Job 5:1-9

1 "Call now; is there any who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

2 For resentment kills the foolish man, And jealousy kills the simple.

3 I have seen the foolish taking root, But suddenly I cursed his habitation.

4 His children are far from safety, They are crushed in the gate. Neither is there any to deliver them,

5 Whose harvest the hungry eats up, And take it even out of the thorns; The snare gapes for their substance.

6 For affliction doesn't come forth from the dust, Neither does trouble spring out of the ground;

7 But man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward.

8 "But as for me, I would seek God, To God would I commit my cause;

9 Who does great things that can't be fathomed, Marvelous things without number;

Job 5:1-9 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.