Job 5:6-16

6 Evil does not grow in the soil, nor does trouble grow out of the ground.
7 No indeed! We bring trouble on ourselves, as surely as sparks fly up from a fire.
8 If I were you, I would turn to God and present my case to him.
9 We cannot understand the great things he does, 1 and to his miracles there is no end.
10 He sends rain on the land and he waters the fields.
11 Yes, it is God who raises the humble and gives joy to all who mourn.
12 He upsets the plans of cunning people, 2 and traps the wise in their own schemes, so that nothing they do succeeds;
14 even at noon they grope in darkness.
15 But God saves the poor from death; he saves the needy from oppression.
16 He gives hope to the poor and silences the wicked.

Job 5:6-16 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.

Cross References 2

  • 1. +25.9Ben Sira 43.32.
  • 2. 5.131 Corinthians 3.19.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. sparks fly up from a fire; [or] birds fly up to the sky.
  • [b]. [Probable text] poor; [Hebrew unclear.]
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.