Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him
There is a double reading of these words; the "Keri", or marginal
reading, is (wl) , "in
him", which we follow; the "Cetib", or textual reading, is
(al) , "not", which many
follow, and render the words, "lo, he will slay me, I shall not
hope"; or, "I have no hope", or "do not expect" F13 that
is, any other than to be slain or die; and this agrees with
various expressions of his elsewhere, that he had no hope of any
long continuance of life, or of restoration to health and outward
happiness again, but expected to die quickly; see ( Job 6:11 ) ( 7:21 ) ( 10:20 ) ( 19:10 ) ;
but I will maintain mine own ways before him;
or "to his face" F14; though I die on the spot
instantly, I will stand by it, and make it appear that the ways I
have walked in are right, that I have behaved as a sincere
upright man, a man fearing God, and eschewing evil; a character
which God himself has given of me, and I have not forfeited it:
"I will argue" or "prove" F15 it before him, as it may be
rendered; that my life and conversation has been agreeable to my
profession of him; that my ways have been according to his
revealed will, and my walk as becoming the character I bear; and
this I will maintain and support as long as I live; I will never
depart from this sentiment, or let go my integrity to my latest
breath; see ( Job 27:5 Job 27:6 ) ; but the
marginal reading seems best, "yet will I trust in him"
F16? verily I will, though I am under
cutting and slaying providences, under sore afflictions, which
may be called killing and slaying, or death itself; though there
is an addition of them, one affliction upon another, and sorrow
upon sorrow; though I am killed continually, all the day long, or
die by inches; yea, though in the article of death itself, yet
even then "will I trust" and hope: God only is the object of
trust and confidence, and not a creature, or any creature
enjoyment, or creature act; and great encouragement there is to
trust in him, seeing in him is everlasting strength, to fulfil
his promises, to help in time of need, and to save with an
everlasting salvation; he is to be trusted in at all times, in
times of affliction, temptation, desertion, and death itself: it
may be rendered F17, "I will hope in him", since there
is mercy and plenteous redemption with him, and he delights in
those that hope in his mercy; his eye is upon them, and his heart
is towards them: or "I will wait for him", or "expect him"
F18; wait for deliverance by him, wait
all the days of his appointed time, till his change come; wait
for the hope of righteousness by faith, expect all needful grace
from him now, and eternal glory and happiness hereafter: "but"
notwithstanding his trust was alone in God for time and eternity,
yet, says he, "I will maintain mine own ways before him"; that I
am not an hypocrite, or have behaved as a bad man; but have acted
under the influence of grace, according to his mind and will
revealed.