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1 But nowe they that are yonger then I, haue mee in derision, whose fathers I would haue disdained to haue set with the dogs of my flocke.
2 Yea whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom olde age was perished?
3 For want and famine they were solitarie: flying into the wildernesse in former time desolate and waste:
4 Who cut vp mallowes by the bushes, and Iuniper rootes for their meate.
5 They were driuen foorth from among men, (they cried after them, as after a thiefe.)
6 To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caues of the earth, and in the rockes.
7 Among the bushes they brayed: vnder the nettles they were gathered together.
8 They were children of fooles, yea children of base men: they were viler then the earth.
9 And now am I their song, yea I am their by-word.
10 They abhorre me, they flee farre from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
11 Because hee hath loosed my cord and afflicted me, they haue also let loose the bridle before me.
12 Upon my right hand rise the youth, they push away my feete, and they raise vp against mee the wayes of their destruction.
13 They marre my path, they set forward my calamitie, they haue no helper.
14 They came vpon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselues vpon me.
15 Terrours are turned vpon mee: they pursue my soule as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloude.
16 And now my soule is powred out vpon me: the dayes of affliction haue taken hold vpon me.
17 My bones are pierced in mee in the night season: and my sinewes take no rest.
18 By the great force of my disease, is my garment changed: it bindeth mee about as the collar of my coat.
19 He hath cast mee into the myre, and I am become like dust and ashes.
20 I crie vnto thee, and thou doest not heare me: I stand vp, and thou regardest me not.
21 Thou art become cruell to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thy selfe against me.
22 Thou liftest me vp to the wind: thou causest me to ride vpon it, and dissoluest my substance.
23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all liuing.
24 Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the graue, though they cry in his destruction.
25 Did not I weepe for him that was in trouble? was not my soule grieued for the poore?
26 When I looked for good, then euill came vnto mee: and when I waited for light, there came darkenes.
27 My bowels boyled and rested not: the dayes of affliction preuented mee.
28 I went mourning without the Sunne: I stood vp, and I cried in the Congregation.
29 I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owles.
30 My skinne is blacke vpon mee, and my bones are burnt with heat.
31 My harpe also is turned to mourning, and my organe into the voyce of them that weepe.
Job's honour is turned into contempt. (1-14) Job a burden to himself. (15-31)1-14 Job contrasts his present condition with his former honour and authority. What little cause have men to be ambitious or proud of that which may be so easily lost, and what little confidence is to be put in it! We should not be cast down if we are despised, reviled, and hated by wicked men. We should look to Jesus, who endured the contradiction of sinners.
15-31 Job complains a great deal. Harbouring hard thoughts of God was the sin which did, at this time, most easily beset Job. When inward temptations join with outward calamities, the soul is hurried as in a tempest, and is filled with confusion. But woe be to those who really have God for an enemy! Compared with the awful state of ungodly men, what are all outward, or even inward temporal afflictions? There is something with which Job comforts himself, yet it is but a little. He foresees that death will be the end of all his troubles. God's wrath might bring him to death; but his soul would be safe and happy in the world of spirits. If none pity us, yet our God, who corrects, pities us, even as a father pitieth his own children. And let us look more to the things of eternity: then the believer will cease from mourning, and joyfully praise redeeming love.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.