Job 10:8-18

8 Thine hands have made me, and have formed me all in compass; and thou hast cast me down suddenly (and then suddenly thou hast thrown me down).

9 Lord, I pray thee, have thou mind, that thou madest me as clay, and shalt bring me again into dust. (Lord, I pray thee, remember that thou madest me like the clay/remember that thou madest me from the clay, and now shalt thou return me to the dust?)

10 Whether thou hast not milked me as milk, and hast crudded me together as cheese? (Hast thou not poured me out like milk, and curdled me together like cheese?)

11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh; and thou hast joined me together with bones and sinews.

12 Thou hast given life and mercy to me (Thou hast given life and love to me), and thy visiting hath kept my spirit (alive).

13 And though thou coverest these things in thine heart, nevertheless I know, that thou hast mind of all these things. (And though thou hidest these things in thy heart, nevertheless I know, that thou hast remembered all these things.)

14 And if when I did sin, thou sparedest me at an hour; why sufferest thou not me to be clean of my wickedness? (And when I did sin, thou sawest me; but thou wouldest not cleanse me of my wickedness.)

15 And if I was wicked, woe is to me; and if I was just, I shall not raise up mine head, that am full-filled with torment, and wretchedness. (And if I was wicked, woe is me; and if I was righteous, I shall still not raise up my head, I who am filled full of torment, and wretchedness.)

16 And if I raise up mine head for pride, thou shalt take me as a lioness; and thou turnest again, and tormentest me wonderfully. (And if I raise up my head in pride, then thou shalt take hold of me like a lioness; and thou shalt turn, and torment me with wonders, or miracles.)

17 Thou gatherest in store thy witnesses against me, and thou multipliest thine ire, that is, (thy) vengeance, against me; and pains hold knighthood in me. [Thou restorest thy witnesses against me, and thou multipliest thy wrath against me; and pains fight in me.]

18 Lord, why hast thou led me out of the womb? Why not had I erst been wasted, that an eye had not seen me (Why had I not erstwhile been destroyed, so that no eye had seen me).

Job 10:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 10

Job here declares the greatness of his afflictions, which made him weary of his life, and could not help complaining; entreats the Lord not to condemn him but show him the reason of his thus dealing with him, Job 10:1,2; and expostulates with him about it, and suggests as if it was severe, and not easily reconciled to his perfections, when he knew he was not a wicked man, Job 10:3-7; he puts him in mind of his formation and preservation of him, and after all destroyed him, Job 10:8-12; and represents his case as very distressed; whether he was wicked or righteous it mattered not, his afflictions were increasing upon him, Job 10:13-17; and all this he observes, in order to justify his eager desire after death, which he renews, Job 10:18,19; and entreats, since his days he had to live were but few, that God would give him some respite before he went into another state, which he describes, Job 10:20-22.