Job 5:1-11

1 Crie maintenant! Y aura-t-il quelqu'un qui te réponde? Et vers lequel des saints te tourneras-tu?
2 La colère tue l'insensé, et le dépit fait mourir celui qui est destitué de sens;
3 J'ai vu l'insensé étendant ses racines, mais soudain j'ai maudit sa demeure.
4 Ses fils sont loin de tout secours, ils sont écrasés à la porte, et personne ne les délivre;
5 L'affamé dévore sa moisson; il la lui prend à travers les épines de sa haie; l'homme altéré convoite ses biens.
6 Car la souffrance ne sort pas de la poussière, et la peine ne germe pas du sol,
7 De sorte que l'homme soit né pour la peine, comme l'étincelle pour voler en haut.
8 Mais moi, j'aurais recours à Dieu, et j'adresserais ma parole à Dieu,
9 Qui fait de grandes choses qu'on ne peut sonder, de merveilleuses choses qu'on ne peut compter;
10 Qui répand la pluie sur la face de la terre, et qui envoie les eaux sur la face des champs;
11 Qui met en haut ceux qui sont abaissés, et ceux qui sont en deuil au faîte du bonheur;

Job 5:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 5

In this chapter Eliphaz goes on to prove, and further confirm and establish, what he had before asserted, that not good men, but wicked men only, are afflicted of God, at least greatly, so as to have their substance wholly destroyed and perish, which was Job's case; and this partly from the case, state, and sentiments of all the saints, Job 5:1,2; and from his own observation and experience, Job 5:3-5; and then he proceeds to give some advice; and seeing afflictions do not come by chance, but are of God, it is right in such circumstances for a man to seek to the Lord for pardon and salvation, and commit his cause unto him, Job 5:6-8; who does many great things in a providential way to the good of man in general, and to the disappointment of wicked crafty men, and to the serving of the poor in particular, Job 5:9-16; so that it is best patiently to bear the afflicting hand of God, and it is an happiness to be corrected by him, since he delivers such out of all their troubles, and preserves them from many evils, and bestows many good things on them; which would be Job's case particularly, if he behaved according to the advice given, and which is left with him to consider of, Job 5:17-27.

The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.