1.
Then Job answered and said,
answered = responded. See note on Job 4:1 .
2.
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
how. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . This is the one great question of the book.
man = mortal man. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .
3.
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
will = desire to.
4.
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Compare 2 Chronicles 36:13 .Isaiah 48:4 .
5.
Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
they know. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6 .
6.
Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7.
Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8.
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
waves of the sea. The celebrated Mugah Codex (the earliest quoted in the Massorah itself), App-30 , reads "cloud": i.e. thick cloud.
9.
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
Arcturus. Hebrew. 'ash. A name still connected with "the Great Bear" (the more ancient name being "the greater sheepfold": Arab, al naish, the assembled (as in a fold). See Job 38:31 , Job 38:32 , and App-12 .
Orion. Hebrew. kesil. Compare Job 38:31 .Amos 5:8 . A strong one, or the coming prince. See App-12 .
Pleiades. Hebrew. kimah = the congregation of the judge. See Job 38:31 , Job 38:32 .Amos 5:8 , and App-12 . A constellation in the neck of Taurus.
chambers of the south: i.e. the [hidden] recesses, or the invisible spaces; on the latitude of Job's residence.
10.
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11.
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
Lo. Figure of speech. Asterismos . App-6 .
12.
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Behold. Figure of speech. Asterismos . App-6 .
13.
If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
GOD . Hebrew. Eloah . App-4 .
withdraw = avert.
helpers = confederates.
14.
How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
15.
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
not answer = not [dare to] answer.
16.
If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17.
For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18.
He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
breath. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
19.
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20.
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21.
Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
my soul = myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
life. Hebrew. chayai.
22.
This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha, App-44 .
23.
If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24.
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
covereth: i.e. so that they cannot discern between right and wrong.
25.
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
post = runner, or courier. Compare Esther 3:13 , Esther 3:15 .
26.
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
swift ships = ships of ebeh. Hence vessels of bulrush (eb) ; vessels of desire ('abeh), i.e. desiring to reach their haven; vessels of enmity ('eybah), i.e. pirate vessels; or vessels of the Nile ('abai, Abyssinian for Nile). Others, vessels of Joppa. Perhaps the last is best.
27.
If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
complaint = complaining.
28.
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29.
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
30.
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
never so clean = clean with soap.
31.
Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
abhor. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia.
32.
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33.
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
Neither is there. Some codices, with Septuagint and Syriac, read "Oh that there were".
any Daysman = any umpire, arbiter, or mediator. In Job's case He was found in Elihu; in ours, in Christ.
34.
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35.
Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
Then would I = Fain would I.