Job 6

Job's Reply

1 Job replied,

2 "I wish my great pain could be weighed! I wish all of my suffering could be weighed on scales!

3 I'm sure they would weigh more than the grains of sand on the seashore. No wonder I've been so quick to speak!

4 The Mighty One has shot me with his arrows. I have to drink their poison. God's terrors are aimed at me.

5 Does a wild donkey cry out when it has enough grass? Does an ox call out when it has plenty of food?

6 Is food that doesn't have any taste eaten without salt? Is there any flavor in the white of an egg?

7 I refuse to touch that kind of food. It makes me sick.

8 "I wish I could have what I'm asking for! I wish God would give me what I'm hoping for!

9 I wish he would crush me! I wish his powerful hand would cut off my life!

10 Then I'd still have one thing to comfort me. It would be that I haven't said no to the Holy One's commands. That would give me joy in spite of my pain that never ends.

11 "I'm so weak that I no longer have any hope. Things have gotten so bad that I can't wait for help anymore.

12 Am I as strong as stone? Is my body made out of bronze?

13 I don't have the power to help myself. All hope of success has been taken away from me.

14 "A man's friends should love him when his hope is gone. They should be faithful to him even if he stops showing respect for the Mighty One.

15 But my friends aren't faithful to me. They are like streams that only flow for part of the year. They are like rivers that flow over their banks

16 when the ice begins to break up. The streams rise when the snow starts to melt.

17 But they stop flowing when the dry season comes. They disappear from their stream beds when the weather warms up.

18 Groups of traders turn away from their usual paths. They go up into the dry and empty land. And they die there.

19 Traders from Tema look for water. Traveling merchants from Sheba also hope to find it.

20 They become troubled because they had expected to find some. But when they arrive at the stream beds, they don't find any water at all.

21 And now, my friends, you haven't helped me either. You see the horrible condition I'm in. And that makes you afraid.

22 I've never said, 'Give me something to help me. Use your wealth to set me free.

23 Save me from the powerful hand of my enemy. Set me free from the power of mean people.'

24 "Teach me. Then I'll be quiet. Show me what I've done wrong.

25 Honest words are so painful! But your reasoning doesn't prove anything.

26 Are you trying to correct what I'm saying? You are treating the words of this hopeless man like nothing but wind.

27 You would even cast lots for those whose fathers have died. You would even trade away your closest friend.

28 "But now please look at me. Would I tell you a lie right here in front of you?

29 Stop what you are saying. Don't be so unfair. Think it over again. You are trying to take my honesty away from me.

30 Has my mouth spoken anything that is evil? Do my lips say things that are hateful?"

Job 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

Job justifies his complaints. (1-7) He wishes for death. (8-13) Job reproves his friends as unkind. (14-30)

Verses 1-7 Job still justifies himself in his complaints. In addition to outward troubles, the inward sense of God's wrath took away all his courage and resolution. The feeling sense of the wrath of God is harder to bear than any outward afflictions. What then did the Saviour endure in the garden and on the cross, when he bare our sins, and his soul was made a sacrifice to Divine justice for us! Whatever burden of affliction, in body or estate, God is pleased to lay upon us, we may well submit to it as long as he continues to us the use of our reason, and the peace of our conscience; but if either of these is disturbed, our case is very pitiable. Job reflects upon his friends for their censures. He complains he had nothing offered for his relief, but what was in itself tasteless, loathsome, and burdensome.

Verses 8-13 Job had desired death as the happy end of his miseries. For this, Eliphaz had reproved him, but he asks for it again with more vehemence than before. It was very rash to speak thus of God destroying him. Who, for one hour, could endure the wrath of the Almighty, if he let loose his hand against him? Let us rather say with David, O spare me a little. Job grounds his comfort upon the testimony of his conscience, that he had been, in some degree, serviceable to the glory of God. Those who have grace in them, who have the evidence of it, and have it in exercise, have wisdom in them, which will be their help in the worst of times.

Verses 14-30 In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his friends, but now was disappointed. This he compares to the failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations on the creature, will find it fail when it should help them; whereas those who make God their confidence, have help in the time of need, ( Hebrews 4:16 ) . Those who make gold their hope, sooner or later will be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it. It is our wisdom to cease from man. Let us put all our confidence in the Rock of ages, not in broken reeds; in the Fountain of life, not in broken cisterns. The application is very close; "for now ye are nothing." It were well for us, if we had always such convictions of the vanity of the creature, as we have had, or shall have, on a sick-bed, a death-bed, or in trouble of conscience. Job upbraids his friends with their hard usage. Though in want, he desired no more from them than a good look and a good word. It often happens that, even when we expect little from man, we have less; but from God, even when we expect much, we have more. Though Job differed from them, yet he was ready to yield as soon as it was made to appear that he was in error. Though Job had been in fault, yet they ought not to have given him such hard usage. His righteousness he holds fast, and will not let it go. He felt that there had not been such iniquity in him as they supposed. But it is best to commit our characters to Him who keeps our souls; in the great day every upright believer shall have praise of God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 6

This and the following chapter contain Job's answer to the speech of Eliphaz in the two foregoing; he first excuses his impatience by the greatness of his afflictions, which, if weighed by good and impartial hands, would be found to be heavier than the sand of the sea, and which words were wanting to express, Job 6:1-3; and the reason why they were so heavy is given, they being the arrows and terrors of the Almighty, Job 6:4; and by various similes he shows that his moans and complaints under them need not seem strange and unreasonable, Job 6:5-7; and what had been said not being convincing to him, he continues in the same sentiment and disposition of mind, and wishes to be removed by death out of his miserable condition, and gives his reasons for it, Job 6:8-13; and though his case was such as required pity from his friends, yet this he had not from them, but represents them as deceitful, and as having sadly disappointed him, and therefore he neither hoped nor asked for anything of them, Job 6:14-23; and observes that their words and arguments were of no force and weight with him, but harmful and pernicious, Job 6:24-27; and in his turn gives them some exhortations and instructions, and signifies that he was as capable of discerning between right and wrong as they, with which this chapter is concluded, Job 6:28-30.