Job 17

Here Job desires he may be tried presently before God’s tribunal, his life being just upon the point to expire, as he had said in the end of the former chapter; and continues to urge again in this, because his friends were very unfit judges in this case, and had passed such a sentence upon him as upright men would never approve of. Whereby they had given him a new vexation, to hear them talk so idly, and put him in hope of recovering his happiness, if he would follow their admonitions, when they saw him just dropping into the grave, which was the only thing, he saith, that he could hope for. In this chapter Bildad again takes up the dispute, and pretends to reply to what’Job had said. But I do not see any thing new, saving the description he makes (as Eliphaz had done before him) of the ruin which shall inevitably fall, according to the fixed rules of Providence (so he fancied), upon the wicked and his family; notwithstanding all the assistance that his friends and allies can lend him for his preservation. And this he seems to imply was the fate of Job; whom he doth not so much -.as exhort to’repentance, (as he had done in his former discourse, chap, viii.) being very angry with him, that he had no higher esteem of their wisdom.

Job 17:1

JjJiY breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. My vital spirits are spent, they give but a glimmering and dying light; whereby I can see nothing but graves on every side prepared for me. JL HEN answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said.] Then Bildad the Shuhite, seeing Job continue in his first opinion, rose up, and said,

Job 17:2

Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?. How can I support my spirits, when my friends, who should comfort me, mock at all I say for myself? This so bitterly exasperates me, that I cannot take a wink of sleep, nor think of any thing else. How long will it be ere yon make an end of words? mark, and afterward we will speak.] How long shall we continue this dispute? Let us makean end of it, unless he will attend better to our reasons; then we will go on to argue with him.

Job 17:3

Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?. Once more therefore I beseech thee, O God, to assure me that thou wit judge my cause thyself: let somebody undertake for thee: who is it that on thy behalf will engage to do me right?

Job 17:4

For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: tlierefore shalt thou not exalt them. Not these friends of mine; for they, comprehend nothing of the way of thy judgments: therefore, thou shalt not confer this honour on them who talk so absurdly.

Job 17:5

He that spedketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. I must speak the truth of them (though it displease them), and not soothe them up in their errors: for he that flatters his friends, when he should reprove them, may look long enough before either he or his children find one that will deal sincerely with them.

Job 17:6

He hath made me also a by-word of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. This very person who spake last hath made me a proverb in every body’s mouth: and it is the vulgar pastime to talk of my calamities.

Job 17:7

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. No wonder then that excessive sorrow hath darkened mine eyes; and that all the flesh of my body is so consumed, that I am but the shadow of a man.

Job 17:8

Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. Upright men hereafter will be astonished at the cruel sentence which my friends pass upon me; and the innocent will resolutely oppose the wicked, when he judges the worse of piety, because of my afflictions.

Job 17:9

The righteous also shall hold on his way; and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. The righteous will not be moved by such arguments to change his purpose of well-doing; much less will he do any evil action, but grow rather the better by adversity, and add’ perseverance to his piety.

Job 17:10

But as for yon all, do yon return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. And truly I wish that all you, who have charged me so heavily, would consider things better, and hearken to.what I have said: for I must tell you again, there is not a man of you that judges truly of my case.

Job 17:11

My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. Repent of your harsh censures before I die; as I must speedily, my joys being quite gone, and all the hopeful designs, which had possessed my heart, being utterly subverted., < \ Ver/ 12. Tliey change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.] Instead whereof other thoughts are come to torment me; which will not let me sleep in the night, nor enjoy any pleasure in the day…

Job 17:13

If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. If I hope, for any thing now (as you would have me), it is for a grave: that is v the only house I can promise myself; there I. am going to rest in a bed where I shall not be disturbed.

Job 17:14

I have said to corriLption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. I have already made so near an alliance. with death, that my father and mother and nearest kindred are nothing, so near me as worms and rottenness.

Job 17:15

And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?. How vain then are all the hopes you would have me feed myself withal? (xi. 15, 16, &c.) Who shall see, when I am sure I shall not, the happiness you would have me look for here?

Job 17:16

They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust. All these hopes youspeak of shall sink down into the bottom of the grave;.when you, my friends, as well as I, shalf take up your lodging. in the dust. t • i,u K <* chap; xvii j.