1.
Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
Lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
all this. Some codices, with Syriac and Vulgate, read "all these things". Compare Job 33:29 .
2.
What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3.
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
THE ALMIGHTY. Hebrew. Shaddai. App-4 .
4.
But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
forgers of = besmearers with. Occurs only here, Job 14:7 and Psalms 119:69 .
5.
O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
O. Figure of speech Ecphonesis. App-6 .
6.
Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7.
Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
Will ye . . . ? Figure of speech, Erotesis. App-6 .
8.
Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9.
Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
Is it . . . ? Figure of speech, Erotesis. App-6 .
mocketh = befooleth.
another. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .
10.
He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11.
Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
12.
Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
remembrances = memorable or weighty sayings.
like unto ashes = similitudes of ashes: i.e. light.
bodies = defences. Hebrew. gab = mounds. Add "[like to] clay defences ": i.e. weak.
13.
Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14.
Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
take my flesh in my teeth. Figure of speech Paroemia. App-6 . Still preserved in Arabic for rushing into danger. Like the next clause, which is a proverb preserved in English.
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
hand. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "hands" (plural)
15.
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
trust in Him = wait for Him. Hebrew. yahal. See App-69 .
16.
He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17.
Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
Hear diligently. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . "Hear ye, hearing": i.e. Listen attentively; or, give diligent heed. Compare Isaiah 6:9 . See note on Genesis 26:28 .
declaration = opinion. Occurs only here.
18.
Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
ordered = set in order.
19.
Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
Who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
give up the ghost = to expire. See note on Job 3:11 .
20.
Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21.
Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
22.
Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23.
How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
How many . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
24.
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
25.
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26.
For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
27.
Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
settest a print = they make a print on my feet.
28.
And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
He, &c. = they (my feet) waste away.