Job Responds to Eliphaz
Job 16 – 17
Job 16 – 17
He Reproaches His Friends (16:1-5)
CHAPTER 16
1 And Job answered and said, 2 I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all. 3 Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest? 4 I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you; 5 But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage your pain.
He Describes God’s Treatment of Him (16:6-17)
6 If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased? 7 But now he hath made me weary; … thou hast made desolate all my family; 8 Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face. 9 His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; as mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me. 10 They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me. 11 GOD hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked. 12 I was at rest, but he hath shattered me; he hath taken me by the neck and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark. 13 His arrows encompass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground. 14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a mighty man. 15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled my horn in the dust. 16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death; 17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
He Hopes His Cry Will be Heard (16:18-22)
18 O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry! 19 Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights. 20 My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto +God. 21 Oh that there were arbitration for a man with +God, as a son of man for his friend! 22 For years few in number shall pass, — and I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
Job asks for Relief (17:1-5)
CHAPTER 17
1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are mine. 2 Are there not mockers around me? and doth not mine eye abide in their provocation? 3 Lay down now a pledge, be thou surety for me with thyself: who is he that striketh hands with me? 4 For thou hast hidden their heart from understanding; therefore thou wilt not exalt them. 5 He that betrayeth friends for a prey — even the eyes of his children shall fail.
He Resumes His Complaint (17:6-9)
6 And he hath made me a proverb of the peoples; and I am become one to be spit on in the face. 7 And mine eye is dim by reason of grief, and all my members are as a shadow. 8 Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall be stirred up against the ungodly; 9 But the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall increase in strength.
With No Wisdom From His Friends, He is Losing Hope (17:10-16)
10 But as for you all, pray come on again; and I shall not find one wise man among you. 11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, the cherished thoughts of my heart. 12 They change the night into day; the light they imagine near in presence of the darkness. 13 If I wait, Sheol is my house; I spread my bed in the darkness: 14 I cry to the grave, Thou art my father! to the worm, My mother, and my sister! 15 And where is then my hope? yea, my hope, who shall see it? 16 It shall go down to the bars of Sheol, when our rest shall be together in the dust.