My grief — The cause of my grief. Weighed — Were fully understood, and duly considered. O that I had an equal judge! that would understand my case, and consider whether I have not cause for complaints. Together — Together with any other most heavy thing to be put into the other scale.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sea — Which is heavier than dry sand. Swallowed — My voice and spirit fail me. I cannot find, or utter words sufficient to express my sorrow or misery.... [ Continue Reading ]
Arrows — So he fitly calls his afflictions, because, like arrows, they came upon him swiftly and suddenly one after another, immediately shot by God into his spirit. Poison — Implying that these arrows were more keen than ordinary, being dipped in God's wrath, as the barbarous nations used to dip th... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth, &c. — Even the brute beasts, when they have convenient food, are quiet and contented. So it is no wonder that you complain not, who live in ease and prosperity, any more than I did, when I wanted nothing.... [ Continue Reading ]
Can, &c. — Do men use to eat unsavoury meats with delight, or without complaint? Men commonly complain of their meat when it is but unsavoury, how much more when it is so bitter as mine is?... [ Continue Reading ]
The things, &c. — The sense may be, those grievous afflictions, which I dreaded the very thought of, are now my daily, though sorrowful bread.... [ Continue Reading ]
Destroy — To end my days and calamities together.... [ Continue Reading ]
Harden — I would bear up with courage under all my torments, with the hopes of death, and blessedness after death. Spare — Not suffer me to live any longer. Concealed — As I have steadfastly believed them, and not wilfully departed from them, so I have not been ashamed, nor afraid, boldly to profess... [ Continue Reading ]
Strength — My strength is so spent, that it is vain for me to hope for such restitution as thou hast promised me, Job 5:22. End — What is death to me? It is not terrible, but comfortable. That — Then why should I desire to prolong my life. But as desirous of death as Job was, yet he never offered to... [ Continue Reading ]
Is, &c. — I am not made of stone or brass, but of flesh and blood, as others are, therefore I am unable to endure these miseries longer, and can neither hope for. nor desire the continuance of my life.... [ Continue Reading ]
What, &c. — If my outward condition be helpless and hopeless? Have I therefore lost my understanding, cannot I judge whether it is more desirable for me to live or to die, whether I be an hypocrite or no, whether your words have truth and weight in them; whether you take the right method in dealing... [ Continue Reading ]
To him — Heb. to him that is melted or dissolved with affections. But. &c. — But thou hast no pity for thy friend; a plain evidence that thou art guilty of what thou didst charge me with, even of the want of the fear of God. The least which those that are at ease can do for them that are pained, is... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren — Friends; for though Eliphaz only had spoken, the other two shewed their approbation of his discourse. Deceitfully — Adding to the afflictions which they said they came to remove. And it is no new thing, for even brethren to deal deceitfully. It is therefore our wisdom to cease from man. W... [ Continue Reading ]
Which — Which in winter when the traveller neither needs nor desires it, are full of water congealed by the frost. Snow — Under which the water from snow, which formerly fell, and afterward was dissolved, lies hid. So he speaks not of those brooks which are fed by a constant spring, but of them whic... [ Continue Reading ]
Warm — When the weather grows milder. Hot — In the hot season, when waters are most refreshing and necessary.... [ Continue Reading ]
Perish — They are gone out of their channel, flowing hither and thither, 'till they are quite consumed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Tema — This place and Sheba were both parts of the hot and dry country of Arabia, in which waters were very scarce, and therefore precious and desirable, especially to travellers. Companies — Men did not there travel singly, as we do, but in companies for their security against wild beasts and robbe... [ Continue Reading ]
Hoped — They comforted themselves with the expectation of water. Ashamed — As having deceived themselves and others. We prepare confusion for ourselves, by our vain hopes: the reeds break under us, because we lean upon them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Nothing — You are to me as if you had never come to me; for I have no comfort from you. Afraid — You are shy of me, and afraid for yourselves, lest some further plagues should come upon me, wherein you for my sake, should be involved: or, lest I should be burdensome to you.... [ Continue Reading ]
Did I say — Give me something for my support or relief. You might have at least given me comfortable words, when I expected nothing else from you.... [ Continue Reading ]
Deliver — By the force of your arms, as Abraham delivered Lot. Redeem — By price or ransom.... [ Continue Reading ]
Teach — Convince me by solid arguments. I will — I will patiently hear and gladly receive your counsels.... [ Continue Reading ]
Forcible — The words of truth have a marvellous power. Reprove — But there is no truth in your assertions or weight in your arguments.... [ Continue Reading ]
Words — Do you think it is sufficient to quarrel with some of my words, without giving allowance for human infirmity, or extreme misery. Desperate — Of a poor miserable, hopeless and helpless man. As wind — Which pass away and are forgotten.... [ Continue Reading ]
Overwhelm — You load with censures and calumnies. Desolate — Me who am deprived of all my children, my estate, and my friends. I spoke all I thought, as to my friends, and you thence occasion to cast me down.... [ Continue Reading ]
Look — Consider my cause better than you have done, that you may give a more righteous judgment. Evident — You will plainly discover it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Return — Turn from your former judgment. Iniquity — Or, there shall be no iniquity, in my words. Righteousness — In this cause or matter between you and me; and you will find the right to be on my side.... [ Continue Reading ]
Is there — Consider if there be any untruth or iniquity in what I have already said, or shall farther speak. Taste — My judgment, which judgeth of words and actions, as the palate doth of meats.... [ Continue Reading ]