Job 5:10-20

10 Who is giving rain on the face of the land, And is sending waters on the out-places.

11 To set the low on a high place, And the mourners have been high [in] safety.

12 Making void thoughts of the subtile, And their hands do not execute wisdom.

13 Capturing the wise in their subtilty, And the counsel of wrestling ones was hastened,

14 By day they meet darkness, And as night -- they grope at noon.

15 And He saveth the wasted from their mouth, And from a strong hand the needy,

16 And there is hope to the poor, And perverseness hath shut her mouth.

17 Lo, the happiness of mortal man, God doth reprove him: And the chastisement of the Mighty despise not,

18 For He doth pain, and He bindeth up, He smiteth, and His hands heal.

19 In six distresses He delivereth thee, And in seven evil striketh not on thee.

20 In famine He hath redeemed thee from death, And in battle from the hands of the sword.

Job 5:10-20 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.