“My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. weary: or, cut off while I live”
Life. Job had intimated a fear to proceed any farther. (Calmet) — But perceiving that he had not convinced his friends, he continues his discourse (Haydock) in still stronger terms, yet so as to acknowledge the justice of God. (Calmet) — Speech against. Hebrew, “complaint upon, (Haydock) or respecting myself,” I will deplore my misfortunes, (Calmet) or I will say no more about them. (Menochius)
“I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.”
Judgest. Hebrew, “contendest with me,” as with an enemy? Is it to punish some fault, or only to make thy grace shine forth? (Calmet)
“Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? work: Heb. labour”
Calumniate permissively, by treating me in such a manner, that others lay false crimes to my charge. Hebrew, “oppress and despise the work.” — Wicked, who are ready enough (Haydock) to assert that virtue is useless, (Calmet) and that God mindeth not human affairs. My affliction will confirm them in their false notion, (Haydock) and my friends will triumph as if their arguments were well founded. The devil will also exult. (Calmet) — He knew that God could not be guilty of calumny, and inquireth why he is afflicted. (Worthington)
“Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?”
Seeth, judging only of the exterior. (Tirinus) (Ver. 6.)
“Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,”
Days, sometimes denote judgments, 1 Corinthians iv. 3. Is God liable to change, like men, or does he stand in need of time to examine them, or fear lest they should escape? (Calmet) — Is it necessary for him to prove his friends, to know their real dispositions? (Sanctius)
“Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand. Thou: Heb. It is upon thy knowledge”
Shouldst. Hebrew and Septuagint, “Thou knowest that….and there,” &c. (Haydock) — It would be vain for me to appeal to any other. (Calmet)
“Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me. have: Heb. took pains about me”
Sudden, like a potter’s vessel? Job was reduced to misery all at once. (Calmet) — He acknowledges that God may destroy him as his creature; but that character encourages him to hope for mercy, grace, and glory. (Worthington)
“Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?”
Milked. Hebrew, “poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?” (Haydock) — See Wisdom vii. 1. The ancients explained our origin by the comparison of milk curdled, or cheese; (Arist.[Aristotle?] i. 10.; Pliny, [Natural History?] vii. 15.) which the moderns have explained on more plausible principles. (Calmet) — Yet still we may acknowledge our ignorance with the mother of Machabees, 2 Machabees vii. 22.
“Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.”
Thy fatherly visitation (Haydock) but still preserved my life. (Calmet)
“And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.”
Rememberest. Septuagint, “canst do all things.” Hebrew, “this is with thee.” (Haydock) — I am convinced that thou still regardest me with affection, though it would appear as if thou hadst forgotten me. (Calmet)
“If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.”
Iniquity? Punishing me for the sins which seemed to be pardoned. (Calmet) — Hebrew, “If I sin, then thou markest me, and wilt not suffer; (Haydock) or if thou hast not pardoned my iniquity: (15) And,” &c. (Calmet)
“If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;”
Woe. Thou wilt not suffer me to pass unpunished. (Calmet) — Head. I will adore in silence, chap. ix. 15, 31. (Ven. Bede) (Calmet)
“For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.”
Pride. If I give way to pride, thou wilt pull me down, though I were as fierce and strong as a lioness. Hebrew, “for it (affliction) increaseth. Thou huntest me.” (Protestants) — Returning. Hebrew and Septuagint, “again.” (Haydock)
“Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me. witnesses: that is, thy plagues”
Witnesses, afflictions; (Menochius) “wounds.” (Pagnin) (Tirinus)
“Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone , that I may take comfort a little,”
Lament. Hebrew, “take comfort,” (Haydock) or breath. (Calmet) — Repentance is always necessary, but more particularly at the hour of death. (Worthington)
“Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;”
Death, to the grave, or to hell, (Calmet) if my sins deserve it. (Haydock)
“A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.”
Horror. At death all distinction of ranks is at an end. (Tirinus) — Hebrew, “where the light is as darkness.” (Protestants) Septuagint, “To the land of eternal darkness, where there is no sound, nor life of mortals to see.” (Haydock)