Job 6:13

13 I don't have the power to help myself. All hope of success has been taken away from me.

Job 6:13 Meaning and Commentary

Job 6:13

[Is] my help in me?
&c.] Or "my defence" F25, as some; is it not in my power to defend myself against the calumnies and reproaches cast upon me? it is; and, though one have no help in myself to bear my burdens, or extricate myself out of my difficulties, yet I have the testimony of a good conscience within me, that supports me; and I have the strength and force of reason and argument on my side, to defend me against all objectors:

and is wisdom driven from me?
either sound doctrine, the law F26, or, rather, the Gospel, the wisdom of God in a mystery, revealed in the words of the Holy One before mentioned; or wisdom in the hidden part, the fear of God, which is wisdom, true grace in the heart, which, when once implanted, can never be driven out; or natural reason and understanding, of which he was not bereaved; for, though his body was thus sorely afflicted, he retained his reasoning and intellectual faculties. The words, in connection with the former, may be read, "what, if help is not with me, is wisdom also driven quite from me?"


FOOTNOTES:

F1 does it follow, because I am not able to help myself out of this afflicted and distressed condition in which I am, that I am deprived of my reason? or be it that I am such a weak impotent creature, and even distracted, as you take me to be, should I not then rather be pitied than insulted? so some F2 connect the words following.


F25 (yb ytrze) "defensio mea penes me", Junius et Tremellius, Piscator.
F26 (hyvwt) "lex", Mercerus; so Peritsol.
F1 So Cocceius and Schultens.
F2 So De Dieu.

Job 6:13 In-Context

11 "I'm so weak that I no longer have any hope. Things have gotten so bad that I can't wait for help anymore.
12 Am I as strong as stone? Is my body made out of bronze?
13 I don't have the power to help myself. All hope of success has been taken away from me.
14 "A man's friends should love him when his hope is gone. They should be faithful to him even if he stops showing respect for the Mighty One.
15 But my friends aren't faithful to me. They are like streams that only flow for part of the year. They are like rivers that flow over their banks
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica.   All rights reserved worldwide.