Job 17:2-12

2 Now there are only mockers with me, upon whose bitterness my eye continues to gaze.

3 Put up now, give me surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

4 For with these, thou hast hid their heart from understanding; therefore, thou shalt not exalt them.

5 He that speaks flattery to his neighbour, even the eyes of his sons shall fail.

6 He has made me a byword of the peoples; and before them I have been as a tambourine.

7 My eyes are dim by reason of sorrow, and all my thoughts are as a shadow.

8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

9 The righteous shall hold on to his way, and he that has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

10 But return all of you, and come now; for I shall not find one that is wise among you.

11 My days are past, my thoughts were broken off, even the purposes of my heart.

12 They changed the night into day; the light is short because of the darkness.

Job 17:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

\\INTRODUCTION JOB 17\\

In this chapter Job not only enlarges upon the reason given in the
preceding chapter, why he was desirous of an advocate with God, and one
to plead his cause with him for him, Job 17:1; but adds other reasons
taken from the usage of his friends, from the impossibility of any but
a divine Person being his surety; and of anyone being provided and
appointed as such but by God himself; from the insufficiency of his
friends to judge of his cause, and from the condition and circumstances
he was in, Job 17:2-7; then he takes notice of the effects his present
case would have on good men, that though they might be astonished at
it, they would be filled with indignation against hypocrites, and would
not be moved and stumbled by his afflictions to apostatize from and
desert the good ways of God, Job 17:8,9; after which he addresses his
friends, and either calls upon them to renew the dispute with him, or
repent of their notions, and join with him in his sentiments,
Job 17:10; and lastly describes his state and circumstances, according
to his apprehension of things, observing the shortness of his life, and
the darkness of the dispensation he was under, through one thing and
another, Job 17:11,12; that he had nothing but the grave in view,
which, and its attendants, he had made very familiar with him,
Job 17:13,14; and that he had no hope of restoration to a better
condition, as to his outward circumstances, and that he, and his hopes
his friends would have him entertain, and they also, would go down
together to the grave, and there should lie in the dust, and rest
together till the morning of the resurrection, Job 17:15,16.