Job 5:6-16

6 But evil does not spring from the soil, and trouble does not sprout from the earth.

7 People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire.

8 “If I were you, I would go to God and present my case to him.

9 He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.

10 He gives rain for the earth and water for the fields.

11 He gives prosperity to the poor and protects those who suffer.

12 He frustrates the plans of schemers so the work of their hands will not succeed.

13 He traps the wise in their own cleverness so their cunning schemes are thwarted.

14 They find it is dark in the daytime, and they grope at noon as if it were night.

15 He rescues the poor from the cutting words of the strong, and rescues them from the clutches of the powerful.

16 And so at last the poor have hope, and the snapping jaws of the wicked are shut.

Job 5:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 5

In this chapter Eliphaz goes on to prove, and further confirm and establish, what he had before asserted, that not good men, but wicked men only, are afflicted of God, at least greatly, so as to have their substance wholly destroyed and perish, which was Job's case; and this partly from the case, state, and sentiments of all the saints, Job 5:1,2; and from his own observation and experience, Job 5:3-5; and then he proceeds to give some advice; and seeing afflictions do not come by chance, but are of God, it is right in such circumstances for a man to seek to the Lord for pardon and salvation, and commit his cause unto him, Job 5:6-8; who does many great things in a providential way to the good of man in general, and to the disappointment of wicked crafty men, and to the serving of the poor in particular, Job 5:9-16; so that it is best patiently to bear the afflicting hand of God, and it is an happiness to be corrected by him, since he delivers such out of all their troubles, and preserves them from many evils, and bestows many good things on them; which would be Job's case particularly, if he behaved according to the advice given, and which is left with him to consider of, Job 5:17-27.