Job 10:11-21

11 You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.
12 You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.
13 Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose.
14 If I sin, you watch me, and do not acquit me of my iniquity.
15 If I am wicked, woe to me! If I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look upon my affliction.
16 Bold as a lion you hunt me; you repeat your exploits against me.
17 You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your vexation toward me; you bring fresh troops against me.
18 "Why did you bring me forth from the womb? Would that I had died before any eye had seen me,
19 and were as though I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not the days of my life few? Let me alone, that I may find a little comfort
21 before I go, never to return, to the land of gloom and deep darkness,

Job 10:11-21 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.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Cn Compare Gk: Heb [toward me; changes and a troop are with me]
  • [b]. Cn Compare Gk Syr: Heb [Are not my days few? Let him cease!]
  • [c]. Heb [that I may brighten up a little]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.