Job 3:14-24

14 With 1kings and with 2counselors of the earth, Who rebuilt 3ruins for themselves;
15 Or with 4princes 5who had gold, Who were filling their houses with silver.
16 "Or like a miscarriage which is discarded, I would not be, As infants that never saw light.
17 "There the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at 6rest.
18 "The prisoners are at ease together; They do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.
19 "The small and the great are there, And the slave is free from his master.
20 "Why is 7light given to him who suffers, And life to the bitter of soul,
21 Who 8long for death, but there is none, And dig for it more than for 9hidden treasures,
22 Who rejoice greatly, And exult when they find the grave?
23 "Why is light given to a man 10whose way is hidden, And whom 11God has hedged in?
24 "For 12my groaning comes at the sight of my food, And 13my cries pour out like water.

Job 3:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 3

In this chapter we have an account of Job's cursing the day of his birth, and the night of his conception; Job 3:1-3; first the day, to which he wishes the most extreme darkness, Job 3:4,5; then the night, to which he wishes the same and that it might be destitute of all joy, and be cursed by others as well as by himself, Job 3:6-9; The reasons follow, because it did not prevent his coming into the world, and because he died not on it, Job 3:10-12; which would, as he judged, have been an happiness to him; and this he illustrates by the still and quiet state of the dead, the company they are with, and their freedom from all trouble, oppression, and bondage, Job 3:13-19; but however, since it was otherwise with him, he desires his life might not be prolonged, and expostulates about the continuance of it, Job 3:20-23; and this by reason of his present troubles, which were many and great, and came upon him as he feared they would, and which had made him uneasy in his prosperity, Job 3:24-26.

Cross References 13

Footnotes 3

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