“Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? an appointed: or, a warfare”
Hath not an hired servant some rest and ease? then in this my continual torment I am worse than an hireling.
“So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.”
My sorrow hath continued from month to month, and I have looked for hope in vain.
“My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.”
This signifieth that his disease was rare and most horrible.
“My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.”
Thus he speaketh in respect of the brevity of man’s life, which passeth without hope of returning: in consideration whereof he desireth God to have compassion on him.
“As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.”
Shall no more enjoy this mortal life. If thou behold me in thine anger, I shall not be able to stand in thy presence.
“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.”
Seeing I can by none other means comfort myself, I will declare my grief by words, and thus he speaketh as one overcome with grief of mind.
“Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?”
Am not I a poor wretch? what needest thou then to lay so much pain on me?
“Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:”
So that I can have no rest, night nor day.
“So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. life: Heb. bones”
He speaketh 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.”
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?”
Seeing that man of himself is so vile, why dost thou give him that honor to contend against him? Job useth all kinds of persuasion with God, that he might stay his hand.
“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?”
After all tentations faith bursteth forth and leadeth Job to repentance: yet it was not in such perfection, that he could bridle himself from reasoning with God, because that he still tried his faith.