Job 19

• • j * ▼.,’. «• *-r *, The purpose of this chapter (in which Job replies to Bil-,dad) is to shew, that it would be sufficient for him also merely to repeat the same things, as they had done in ten discourses: • but the more to aggravate their want of compassion, or rather cruelty, towards him, he represents several new things, which made his condition more deplorable than he had hitherto said. One of which was, that he could not tell the reason why God dealt thus with him; who notwithstanding was so gracious, that, in the depth of this misery and anguish, he affords him a glimmering of a comfortable hope (which began now to ap- • pear in his soul, and which he had hitherto wanted), that God would at last tako pity upon him, and shew his friends their error, by restoring him to his former health and splendour. That seems to be the literal meaning of the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth verses, and of the two next that follow: where, among other things, he says, he doubted not but his Redeemer should stand at last upon the earth (so it is in the Hebrew, the word day not being there), that is, quite overcome the devil, and deliver him from these distresses; like a mighty conqueror, who keeps the field, when all his opposers arc routed and fled away. But in this he was, as St. Austin calls him, " cximius prophctarum," and prophesied of the resurrection of the body at the last day. Ver.l. L HEN Job armvered and said.] Then Job, hear- • ing him also repeat his former discourse, (chap, viii.) wherein he reflected on him as a wicked man, burst out again into these words:

Job 19:2

How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?. Will you never cease to torment me, and to break my very heart with your words, which grate upon me as sorely as all the miseries 1 endure?

Job 19:3

Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?. To what purpose is it to talk with one who tells us we understand nothing, (xvii. 4. 10.) but looks upon us as a company of dull beasts, into whom nothing of wisdom will enter? These ten times have ye reproached me: you are not ashamed that you make yourselves strange to me.] You have reproached me often enough, one would think, and yet you are not ashamed to continue your hard-hearted censures, as if I were a perfect stranger, and my manner of life utterly unknown to you.

Job 19:4

He teareth himself in his anger: shall tht earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?. Such is his passion, which will not let him sec how ho himself, like a wild beast, tears his own soul in pieces with impatient anger. What art thou, that God for thy sake should ceaso to govern the world by his known laws, which aro fixed and immutable? -,. * And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error, remaineth with myself.] Suppose that I have done amiss (which is more than you know), I suffer sufficiently for it; and it doth not become you to increase my sufferings by your reproaches.

Job 19:5

Yea, the light of the xvicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. Say what thou wilt, it is an everlasting truth, that the wicked shall not continue in the splendour wherein we sometime see him: but though he seem to sit as by a great fire (warm in his wealth, and honour, and power), there shall not remain so much as a spark to comfort him. Ver. (J. Hie light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.] The glory of his family shall be turned into contempt, and all their joy shall end in sorrow. If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach.] But if you will still proceed to lift up your voice to declaim against me, and allege my calamities, which have made me contemptible, as an argument to condemn me; k Ver.6. Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.] Let this answer suffice you; that I am sensible it is God’s doing; who, having laid me thus low, and environed me with unavoidable,, miseries, calls upon you to compassionate, rather than reproach me.

Job 19:7

Tlie steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down. The attempts’which his power makes to preserve his greatness shall but more perplex him: and his own devices shall prove his overthrow. Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard; I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.] And my case is the more pitiable, because I know not the cause of all this; nor can have any audience or redress, though I appeal to God with the loudest cries, and protest to him that I am innocent.

Job 19:8

For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare. Ho shall entangle himself by his own wiles; and having contrived himself into danger, every step he takes in pursuance of,his designs shall farther ensnare him. He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.] There is no way open for my escape; but his plagues surround me so on every side, that I am at my wit’s end, and know not which way, to turn myself.

Job 19:9

The gin sliall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. Before he is aware he shall find it so impossible to disengage himself; that they who thirst after his blood, or wealth, or place, shall easily lay hold on him. He hath stripped me of my glory, jtznd taken the crown from my head,] He hath not merely stripped me of my ornaments, and taken that dignity and authority from me wherewith 1 was invested; Ver.* 10. He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone; and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.] But brought me to such utter ruin, that, like a tree plucked up by the very roots, I have not so much as hope remaining, which is the only comfort of the miserable.

Job 19:10

The snare is laid fot him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way. He shall not foresee his danger; but be caught as a bird or a beast in a snare or a trap, when he thinks himself secure in his proceedings.

Job 19:11

Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet. Then he shall be surrounded with a thousand terrors; and which way soever he runs to save himself, he shall meet with them. He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and, he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.] For he hath done all this with such violence, as if he were extremely incensed against me, and looked upon me as his enemy.

Job 19:12

His strength shall be hunger-bitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side. He shall pine away till he hath no strength remaining: for nothing but mischief shall attend and accompany him in every place. His troops come together, and raise up their ivay against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.] Whole armies of evils, by his order, have at the same time invaded me, and laid such a strait siege to me, that not the smallest comfort I had could escape their fury.

Job 19:13

It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the first-born of death shall devour his strength. Rottenness shall eat up his bones; Isaj r, his very bones shall rot and be consumed. He hath put my brethren far from me, andmirie acquaintance are verily estranged from me.] I looked for some relief from my brethren, but they were so astonished at the number and dreadfulness of my calamities, that they durst not approach me; and as for my neighbours, who formerly so much courted my acquaintance, they truly keep aloof off, as if they had never known me.

Job 19:14

His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the kiug of terrors. Whatsoever he relies upon for the support of himself and family, it shall utterly fail him, nay, help to hasten his death, the most dreadful of all his enemies. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.] They whom nature inclined to it have failed to perform the duties of humanity towards me; and they to whom I was tied by a stronger bond than nature, have forgotten the friendship there was between us.

Job 19:15

It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. That man had best take heed, who shall have a mind to dwell in his house when he hath left it; for thunder and lightning shall destroy it. - Ver. 1G. His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.] And it shall never bo built up again, nor shall his family bo restored; but be like a tree, whose roots are so dried up in the earth that it shall never shoot forth any more branches. „ They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: lam an alien in their sight.] They that have been kindly entertained at my house, nay, the, people of my family, have forgot the respect they were wont to give me, and look upon me as if they had no relation to me.

Job 19:16

I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I entreated him ivith my mouth. I called to my slave, and, he regarded not what I said: no, not when I beseeched him, as if he had been my master.".

Job 19:17

His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street. His very memory shall perish, as well as himself; and his name never be mentioned among men unless it be to make him infamous. My breath is strange to my wife, though I entreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.] Which is the less wonder, since I am become*so loathsome, that my wife will not come near me, though I have conjured her to do it by the dear memory of our children, those common pledges of our mutual love.

Job 19:18

He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. He shall be cast out of his splendid greatness into some obscure grave; and removed out of the world as some unclean thing. Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.] After these examples young children and fools despise me: and when I rise up to invite/ them to me, abusive language is all the return they make to my courtesy..

Job 19:19

He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. None of. his descendants shall survive him; nor any of his kindred remain to keep up his name. " All my inward friends abhorred me; and they* whom I loved are turned against me.] And, which is worst of all, the men whom I entrusted with my greatest secrets, cannot endure me; and they who have received so many tokens of my love are become mine enemies.

Job 19:20

They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted. Future times shall read of this severe vengeance of God upon him with astonishment, as they who see it shall be seized with horror. My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped ivith the skin of my teeth.] All these af-. flictions have so wasted me, that I am little more than skin and bone: a mouth to complain withal is all the flesh that is left me.

Job 19:21

Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God. Certain it is, that this is a just description of the miserable condition of the wicked: they that do not honour God shall thus be abased. — Have pity upon me, have pity upon me; O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.] O ye my friends (if you still deserve that name), who are the only persons that undertake to comfort me, have pity, have pity, I beseech you, upon a miserable wretch, and consider what wounds the hand of God hath given me.

Job 19:22

WJiy do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied ivith my flesh?. Will you assume the same prerogative, and think you have the same right to afflict me? and doth it not suffice you to see my body all consumed, but you will vex my. very soul also with your perverse reasonings?

Job 19:23

Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book I. Oh that the protestations and appeals I have so often made might remain upon record, and be registered in Ihe public acts and monuments!

Job 19:24

That they were graveu with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!. May they be graven upon a plate of lead with an iron pen; nay, cut into a rock or marble pillar, to continue to all posterity!

Job 19:25

For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. For my hope, which was as dead as myself, (xvii. 13. 15. xix. 10.) begins to revive; beqause, though I seem for the present