Jump to:
Job
Chapter
17
{Chapters
15-21: The Second Debate}
{Chapters
15-17: Second Debate with Eliphaz - Job continues -
He
is at the end of 'Human Solutions'}
1~~My spirit {ruwach} is broken.
My days are cut short.
The grave is waiting for me.
2~Surely mockers surround me.
My
eyes must dwell on their hostility
{we would say 'I can not even die in peace'}
{Verses
3-4: Job sees Daylight Ahead Since He is Represented in Heaven}
3~~Give
me {o God} the pledge You demand.
Who else will put up security for me?
4~~You have closed their minds/heart/'right lobe' to understanding.
Therefore
You will not let them triumph
{meaning Job knows he is just in all this and they are wrong - his
sufferings are not punitive}.
5-6~~If
a man denounces his friend for reward,
the
eyes of his children will fail. 6~~
He
{God} has made me a byword of everyone
and
in whose face, people spit
{this means 'my friends are worse than someone who betrayed me
for money'}.
7~~My eyes have grown dim with grief.
My whole frame is but a shadow.
8~~Upright men were appalled at this.
The
innocent are aroused against the ungodly
{apparently there are still some in the city who are on Job's side -
probably in the minority though}.
9~~Nevertheless,
the righteous will hold to their Ways,
and
those with clean hands shall grow stronger.
10~~But come on, all of you try again.
I
will not find a wise man among you
{today we would say 'ok you jerks,
keep on snipping away at me . . .'}.
11~~My {Job's} days have passed.
My plans are shattered.
And
so are all the desires my heart/'right lobe'
{Job says he has had it}.
12~~They turn night into day.
In the face of darkness, they say light is near.
13-14~~If
the only home I hope for is the grave . . .
if
I spread out my bed in the darkness . . . 14~~
if
I admit to corruption . . .
you are my father.
And to the worm . . . you are my mother or my sister
{Job is saying to these three, the only thing that would make you
happy is if I say to a worm you are my mother - that would make
you happy' - this incenses self-righteous Bildad}.
15~~Where then is my hope?
Who can see any hope for me?
16~~Will it go down to the gates of death?
Will we descend into the dust together?"
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