Geneva Study Bible Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an {a} hireling?
(a) Has not a hired servant some rest and ease? Then in this my continual torment I am worse than a hireling. As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. So am I made to possess {b} months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
(b) My sorrow has continued from month to month, and I have looked for hope in vain. When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. My flesh is {c} clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
(c) This signifies that his disease was rare and most horrible. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. My days are swifter than {d} a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
(d) Thus he speaks in respect for the brevity of man's life, which passes without hope of returning: in consideration of which he desires God to have compassion on him. O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good. O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. {e} As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall {f} come up no more.
(e) If you behold me in your anger I will not be able to stand in your presence. (f) Shall no more enjoy this mortal life. He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Therefore I will not {g} refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
(g) Seeing I can by no other means comfort myself I will declare my grief in words, and thus he speaks as one overcome with grief of mind. Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? Am I a sea, {h} or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
(h) Am I not a poor wretch? Why do you need to lay so much pain on me? When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints;
Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: Then thou scarest me {i} with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
(i) So that I can have no rest, night or day. So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. So that my soul {k} chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
(k) He speaks as one overcome with sorrow, and not of judgment, or of the examination of his faith. I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity. I loathe it; I would not live alway: {l} let me alone; for my days are vanity.
(l) Seeing my term of life is so short, let me have some rest and ease. What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? What is man, that thou {m} shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
(m) Seeing that man of himself is so vile, why do you give him that honour to contend against him? Job uses all kinds of persuasion with God, that he might stay his hand. And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? I have {n} sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
(n) After all temptations faith steps forth and leads Job to repentance: yet it was not in such perfection that he could bridle himself from reasoning with God, because he still tried his faith. And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be. And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall {o} not be. (o) That is, I will be dead. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
    |