Giobbe 10:14-22

14 se avessi peccato, l’avresti ben tenuto a mente, e non m’avresti assolto dalla mia iniquità.

15 Se fossi stato malvagio, guai a me! Se giusto, non avrei osato alzar la fronte, sazio d’ignominia, spettatore della mia miseria.

16 Se l’avessi alzata, m’avresti dato la caccia come ad un leone e contro di me avresti rinnovato le tue maraviglie;

17 m’avresti messo a fronte nuovi testimoni, e avresti raddoppiato il tuo sdegno contro di me; legioni su legioni m’avrebbero assalito.

18 E allora, perché m’hai tratto dal seno di mia madre? Sarei spirato senza che occhio mi vedesse!

19 Sarei stato come se non fossi mai esistito, m’avrebbero portato dal seno materno alla tomba!

20 Non son forse pochi i giorni che mi restano? Cessi egli dunque, mi lasci stare, ond’io mi rassereni un poco,

21 prima ch’io me ne vada, per non più tornare, nella terra delle tenebre e dell’ombra di morte:

22 terra oscura come notte profonda, ove regnano l’ombra di morte ed il caos, il cui chiarore è come notte oscura".

Giobbe 10:14-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 10

Job here declares the greatness of his afflictions, which made him weary of his life, and could not help complaining; entreats the Lord not to condemn him but show him the reason of his thus dealing with him, Job 10:1,2; and expostulates with him about it, and suggests as if it was severe, and not easily reconciled to his perfections, when he knew he was not a wicked man, Job 10:3-7; he puts him in mind of his formation and preservation of him, and after all destroyed him, Job 10:8-12; and represents his case as very distressed; whether he was wicked or righteous it mattered not, his afflictions were increasing upon him, Job 10:13-17; and all this he observes, in order to justify his eager desire after death, which he renews, Job 10:18,19; and entreats, since his days he had to live were but few, that God would give him some respite before he went into another state, which he describes, Job 10:20-22.