Job 9

Job 9:2

HOw should man be just with God?] Psalms 143:2. Job answers Bildads speech, chap. 8. 3. and acknowledgeth Gods justice in punishing wicked men: but complains that he could not defend himself before God, because of Gods astonishing power.

with God] Or, before God.

Job 9:3

he cannot answer him one of a thousand] Of a thousand things which God could lay to his charge, man cannot answer to one. So he must be cast alwayes: yea, though he were upright, yet Gods greatnesse would make him speechlesse.

Job 9:6

Which shaketh the earth out of her place] He declareth what is the infirmitie of man by the mighty and incomprehensible power that is in God, shewing what he could do, if he would set forth his power.

Job 9:7

Which commandeth the sun] God maketh night by taking away the sun, and day, by hiding the stars, Amos 8:9.

Job 9:8

Which alone spreadeth out the heavens] Genesis 1:6. Or, Which boweth down the heaven, Psa. 18. 9. That is, which makes clouds, so that the heaven seems to hang down.

and treadeth upon the waves of the sea] Habakkuk 3:15. God treadeth on the waves, when he stills tempests.

waves] Heb. heights.

Job 9:9

Which maketh Arctious] Chap. 38. 31, &c. Am. 5. 8. Maketh to appear at severall times, to distinguish the seasons of the yeer: for he speaks of works of providence, not of creation.

Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades] Heb. Ash, Cesil, and Cimah.

Job 9:10

Which doeth great things past finding out] Chap. 5. 9.

Job 9:11

he goeth by me] I am not able to comprehend his works, which are common and daily before mine eyes; much lesse those which are hid and secret.

Job 9:12

Behold, he taketh away, &c.] Isaiah 45:9. Jere. 18. 6. Romans 9:20.

who can hinder him?] Heb. who can turn him away?

Job 9:13

If God will not withdraw his anger] There is no resisting God by any created power, though never so great.

proud helpers] Heb. helpers of pride, or, strength.

Job 9:14

How much lesse shall I answer him] If stoutest men stoop, how should I that am weak, helplesse, forsaken, stand against God?

choose out my words] How should I be able to answer him by eloquence, as my friends plead against me?

Job 9:15

Whom] Or, Who.

would] Or, could.

would] Or, must.

make supplication] Or, crave mercy.

Job 9:16

If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not beleeve that he had hearkened unto my voice.] Or, If I have called, and he hath answered me; yet will I not beleeve, that he will hearken to my voice.

yet would I not beleeve] God hath heard me heretofore, but I beleeve he will hear me no more, because his hand is so heavy on me. This agrees with the verse following.

Job 9:17

with a tempest] He shews the greatnesse of his afflictions by two similitudes, a battering tempest, and many wounds.

without cause] I have not committed any such hainous offence, as should deserve so many and so great afflictions.

Job 9:18

bitternesse] Heb. bitternesses. Lamentations 3:15. That is, abundance of afflictions.

Job 9:19

If I speak of strength] I can neither deal with God by might nor by right.

Job 9:20

If I justifie my self] If I had a good cause, yet Gods majesty would so terrifie me, and he could ask me such questions, that I should be forced to condemn my self, vers. 15.

If I justifie] Or, If I be just. Or, If I be upright.

Job 9:21

Though I were perfect] Though I were in the right, yet I should be as it were out of my self, and weary of my life, Gods greatnesse would so affright me in pleading my cause.

Job 9:22

This is one thing] This is one thing that troubles me, That God, though he be just, yet punishes me that am upright, like a guilty person. He layes as great load of sorrows on good men as on bad, Ezekiel 21:3.

Job 9:23

If the scourge slay suddenly] If a plague, or war come, God laughs at the destruction of good men among the bad.

Job 9:24

he covereth the faces of the judges thereof] That they cannot see to do justice: or, casts shame and confusion upon them, Esth. 7. 8. Psalms 107:40.

if not, where, and who is he?] If God do not this, then who doth it?

where, and who is he?] Genesis 27:23.

Job 9:25

my dayes are swifter then a post] He endeavours to prove that God doth deal hardly with good men, by his own example, whose life was short and miserable.

see no good] Chap. 7. 7.

Job 9:26

as the swift ships] Heb. as ships of desire. That is, desired: to wit, for their swiftnesse: for gain makes merchants long to be at the heaven.

swift ships] Or, ships of Eleh.

as the eagle that hasteth to the prey] Habakkuk 1:8.

Job 9:27

If I say] If at some time I think to comfort my self with hope of deliverance, my present sorrows are so great, that they dash that hope suddenly.

heavinesse] Heb. face. That is, my sad countenance, 1 Samuel 1:18.

Job 9:28

thou wilt not hold me innocent] That is, thou wilt not free me from punishment, as an innocent man should be freed, Exodus 34:7. 1 Kings 2:9.

Job 9:29

If I be wicked] Or, but I shall be held a wicked man. That is, accounted a wicked man that must be punished.

why then labour I in vain?] To clear my self.

Job 9:30

If I wash my self with snow-water] Though I make my cause as clean as he that is washed with snow-water or sope, yet thou wilt make me most foul and miserable.

Job 9:31

mine own clothes shall abhorre me] They that are neerest to me, as these three friends that come to comfort me, shall take part with thee against me, and say, I suffer justly.

abhor me] Or, make me to be abhorred.

Job 9:32

For he is not a man as I am] Now Job turns his speech from God to his friends, and shews why he could not maintain his cause against God. Not for want of equity, but because his weak nature is farre inferiour to Gods majesty, Numbers 23:19.

Job 9:33

any dayes-mans] Heb. one that should argue.

dayes-man] Or, umpire.

that might lay his hand upon us both] That is, that may keep us within compasse: for contenders use to be very violent one against another.

Job 9:34

let not his fear terrifie me] Chap. 13. 20. and 33. 7. Let not the beams of his divine majesty fright me, and I will clear my cause before him.

Job 9:35

but it is not so with me] Heb. but I am not so with my self. But I am now so kept under, that I dare not speak for my self: or, for it is not so with me: That is, I might boldly plead with God then, for it is not so with me as ye think. I am not a wicked man.