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
3 For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.
4 For arrows of the Mighty `are' with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves `for' me!
5 Brayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?
6 Eaten is an insipid thing without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
7 My soul is refusing to touch! They `are' as my sickening food.
8 O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
9 That God would please -- and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
10 And yet it is my comfort, (And I exult in pain -- He doth not spare,) That I have not hidden The sayings of the Holy One.
11 What `is' my power that I should hope? And what mine end That I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh brazen?
13 Is not my help with me, And substance driven from me?
14 To a despiser of his friends `is' shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.
15 My brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
16 That are black because of ice, By them doth snow hide itself.
17 By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
18 Turn aside do the paths of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
19 Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.
20 They were ashamed that one hath trusted, They have come unto it and are confounded.
21 Surely now ye have become the same! Ye see a downfall, and are afraid.
22 Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
23 And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, From the hand of terrible ones ransom me?
24 Shew me, and I -- I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
25 How powerful have been upright sayings, And what doth reproof from you reprove?
26 For reproof -- do you reckon words? And for wind -- sayings of the desperate.
27 Anger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.
28 And, now, please, look upon me, Even to your face do I lie?
29 Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again -- my righteousness `is' in it.
30 Is there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?
1 And Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of +God are arrayed against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?
6 Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.
8 Oh that I might have my request, and that +God would grant my desire!
9 And that it would please +God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
10 Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?
13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
14 For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
18 They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
23 Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
28 Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
1 Then Job answered,
2 "Oh that my anguish were weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, Therefore have my words been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?
6 Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuses to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.
8 "Oh that I might have my request; That God would grant the thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 Be it still my consolation, Yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
13 Isn't it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?
14 "To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; Even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;
16 Which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself:
17 In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The caravans that travel beside them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were distressed because they were confident; They came there, and were confounded.
21 For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, 'Give to me?' Or, 'Offer a present for me from your substance?'
23 Or, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand?' Or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?'
24 "Teach me, and I will hold my peace; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
26 Do you intend to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?
27 Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look at me, For surely I shall not lie to your face.
29 Please return. Let there be no injustice; Yes, return again, my cause is righteous.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Can't my taste discern mischievous things?
1 And Job made answer and said,
2 If only my passion might be measured, and put into the scales against my trouble!
3 For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled.
4 For the arrows of the Ruler of all are present with me, and their poison goes deep into my spirit: his army of fears is put in order against me.
5 Does the ass of the fields give out his voice when he has grass? or does the ox make sounds over his food?
6 Will a man take food which has no taste without salt? or is there any taste in the soft substance of purslain?
7 My soul has no desire for such things, they are as disease in my food.
8 If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!
9 If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!
10 So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to the words of the Holy One.
11 Have I strength to go on waiting, or have I any end to be looking forward to?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh brass?
13 I have no help in myself, and wisdom is completely gone from me.
14 He whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all.
15 My friends have been false like a stream, like streams in the valleys which come to an end:
16 Which are dark because of the ice, and the snow falling into them;
17 Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of the heat.
18 The camel-trains go out of their way; they go up into the waste and come to destruction.
19 The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:
20 They were put to shame because of their hope; they came and their hope was gone.
21 So have you now become to me; you see my sad condition and are in fear.
22 Did I say, Give me something? or, Make a payment for me out of your wealth?
23 Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones?
24 Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error.
25 How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments?
26 My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind.
27 Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend.
28 Now then, let your eyes be turned to me, for truly I will not say what is false to your face.
29 Let your minds be changed, and do not have an evil opinion of me; yes, be changed, for my righteousness is still in me.
30 Is there evil in my tongue? is not the cause of my trouble clear to me?
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 6
Commentary on Job 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
FIRST SERIES CONTINUED.
Job 6:1-30. Reply of Job to Eliphaz.
2. throughly weighed—Oh, that instead of censuring my complaints when thou oughtest rather to have sympathized with me, thou wouldst accurately compare my sorrow, and my misfortunes; these latter "outweigh in the balance" the former.
3. the sand—(Pr 27:3).
are swallowed up—See Margin [that is, "I want words to express my grief"]. But Job plainly is apologizing, not for not having had words enough, but for having spoken too much and too boldly; and the Hebrew is, "to speak rashly" [Umbreit, Gesenius, Rosenmuller]. "Therefore were my words so rash."
4. arrows … within me—have pierced me. A poetic image representing the avenging Almighty armed with bow and arrows (Ps 38:2, 3). Here the arrows are poisoned. Peculiarly appropriate, in reference to the burning pains which penetrated, like poison, into the inmost parts—("spirit"; as contrasted with mere surface flesh wounds) of Job's body.
set themselves in array—a military image (Jud 20:33). All the terrors which the divine wrath can muster are set in array against me (Isa 42:13).
5. Neither wild animals, as the wild ass, nor tame, as the ox, are dissatisfied when well-supplied with food. The braying of the one and the lowing of the other prove distress and want of palatable food. So, Job argues, if he complains, it is not without cause; namely, his pains, which are, as it were, disgusting food, which God feeds him with (end of Job 6:7). But he should have remembered a rational being should evince a better spirit than the brute.
6. unsavoury—tasteless, insipid. Salt is a chief necessary of life to an Easterner, whose food is mostly vegetable.
the white—literally, "spittle" (1Sa 21:13), which the white of an egg resembles.
7. To "touch" is contrasted with "meat." "My taste refused even to touch it, and yet am I fed with such meat of sickness." The second clause literally, is, "Such is like the sickness of my food." The natural taste abhors even to touch insipid food, and such forms my nourishment. For my sickness is like such nauseous food [Umbreit]. (Ps 42:3; 80:5; 102:9). No wonder, then, I complain.
8. To desire death is no necessary proof of fitness for death. The ungodly sometimes desire it, so as to escape troubles, without thought of the hereafter. The godly desire it, in order to be with the Lord; but they patiently wait God's will.
9. destroy—literally, "grind" or "crush" (Isa 3:15).
let loose his hand—God had put forth His hand only so far as to wound the surface of Job's flesh (Job 1:12; 2:6); he wishes that hand to be let loose, so as to wound deeply and vitally.
cut me off—metaphor from a weaver cutting off the web, when finished, from the thrum fastening it to the loom (Isa 38:12).
10. I would harden myself in sorrow—rather, "I would exult in the pain," if I knew that that pain would hasten my death [Gesenius]. Umbreit translates the Hebrew of "Let Him not spare," as "unsparing"; and joins it with "pain."
concealed—I have not disowned, in word or deed, the commands of the Holy One (Ps 119:46; Ac 20:20). He says this in answer to Eliphaz' insinuation that he is a hypocrite. God is here called "the Holy One," to imply man's reciprocal obligation to be holy, as He is holy (Le 19:2).
11. What strength have I, so as to warrant the hope of restoration to health? a hope which Eliphaz had suggested. "And what" but a miserable "end" of life is before me, "that I should" desire to "prolong life"? [Umbreit]. Umbreit and Rosenmuller not so well translate the last words "to be patient."
12. Disease had so attacked him that his strength would need to be hard as a stone, and his flesh like brass, not to sink under it. But he has only flesh, like other men. It must, therefore, give way; so that the hope of restoration suggested by Eliphaz is vain (see on Job 5:11).
13. Is not my help in me?—The interrogation is better omitted. "There is no help in me!" For "wisdom," "deliverance" is a better rendering. "And deliverance is driven quite from me."
14. pity—a proverb. Charity is the love which judges indulgently of our fellow men: it is put on a par with truth in Pr 3:3, for they together form the essence of moral perfection [Umbreit]. It is the spirit of Christianity (1Pe 4:8; 1Co 13:7; Pr 10:12; 17:17). If it ought to be used towards all men, much more towards friends. But he who does not use it forsaketh (renounceth) the fear of the Almighty (Jas 2:13).
15. Those whom I regarded as "my brethren," from whom I looked for faithfulness in my adversity, have disappointed me, as the streams failing from drought—wadies of Arabia, filled in the winter, but dry in the summer, which disappoint the caravans expecting to find water there. The fulness and noise of these temporary streams answer to the past large and loud professions of my friends; their dryness in summer, to the failure of the friendship when needed. The Arab proverb says of a treacherous friend, "I trust not in thy torrent" (Isa 58:11, Margin).
stream of brooks—rather, "the brook in the ravines which passes away." It has no perpetual spring of water to renew it (unlike "the fountain of living waters," Jer 2:13; Isa 33:16, at the end); and thus it passes away as rapidly as it arose.
16. blackish—literally, "Go as a mourner in black clothing" (Ps 34:14). A vivid and poetic image to picture the stream turbid and black with melted ice and snow, descending from the mountains into the valley. In the [second] clause, the snow dissolved is, in the poet's view, "hid" in the flood [Umbreit].
17. wax warm—rather, "At the time when." ("But they soon wax") [Umbreit]. "they become narrower (flow in a narrower bed), they are silent (cease to flow noisily); in the heat (of the sun) they are consumed or vanish out of their place. First the stream flows more narrowly—then it becomes silent and still; at length every trace of water disappears by evaporation under the hot sun" [Umbreit].
18. turned aside—rather, "caravans" (Hebrew, "travellers") turn aside from their way, by circuitous routes, to obtain water. They had seen the brook in spring full of water: and now in the summer heat, on their weary journey, they turn off their road by a devious route to reach the living waters, which they remembered with such pleasure. But, when "they go," it is "into a desert" [Noyes and Umbreit]. Not as English Version, "They go to nothing," which would be a tame repetition of the drying up of the waters in Job 6:17; instead of waters, they find an "empty wilderness"; and, not having strength to regain their road, bitterly disappointed, they "perish." The terse brevity is most expressive.
19. the troops—that is, "caravans."
Tema—north of Arabia-Deserta, near the Syrian desert; called from Tema son of Ishmael (Ge 25:15; Isa 21:14; Jer 25:23), still so called by the Arabs. Job 6:19, 20 give another picture of the mortification of disappointed hopes, namely, those of the caravans on the direct road, anxiously awaiting the return of their companions from the distant valley. The mention of the locality whence the caravans came gives living reality to the picture.
Sheba—refers here not to the marauders in North Arabia-Deserta (Job 1:15), but to the merchants (Eze 27:22) in the south, in Arabia-Felix or Yemen, "afar off" (Jer 6:20; Mt 12:42; Ge 10:28). Caravans are first mentioned in Ge 37:25; men needed to travel thus in companies across the desert, for defense against the roving robbers and for mutual accommodation.
The companies … waited for them—cannot refer to the caravans who had gone in quest of the waters; for Job 6:18 describes their utter destruction.
20. literally, "each had hoped"; namely, that their companions would find water. The greater had been their hopes the more bitter now their disappointment;
they came thither—to the place.
and were ashamed—literally, "their countenances burn," an Oriental phrase for the shame and consternation of deceived expectation; so "ashamed" as to disappointment (Ro 5:5).
21. As the dried-up brook is to the caravan, so are ye to me, namely, a nothing; ye might as well not be in existence [Umbreit]. The Margin "like to them," or "to it" (namely, the waters of the brook), is not so good a reading.
ye see, and are afraid—Ye are struck aghast at the sight of my misery, and ye lose presence of mind. Job puts this mild construction on their failing to relieve him with affectionate consolation.
22. And yet I did not ask you to "bring me" a gift; or to "pay for me out of your substance a reward" (to the Judge, to redeem me from my punishment); all I asked from you was affectionate treatment.
23. the mighty—the oppressor, or creditor, in whose power the debtor was [Umbreit].
24, 25. Irony. If you can "teach me" the right view, I am willing to be set right, and "hold my tongue"; and to be made to see my error. But then if your words be really the right words, how is it that they are so feeble? "Yet how feeble are the words of what you call the right view." So the Hebrew is used (in Mic 2:10; 1:9). The English Version, "How powerful," &c., does not agree so well with the last clause of the verse.
25. And what will your arguings reprove?—literally, "the reproofs which proceed from you"; the emphasis is on you; you may find fault, who are not in my situation [Umbreit].
26. Do you imagine—or, "mean."
to reprove words and (to reprove) the speeches of one desperate, (which are) as wind?—mere nothings, not to be so narrowly taken to task? Umbreit not so well takes the Hebrew for "as wind," as "sentiments"; making formal "sentiments" antithetical to mere "speeches," and supplying, not the word "reprove," but "would you regard," from the first clause.
27. literally, "ye cause" (supply, "your anger") [Umbreit], a net, namely, of sophistry [Noyes and Schuttens], to fall upon the desolate (one bereft of help, like the fatherless orphan);
and ye dig (a pit) for your friend—that is, try to ensnare him, to catch him in the use of unguarded language [Noyes]. (Ps 57:6); metaphor from hunters catching wild beasts in a pit covered with brushwood to conceal it. Umbreit from the Syriac, and answering to his interpretation of the first clause, has, "Would you be indignant against your friend?" The Hebrew in Job 41:6, means to "feast upon." As the first clause asks, "Would you catch him in a net?" so this follows up the image, "And would you next feast upon him, and his miseries?" So the Septuagint.
28. be content—rather, "be pleased to"—look. Since you have so falsely judged my words, look upon me, that is, upon my countenance: for (it is evident before your faces) if I lie; my countenance will betray me, if I be the hypocrite that you suppose.
29. Return—rather, "retract" your charges:
let it not be iniquity—that is, (retract) that injustice may not be done me. Yea retract, "my righteousness is in it"; that is, my right is involved in this matter.
30. Will you say that my guilt lies in the organ of speech, and will you call it to account? or, Is it that my taste (palate) or discernment is not capable to form a judgment of perverse things? Is it thus you will explain the fact of my having no consciousness of guilt? [Umbreit].