Hiob 17:3-13

3 Setze doch ein, leiste Bürgschaft für mich bei dir selbst! Wer ist es sonst, der in meine Hand einschlagen wird?

4 Denn ihre Herzen hast du der Einsicht verschlossen; darum wirst du ihnen nicht die Oberhand geben.

5 Wenn einer die Freunde zur Beute ausbietet, so werden die Augen seiner Kinder verschmachten.

6 Und er hat mich hingestellt zum Sprichwort der Völker, und ich bin zum Anspeien ins Angesicht.

7 Und mein Auge ist trübe geworden vor Gram, und wie der Schatten sind alle meine Glieder.

8 Die Aufrichtigen werden sich hierüber entsetzen, und der Schuldlose wird aufgebracht werden über den Ruchlosen.

9 Doch der Gerechte wird an seinem Wege festhalten, und der an Händen Reine wird an Stärke zunehmen.

10 Aber ihr alle, kommet nur wieder heran! Und einen Weisen werde ich nicht unter euch finden.

11 Meine Tage sind vorüber, zerrissen sind meine Pläne, das Eigentum meines Herzens.

12 Die Nacht machen sie zum Tage, das Licht nahe vor lauter Finsternis.

13 Wenn ich hoffe, so ist der Scheol mein Haus, in der Finsternis bette ich mein Lager.

Hiob 17:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

\\INTRODUCTION JOB 17\\

In this chapter Job not only enlarges upon the reason given in the
preceding chapter, why he was desirous of an advocate with God, and one
to plead his cause with him for him, Job 17:1; but adds other reasons
taken from the usage of his friends, from the impossibility of any but
a divine Person being his surety; and of anyone being provided and
appointed as such but by God himself; from the insufficiency of his
friends to judge of his cause, and from the condition and circumstances
he was in, Job 17:2-7; then he takes notice of the effects his present
case would have on good men, that though they might be astonished at
it, they would be filled with indignation against hypocrites, and would
not be moved and stumbled by his afflictions to apostatize from and
desert the good ways of God, Job 17:8,9; after which he addresses his
friends, and either calls upon them to renew the dispute with him, or
repent of their notions, and join with him in his sentiments,
Job 17:10; and lastly describes his state and circumstances, according
to his apprehension of things, observing the shortness of his life, and
the darkness of the dispensation he was under, through one thing and
another, Job 17:11,12; that he had nothing but the grave in view,
which, and its attendants, he had made very familiar with him,
Job 17:13,14; and that he had no hope of restoration to a better
condition, as to his outward circumstances, and that he, and his hopes
his friends would have him entertain, and they also, would go down
together to the grave, and there should lie in the dust, and rest
together till the morning of the resurrection, Job 17:15,16.