5 And yet, O that God had spoken! And doth open His lips with thee.
And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: -- Who `is' this -- darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?
O that I had known -- and I find Him, I come in unto His seat, I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill `with' arguments. I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me. In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth `it' in me. There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.
Lo, I `am', according to thy word, for God, From the clay I -- I also, have been formed. Lo, my terror doth not frighten thee, And my burden on thee is not heavy. Surely -- thou hast said in mine ears, And the sounds of words I hear: `Pure `am' I, without transgression, Innocent `am' I, and I have no iniquity. Lo, occasions against me He doth find, He doth reckon me for an enemy to Him, He doth put in the stocks my feet, He doth watch all my paths.' Lo, `in' this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man. Wherefore against Him hast thou striven, When `for' all His matters He answereth not? For once doth God speak, and twice, (He doth not behold it.) In a dream -- a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed. Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth: To turn aside man `from' doing, And pride from man He concealeth. He keepeth back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.
And Jehovah doth answer Job, and saith: -- Is the striver with the Mighty instructed? The reprover of God, let him answer it. And Job answereth Jehovah, and saith: -- Lo, I have been vile, What do I return to Thee? My hand I have placed on my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I answer not, And twice, and I add not.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 11
Commentary on Job 11 Matthew Henry Commentary
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.
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.
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.
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.