Job 10:17-22

17 You line up fresh witnesses against me. You compound your anger and pile on the grief and pain!
18 "So why did you have me born? I wish no one had ever laid eyes on me!
19 I wish I'd never lived - a stillborn, buried without ever having breathed.
20 Isn't it time to call it quits on my life? Can't you let up, and let me smile just once
21 Before I die and am buried, before I'm nailed into my coffin, sealed in the ground,
22 And banished for good to the land of the dead, blind in the final dark?"

Job 10:17-22 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.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.