Job 5:3-13

3 I saw a fool with [a] steadfast root, and I cursed his fairness anon (and at once I cursed his dwelling place).

4 His sons shall be made far from health, and they shall be defouled in the gate, and there shall be none that shall deliver them. (Yea, his sons shall be made far from help, and they shall be reviled in the court, and there shall be no one who shall save them.)

5 Whose ripe corn an hungry man shall eat, and an armed man shall ravish him, and they, that thirst, shall drink his riches. (A hungry man shall eat his harvest, and an armed man shall rob him, and they, who thirst, shall drink his riches.)

6 Nothing is done in [the] earth without cause, and sorrow shall not go out of the earth, that is, adversity befalleth not to any man without cause. (Nothing is done on the earth without a reason, and trouble groweth not out of the earth, that is, adversity befalleth not to anyone without a reason.)

7 A man is born to labour, and a bird to flight.

8 Wherefore I shall beseech the Lord, and I shall set my speech to my God (and I shall put my case before my God).

9 That maketh great things, and that may not be sought out, and wonderful things without number. (Who maketh great things, which may not be sought out, and wonderful things without number.)

10 The which God giveth rain upon the face of the earth, and moisteth all things with waters (and moisteneth everything with water).

11 Which setteth meek men on high, and raiseth with health them that mourn. (Who putteth the humble upon high, and raiseth to victory those who mourn.)

12 Which destroyeth the thoughts of evil-willed men (Who destroyeth the thoughts of the evil-willed), (so) that their hands may not fulfill those things that they have begun.

13 Which taketh sly cautelous men in their own fellness, and he destroyeth the counsel of shrews. (Who catcheth the sly and the shrewd in their own craftiness, and he destroyeth the counsel of the depraved.)

Job 5:3-13 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.