Job 27:16-23

16 Though he collects silver like dust and piles up clothing like dirt,
17 righteous people will wear what he piles up, and the innocent will divide the silver [among themselves].
18 He builds his house like a moth, like a shack that a watchman makes.
19 He may go to bed rich, but he'll never be rich again. When he opens his eyes, nothing will be left.
20 Terrors overtake him like a flood. A windstorm snatches him away at night.
21 The east wind carries him away, and he's gone. It sweeps him from his place.
22 It hurls itself at him without mercy. He flees from its power.
23 It claps its hands over him. It whistles at him from his own place.

Job 27:16-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 27

Though Job's friends were become silent, and dropped the controversy with him, he still continued his discourse in this and the four following chapters; in which he asserts his integrity; illustrates and confirms his former sentiments; gives further proof of his knowledge of things, natural and divine; takes notice of his former state of prosperity, and of his present distresses and afflictions, which came upon him, notwithstanding his piety, humanity, and beneficence, and his freedom from the grosser acts of sin, both with respect to God and men, all which he enlarges upon. In this chapter he gives his word and oath for it, that he would never belie himself, and own that he was an hypocrite, when he was not, but would continue to assert his integrity, and the righteousness of his cause, as long as he lived, Job 27:1-6; for to be an hypocrite, and to attempt to conceal his hypocrisy, would be of no advantage to him, either in life, or in death, Job 27:7-10; and was this his character and case, upon their principles, he could expect no other than to be a miserable man, as wicked men are, who have their blessings turned into curses, or taken away from them, and they removed out of the world in the most awful and terrible manner, and under manifest tokens of the wrath and displeasure of God, Job 27:11-23.

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