Job 5

Job 5:1

TO which of the saints wilt thou turn?] He willeth Job to consider the example of all them that live godly, whether any of them have been plagued like him.

turn] Or, look.

Job 5:2

For wrath killeth the foolish man] For Gods wrath and indignation kills wicked men, who are called fools, vers. 3. Psalms 14:1. and Psalms 92:6. Proverbs 1:7. but he spares good men.

envy] Or, indignation.

Job 5:3

I have seen the foolish] That is, a wicked man, as vers. 2.

the foolish] Or, a foolish man.

taking root] Confirmed in an happy estate. A metaphor from plants.

I cursed his habitation] I was not moved with his prosperity, but pronounced him a man cursed of God and accordingly he quickly perished, Psal. 37. 35, 36.

Job 5:4

His children are far from safety] Rather, were, for he speaketh of a particular example, which he himself had observed, as appears vers. 2. David makes the like generall conclussion, Psalms 119:155.

are] Or, were.

they are crushed in the gate] They were condemned by publike judgement, which was in the gate of the city, Rth 4:1. or, they were publikely punished, for all men see what is done in the gate, Genesis 34:20. Psalms 127:5.

is] Or, was.

Job 5:5

eateth] Or, did eat.

taketh it even out of the thorns] Though the field were hedged about with thorns, yet they took away the crop: for hunger will break thorow stone walls: or, they gather it out of the thorns, Genesis 3:18. and 4. 12. which the field was overgrown with.

taketh] Or, took.

the robber] The word signifies, thirsty, for robbers thirst after other mens wealth, Job 18:9.

swalloweth] Or, swallowed.

swalloweth up their substance] By changing the number, he shews that he knew many such fools.

Job 5:6

Although] Or, For.

affliction] Or, iniquitie.

affliction cometh not forth of the dust] The earth is not the cause of barrennesse, and mans misery, but his own sin: or, it comes not by casualty.

Job 5:7

Yet] Or, But.

man is born unto trouble] Because he is born in sin, Psalms 51:5. and it brings troubles.

trouble] Or, labour.

as the sparks flie upward] In Hebrew it is, and the sparks: That is, mans troubles and the sparks flying upward, are both alike, naturall. So Proverbs 25:25.

the sparks flie upward] Heb. the sons of the burning coal lift up to flie.

Job 5:8

I would] If I were in thy case.

seek unto God] By prayers, as 2 Chronicles 16:12. Psalms 9:10. and Psalms 34:4. and Psalms 77:2. Isaiah 9:13. Zephaniah 1:6.

commit my cause] Or, turn my speech.

Job 5:9

Which doeth great things, and unsearchable] Chap. 9. 10. Psalms 72:18. Romans 11:33.

Which doth great things] He counselleth Job to humble himself before God, who can exalt the humble, and pull down the proud.

and unsearchable] Heb. and there is no search.

without number] Heb. till there be no number.

Job 5:10

Who giveth] He sheweth by particular examples what the works of God are.

rain] Rain is put first, because it was rare in the dry countreys of Arabia.

rain upon the earth] Chap. 38. 28. Jeremiah 5:24.

fields] Heb. cut-places.

Job 5:11

To set up on high those that be low] 1 Samuel 2:7. Psalms 113:7.

those that be low] By famine and penury.

those which mourn] For want of food in time of drought.

Job 5:12

He disappointeth the devices of the crafty] Nehe. 4. 15. Psalms 33:10. Isaiah 8:10.

cannot perform their enterprise] Or, cannot perform any thing.

Job 5:13

He taketh the wise in their own craftinesse] 1 Corinthians 3:19.

Job 5:14

They meet with darknesse in the day time] Deuteronomy 28:29. Isaiah 59:10. Amos 8:9. In things plain they shew themselves blinde and foolish in stead of wise-men.

meet with] Or, run into.

and grope in the noon-day] So God punisheth the worldly wise, as he threatneth, Deuteronomy 28:29. Isaiah 59:10.

Job 5:15

the poor] That is, he that humbleth himself before God, Matthew 5:3.

from their mouth] Of the crafty ones, mentioned, vers. 12.

and from the hand of the mighty] That is, from their evill deeds.

Job 5:16

So the poor hath hope] Psalms 107:42.

iniquity stoppeth her mouth] Wicked men shall be so terrified with Gods judgements, that they shall not have a word to stay against the poor, whom they sought craftily to destroy.

Job 5:17

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth] Proverbs 3:12. Hebrews 12:5. James 1:12. Revelation 3:19.

Behold, happy is the man] In Hebrew it is, Behold, the blessednesses. To wit, these that follow, vers. 18, &c.

Job 5:18

For he maketh sore, and bindeth up] Deuter. 32. 39. 1 Samuel 2:6. Isaiah 30:26. Hosea 6:1.

Job 5:19

He shall deliver thee in six troubles] Psalms 91:3. Proverbs 24:16.

in six troubles] Many troubles may come on good men, but none shall hurt them, Psalms 34:19.

Job 5:20

from the power] Heb. from the hands.

Job 5:21

from the scourge of the tongue] Or, when the tongue scourgeth. Psal. 12. 4, 5. and 31. 20. When other men shall be slandered and reproached, thou shalt be free.

Job 5:22

At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh] Psalms 33:19. and Psalms 37:19. Whereas the wicked lament in their troubles, thou shalt have occasion to rejoyce.

Job 5:23

For thou shalt be in league with the stones] Hosea 2:18. Psalms 91:12. Isaiah 11:9. and Isaiah 35:9. Ezekiel 24:35. When we are in Gods favour, all creatures shall serve us, as it were by covenant: Stones shall not hurt our feet, nor beasts devour us, Proverbs 16:7.

be at peace] Heb. be made peaceable. To wit, by God.

Job 5:24

that thy tabernacle shall be in peace] Or, that peace is thy tabernacle.

thou shalt visit thy habitation] Thou shalt go back to thy house, and be driven out of it no more.

sin] Or, erre, Judges 20:16. Or, stray.

Job 5:25

that thy seed shall be great] Thou shalt have as many children as before. Which was made good in Job, Chap. 42. 13.

great] Or, much.

Job 5:26

in a full age] Though the children of God have not alwayes this promise performed, yet God doth recompense them otherwise to their advantage, Isaiah 65:20.

cometh] Heb. ascendeth.

Job 5:27

we have searched it] We have learned these points by experience, that God punisheth not the innocent, that man cannot compare in justice with him, that the hypocrites shall not long prosper, and that the affliction which man sustaineth, cometh for his own sin.

for thy good] Heb for thy self.