Geneva Study Bible But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. But now they that are younger than I {a} have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the {b} dogs of my flock.
(a) That is, my estate is changed and while before the ancient men were glad to revere me, the young men now contemn me. (b) Meaning to be my shepherds or to keep my dogs. Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished? Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was {c} perished?
(c) That is, their fathers died of hunger before they came to age. For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat. Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.
They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;) They were {d} driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)
(d) Job shows that those who mocked him in his affliction were like their fathers, wicked and lewd fellows, such as he here describes. To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks. To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together. Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.
They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth. They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. And now am I their {e} song, yea, I am their byword.
(e) They make songs of me, and mock my misery. They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face. They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me. Because he hath loosed my {f} cord, and afflicted me, {g} they have also let loose the bridle before me.
(f) God has taken from me the force, credit, and authority with which I kept them in subjection. (g) He said that the young men when they saw him, hid themselves as in Job 29:8, and now in his misery they were impudent and licentious. Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the {h} ways of their destruction.
(h) That is, they sought by all means how they might destroy me. They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper. They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no {i} helper.
(i) They need no one to help them. They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me. They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the {k} desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
(k) By my calamity they took an opportunity against me. Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud. Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.
And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me. And now my soul is {l} poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
(l) My life fails me, and I am as half dead. My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest. {m} My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.
(m) Meaning sorrow. By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat. By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.
He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes. {n} He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
(n) That is, God has brought me into contempt. I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not. I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.
Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. Thou art become {o} cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.
(o) He does not speak this way to accuse God, but to declare the vehemency of his affliction, by which he was carried beside himself. Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance. Thou liftest me up to the {p} wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance.
(p) He compares his afflictions to a tempest or whirlwind. For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand {q} to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.
(q) No one can deliver me from there, though they lament my death. Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor? Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. When I looked for good, then {r} evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
(r) Instead of comforting they mocked me. My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me. My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.
I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. I went mourning {s} without the sun: I stood up, {t} and I cried in the congregation.
(s) Not delighting in any worldly thing, no not so much as in the use of the sun. (t) Lamenting them that were in affliction and moving others to pity them. I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. I am a brother to {u} dragons, and a companion to owls.
(u) I am like the wild beasts that desire solitary places. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with {x} heat.
(x) With the heat of affliction. My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep. My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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