Job 17

Job 17:1

BReath is corrupt] Or, spirit is spent.

Job 17:2

Are there not mockers with me?] In stead of comfort, being now at deaths door, his friends mocked at his words, chap. 21. 3.

continue] Heb. lodge.

continue in their provocation?] I cannot sleep in the night, because their taunts in the day stick in my minde.

Job 17:3

Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee] It may be read thus, Appoint, I pray thee, my surety with thee: That is, appoint Christ to plead my cause, and then which of these dare plead against me? it is sutable to Notes on chap. 26. 21. and to Romans 8:33. Hebrews 7:22. Or, Let some one go between us, that may procure me an equall hearing from thee.

strike hands] Proverbs 6:1. and 11. 15 and 17. 18.

Job 17:4

therefore shalt thou not exalt them] Either their persons, or their cause they plead against me.

Job 17:5

He that speaketh flattery to his friends] Psalms 12:2. He that flattereth a man, and onely judgeth him happy in his prosperity, shall not in himself onely, but in his posterity be punished. Or, it may be he means, God will punish them for speaking falsly for Gods sake against him, as chap. 13. 7.

Job 17:6

He hath made me] Eliphaz, who spake last, and whom he pointed at in the verse before.

a by-word] I am derided by them who formerly rejoyced in me. Or, they make me a by-word, and I am plaid upon before them as a tabret: that is, they mock me, Job 30:9. Psal. 44. 13, 14.

aforetime] Or, before them.

Job 17:7

Mine eye also is dim] Psalms 6:7.

my members] Or, my thoughts.

as a shadow] More like a shadow of a body, then true members, Psalms 6:7.

Job 17:8

Ʋpright men shall be astonied at this] To wit, when they see the godly punished, but in the end they shall come to understanding, and know what shall be the reward of the hypocrite.

Job 17:9

The righteous also shall hold on his way] Not be discouraged by this scandall, but go on and encrease in piety, though good men be afflicted as well as bad.

hold on his way] Heb. lay hold on his way.

shall be stronger and stronger] Heb. shall adde strength. Isai. 40. 29, 31.

Job 17:10

do you return] Chap. 6. 29. Ye, my friends, repent, and be of my opinion, or come learn of me.

Job 17:11

My dayes are past] Chap. 7 6. and 9. 25.

my purposes are broken off] Of recovering my prosperity.

the thoughts of my heart] Heb. possessions. That is, the confident thoughts I might have of restauration, in regard of mine integrity.

Job 17:12

They change the night into day] My thoughts of their harsh words in the day, will not let me rest in the night, as v. 2. Chap. 7. 3, 4, 13.

short] Heb. neer; to wit, to an end.

because of the darknesse] The day in which I finde some case seems very short to me, because of the trouble I have in the night.

Job 17:13

If I wait, the grave is in mine house] The house I wait for is the grave, I prepare for it, as a man makes his bed against night: I look for no more prosperity.

Job 17:14

said] Heb. cried, or called.

Thou at my father] I have no more hope in father, mother, sister, or any worldly thing; for the dust and worms shall be to me in stead of them.

Job 17:15

where is now my hope?] That is, my hope is no where: I have no hope of a prosperous life.

as for my hope, who shall see it?] If I should hope, it were in vain: no man shall ever see me in prosperity.

Job 17:16

They shall go down to the bars of the pit] My hopes. See v. 15.

when our rest together is in the dust] Or, seeing there is a descent to the dust. I shall come first to the grave, and others must follow, and lose their expectations as well as I. See Chap. 3. 17. and 30. 23.