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1 But Iob answered, and sayd,
2 Oh that my griefe were throughly weighed, and my calamitie layd in the balances together.
3 For now it would be heauier then the sand of the sea, therefore my words are swallowed vp.
4 For the arrowes of the Almightie are within me, the poyson whereof drinketh vp my spirit: the terrors of God doe set themselues in aray against mee.
5 Doeth the wilde asse bray when he hath grasse? or loweth the oxe ouer his fodder?
6 Can that which is vnsauery, bee eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egge?
7 The things that my soule refused to touch, are as my sorrowfull meat.
8 O that I might haue my request! and that God would graunt mee the thing that I long for!
9 Euen that it would please God to destroy mee, that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off.
10 Then should I yet haue comfort, yea I would harden my selfe in sorrow; let him not spare, for I haue not concealed the words of the holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine ende, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brasse?
13 Is not my helpe in me? and is wisedome driuen quite from me?
14 To him that is afflicted, pitie should be shewed from his friend; But he forsaketh the feare of the Almighty.
15 My brethren haue delt deceitfully as a brooke, & as the streame of brookes they passe away,
16 Which are blackish by reason of the yce, and wherein the snow is hid:
17 What time they waxe warme, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The pathes of their way are turned aside; they goe to nothing, and perish.
19 The troupes of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting downe, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring vnto mee? or giue a reward for me of your substance?
23 Or deliuer me from the enemies hand, or redeeme me from the hand of the mighty?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause mee to vnderstand wherein I haue erred.
25 How forcible are right wordes? but what doeth your arguing reproue?
26 Do ye imagine to reproue words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as winde?
27 Yea, ye ouerwhelme the fatherlesse, and you digge a pit for your friend.
28 Now therefore be content, looke vpon mee, for it is euident vnto you, if I lie.
29 Returne, I pray you, let it not be iniquitie; yea returne againe: my righteousnesse is in it.
30 Is there iniquitie in my tongue? cannot my taste discerne peruerse things?
Job justifies his complaints. (1-7) He wishes for death. (8-13) Job reproves his friends as unkind. (14-30)1-7 Job still justifies himself in his complaints. In addition to outward troubles, the inward sense of God's wrath took away all his courage and resolution. The feeling sense of the wrath of God is harder to bear than any outward afflictions. What then did the Saviour endure in the garden and on the cross, when he bare our sins, and his soul was made a sacrifice to Divine justice for us! Whatever burden of affliction, in body or estate, God is pleased to lay upon us, we may well submit to it as long as he continues to us the use of our reason, and the peace of our conscience; but if either of these is disturbed, our case is very pitiable. Job reflects upon his friends for their censures. He complains he had nothing offered for his relief, but what was in itself tasteless, loathsome, and burdensome.
8-13 Job had desired death as the happy end of his miseries. For this, Eliphaz had reproved him, but he asks for it again with more vehemence than before. It was very rash to speak thus of God destroying him. Who, for one hour, could endure the wrath of the Almighty, if he let loose his hand against him? Let us rather say with David, O spare me a little. Job grounds his comfort upon the testimony of his conscience, that he had been, in some degree, serviceable to the glory of God. Those who have grace in them, who have the evidence of it, and have it in exercise, have wisdom in them, which will be their help in the worst of times.
14-30 In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his friends, but now was disappointed. This he compares to the failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations on the creature, will find it fail when it should help them; whereas those who make God their confidence, have help in the time of need, #Heb 4:16|. Those who make gold their hope, sooner or later will be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it. It is our wisdom to cease from man. Let us put all our confidence in the Rock of ages, not in broken reeds; in the Fountain of life, not in broken cisterns. The application is very close; "for now ye are nothing." It were well for us, if we had always such convictions of the vanity of the creature, as we have had, or shall have, on a sick-bed, a death-bed, or in trouble of conscience. Job upbraids his friends with their hard usage. Though in want, he desired no more from them than a good look and a good word. It often happens that, even when we expect little from man, we have less; but from God, even when we expect much, we have more. Though Job differed from them, yet he was ready to yield as soon as it was made to appear that he was in error. Though Job had been in fault, yet they ought not to have given him such hard usage. His righteousness he holds fast, and will not let it go. He felt that there had not been such iniquity in him as they supposed. But it is best to commit our characters to Him who keeps our souls; in the great day every upright believer shall have praise of God.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.