“I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. miserable: or, troublesome”
Comforters. “Job’s friends or comforters,” are become proverbial, to denote people who do the contrary to what they seem to promise. (Haydock) — Never did men sustain worse the character of comforters. They all magnify their knowledge and piety, and make the most absurd application of their principles to Job’s condition. (Calmet) — He was not ignorant that tyrants and wicked men were often, nay generally till the age in which he lived, visited with visible judgments. (Haydock)
“Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? vain: Heb. words of wind”
Windy, inconclusive arguments. They all entertain a mean opinion of their adversaries, as they did not agree in the application of the propositions. Hence though they might be true, they were nothing to their present purpose, chap. xv. 3. (Haydock) — Trouble. You can speak without any pain: but the case is far different with me. (Menochius) — Hebrew, “what emboldeneth thee to answer?” (Haydock) — Who asks thee for advice? (Calmet) — True friends will give it without upbraiding, or laying false crimes to the charge of any one. (Worthington)
“I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.”
My soul. If you had experienced my state of misery, (Haydock) I surely would not have behaved thus to you. (Calmet)
“But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.”
Wag, or shake my head out of pity, chap. xlii. 11., and Nahum iii. 7. The same sign often indicates astonishment or contempt, Psalm xxi. 8., and Matthew xxvii. 39. (Calmet)
“But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.”
But. Hebrew, “If I speak,” &c.
“And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.”
Limbs. Hebrew, “company,” (Haydock) or family. The assemblage of my limbs is also disordered by the leprosy.
“He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.”
Against me, in your opinion, as if I were guilty of lies. Hebrew, “my leanness bears witness, my falsehood has risen up against me and answered me to my face;” which may be understood in the same sense as the argument of Eliphaz. He is designated by the false speaker; (Calmet) unless we explain it of the wrinkles, which falsely indicated that Job was advanced in years, or of the malady; whence it was gathered that he must be a criminal. (Menochius) — Protestants, “my leanness riseth up.” (Haydock)
“God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. hath: Heb. hath shut me up”
Cheek. His friends seemed so enraged, as to be disposed to do so. (Calmet) — These expressions were strikingly verified in Christ. (Menochius) — The outrages may also be attributed to the devil; (Calmet) or, by personification, to the malady of Job. (Menochius)
“He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.”
Lances. Hebrew, “archers.” Septuagint, “they have encompassed me, throwing lances into my veins, or loins, not sparing,” &c. (Haydock) — Bowels. Hebrew and Septuagint, “gall,” being afflicted with a dysentery. St. Thomas Aquinas explains it of his children, who were slain. (Haydock)
“My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;”
Flesh. Hebrew, “horn.” Septuagint, “strength.” (Haydock) — I have lost all my beauty and splendor, and have put on the garments of penance. (Calmet)
“Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.”
Dim. Hebrew and Septuagint, “covered with the shadow of death,” (Haydock) greatly impaired. Some have almost lost their sight by weeping; and death seemed ready to close Job’s eyes. (Calmet)
“O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.”
Hand, which has not been defiled with any injustice. (Menochius) — When. Hebrew, “and my prayer was pure.” I never neglected this sacred duty, (chap. i. 5.) as my friends accuse me, chap. xv. 4. (Haydock) — They continued in their false accusation: so he repeats the same true answer. (Worthington)
“Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. on high: Heb. in the high places”
In thee. Let the cry of my blood, which issues from my wounds, and the injury which my reputation has suffered, come before the throne of God. Calumny is a species of murder. See Genesis iv. 10. (Calmet) — If I be really guilty, I am willing to remain unburied. Let the dogs lick up my blood. (Cajetan) — Cry. Let the hills re-echo my sufferings. (Pineda)
“O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour ! neighbour: or, friend”
Full. Hebrew, “scorners.” Therefore I appeal to inanimate things; and, above all, to God, who cannot give a wrong judgment.
“When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return. a few: Heb. years of number”
Judged. Hebrew, “might plead.” (Haydock) — Earthly judges may be compelled to pronounce sentence publicly. Job is afraid lest the justice of his cause should remain undecided, till death overtook him, ver. 23. (Pineda)
Years. Hebrew and Septuagint, “of number.” Pauperis est numerare pecus. (Haydock) — Like a man under affliction, Job repeats what he had said, chap. xiv. 5., (Menochius) and chap. x. 20. (Haydock)