Job 5:3-13

3 I watch as a fool establishes roots, but I curse his home with sudden [destruction] -

4 his children are far from help, publicly humiliated, with no one to rescue;

5 the hungry eat up his harvest, taking it even from among thorns, while the thirsty are panting, eager to swallow his wealth.

6 For misery does not come from the dust or trouble spring from the ground.

7 No, people are born for trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.

8 "If I were you, I would seek God; I would make my plea to him.

9 For God does great deeds beyond investigation, wonders beyond all reckoning.

10 He gives rain to the earth, pours water down on the fields.

11 He raises the lowly on high and lifts mourners to safety.

12 He frustrates the schemes of the cunning, so that they achieve no success;

13 trapping the crafty in their own tricks and foiling quickly the plans of the false.

Job 5:3-13 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.