Job 22

1 respondens autem Eliphaz Themanites dixit
2 numquid Deo conparari potest homo etiam cum perfectae fuerit scientiae
3 quid prodest Deo si iustus fueris aut quid ei confers si inmaculata fuerit via tua
4 numquid timens arguet te et veniet tecum in iudicium
5 et non propter malitiam tuam plurimam et infinitas iniquitates tuas
6 abstulisti enim pignus fratrum tuorum sine causa et nudos spoliasti vestibus
7 aquam lasso non dedisti et esurienti subtraxisti panem
8 in fortitudine brachii tui possidebas terram et potentissimus obtinebas eam
9 viduas dimisisti vacuas et lacertos pupillorum comminuisti
10 propterea circumdatus es laqueis et conturbat te formido subita
11 et putabas te tenebras non visurum et impetu aquarum inundantium non oppressurum
12 an cogitas quod Deus excelsior caelo et super stellarum vertices sublimetur
13 et dicis quid enim novit Deus et quasi per caliginem iudicat
14 nubes latibulum eius nec nostra considerat et circa cardines caeli perambulat
15 numquid semitam saeculorum custodire cupis quam calcaverunt viri iniqui
16 qui sublati sunt ante tempus suum et fluvius subvertit fundamentum eorum
17 qui dicebant Deo recede a nobis et quasi nihil possit facere Omnipotens aestimabant eum
18 cum ille implesset domos eorum bonis quorum sententia procul sit a me
19 videbunt iusti et laetabuntur et innocens subsannabit eos
20 nonne succisa est erectio eorum et reliquias eorum devoravit ignis
21 adquiesce igitur ei et habeto pacem et per haec habebis fructus optimos
22 suscipe ex ore illius legem et pone sermones eius in corde tuo
23 si reversus fueris ad Omnipotentem aedificaberis et longe facies iniquitatem a tabernaculo tuo
24 dabit pro terra silicem et pro silice torrentes aureos
25 eritque Omnipotens contra hostes tuos et argentum coacervabitur tibi
26 tunc super Omnipotentem deliciis afflues et elevabis ad Deum faciem tuam
27 rogabis eum et exaudiet te et vota tua reddes
28 decernes rem et veniet tibi et in viis tuis splendebit lumen
29 qui enim humiliatus fuerit erit in gloria et qui inclinaverit oculos suos ipse salvabitur
30 salvabitur innocens salvabitur autem munditia manuum suarum

Job 22 Commentary

Chapter 22

Eliphaz shows that a man's goodness profits not God. (1-4) Job accused of oppression. (5-14) The world before the flood. (15-20) Eliphaz exhorts Job to repentance. (21-30)

Verses 1-4 Eliphaz considers that, because Job complained so much of his afflictions, he thought God was unjust in afflicting him; but Job was far from thinking so. What Eliphaz says, is unjustly applied to Job, but it is very true, that when God does us good it is not because he is indebted to us. Man's piety is no profit to God, no gain. The gains of religion to men are infinitely greater than the losses of it. God is a Sovereign, who gives no account of his conduct; but he is perfectly wise, just, faithful, good, and merciful. He approves the likeness of his own holiness, and delights in the fruits of his Spirit; he accepts the thankful services of the humble believer, while he rejects the proud claim of the self-confident.

Verses 5-14 Eliphaz brought heavy charges against Job, without reason for his accusations, except that Job was visited as he supposed God always visited every wicked man. He charges him with oppression, and that he did harm with his wealth and power in the time of his prosperity.

Verses 15-20 Eliphaz would have Job mark the old way that wicked men have trodden, and see what the end of their way was. It is good for us to mark it, that we may not walk therein. But if others are consumed, and we are not, instead of blaming them, and lifting up ourselves, as Eliphaz does here, we ought to be thankful to God, and take it for a warning.

Verses 21-30 The answer of Eliphaz wrongly implied that Job had hitherto not known God, and that prosperity in this life would follow his sincere conversion. The counsel Eliphaz here gives is good, though, as to Job, it was built upon a false supposition that he was a stranger and enemy to God. Let us beware of slandering our brethren; and if it be our lot to suffer in this manner, let us remember how Job was treated; yea, how Jesus was reviled, that we may be patient. Let us examine whether there may not be some colour for the slander, and walk watchfully, so as to be clear of all appearances of evil.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 22

This chapter contains the third and last reply of Eliphaz to Job, in which he charges him with having too high an opinion of himself, of his holiness and righteousness, as if God was profited by it, and laid thereby under obligation to him, whereas he was not, Job 22:1-3; and as if he reproved and chastised him, because of his fear of him, whereas it was because of his sins, Job 22:4,5; an enumeration of which he gives, as of injustice, oppression, cruelty to the poor, and even of atheism and infidelity, for which snares and fears were around him, and various calamities, Job 22:6-14; and compares his way and course of life to that of the men of the old world, and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, and suggests that his end would be like theirs, unless he repented, Job 22:15-20; and then concludes with an exhortation to him to return to God by repentance, and to reform, when he should see happy times again, and enjoy much outward and inward prosperity, and be an instrument of doing much good to many, Job 22:21-30.

Job 22 Commentaries

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.