Job 5:1-9

1 Call now, if there be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints.
2 Anger indeed killeth the foolish, and envy slayeth the little one.
3 I have seen a fool with a strong root, and I cursed his beauty immediately.
4 His children shall be far from safety, and shall be destroyed in the gate, and there shall be none to deliver them.
5 Whose harvest the hungry shall eat, and the armed man shall take him by violence, and the thirsty shall drink up his riches.
6 Nothing upon earth is done without a cause, and sorrow doth not spring out of the ground.
7 Man is born to labour, and the bird to fly.
8 Wherefore I will pray to the Lord, and address my speech to God:
9 Who doth great things, and unsearchable and wonderful 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.

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