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1 My breath is corrupt, my dayes are extinct, the graues are ready for me.

2 Are there not mockers with mee? and doeth not mine eye continue in their prouocation?

3 Lay downe now, put me in a suretie with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

4 For thou hast hid their heart from vnderstanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

5 Hee that speaketh flattery to his friends, euen the eyes of his children shall faile.

6 He hath made me also a by-word of the people, and afore time I was as a tabret.

7 Mine eye also is dimme by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stirre vp himselfe against the hypocrite.

9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath cleane hands shalbe stronger, and stronger.

10 But as for you all, doe you returne, and come now, for I cannot find one wise man among you.

11 My dayes are past, my purposes are broken off, euen the thoughts of my heart:

12 They change the night into day: the light is short, because of darknes.

13 If I waite, the graue is mine house: I haue made my bedde in the darknesse.

14 I haue said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worme, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

16 They shall goe downe to the barres of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

Viewing the original 1611 KJV with archaic English spelling
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Commentary for Job 17

Job appeals from man to God. (1-9) His hope is not in life, but in death. (10-16)1-9 Job reflects upon the harsh censures his friends had passed upon him, and, looking on himself as a dying man, he appeals to God. Our time is ending. It concerns us carefully to redeem the days of time, and to spend them in getting ready for eternity. We see the good use the righteous should make of Job's afflictions from God, from enemies, and from friends. Instead of being discouraged in the service of God, by the hard usage this faithful servant of God met with, they should be made bold to proceed and persevere therein. Those who keep their eye upon heaven as their end, will keep their feet in the paths of religion as their way, whatever difficulties and discouragements they may meet with.

10-16 Job's friends had pretended to comfort him with the hope of his return to a prosperous estate; he here shows that those do not go wisely about the work of comforting the afflicted, who fetch their comforts from the possibility of recovery in this world. It is our wisdom to comfort ourselves, and others, in distress, with that which will not fail; the promise of God, his love and grace, and a well-grounded hope of eternal life. See how Job reconciles himself to the grave. Let this make believers willing to die; it is but going to bed; they are weary, and it is time that they were in their beds. Why should not they go willingly when their Father calls them? Let us remember our bodies are allied to corruption, the worm and the dust; and let us seek for that lively hope which shall be fulfilled, when the hope of the wicked shall be put out in darkness; that when our bodies are in the grave, our souls may enjoy the rest reserved for the people of God.

Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.

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