Job 17:5

5 Suppose a man tells lies about his friends to get a reward. Then his own children will suffer for it.

Job 17:5 Meaning and Commentary

Job 17:5

He that speaketh flattery to [his] friends
As Job's friends did to him when they promised great outward prosperity, and a restoration to his former state, and to a greater affluence upon his repentance and reformation; or when they spoke deceitfully for God, pretending great regard to the honour of his justice and holiness, and therefore insisted on it that he must be a wicked man and an hypocrite, that was afflicted by him, as Job was:

even the eyes of his children shall fail;
so hateful are some sins to God, and particularly deceitful tongues, and flattering lips, that he will punish them in their posterity; the eyes of their children shall fail for want of sustenance, and while they are looking in vain for salvation and deliverance out of trouble, see ( Exodus 20:4 ) .

Job 17:5 In-Context

3 "God, please pay the price to have me set free. Who else would put up money for me?

4 You have closed the minds of those who are trying to comfort me. They don't understand that I haven't done anything wrong. So don't let them win the argument.

5 Suppose a man tells lies about his friends to get a reward. Then his own children will suffer for it.

6 "God has made everyone laugh at me. People spit in my face.

7 My eyes have grown weak because I'm so sad. My body is so thin it hardly casts a shadow.