Job 5:5-15

5 Their produce is taken by him who has no food, and their grain goes to the poor, and he who is in need of water gets it from their spring.

6 For evil does not come out of the dust, or trouble out of the earth;

7 But trouble is man's fate from birth, as the flames go up from the fire.

8 But as for me, I would make my prayer to God, and I would put my cause before him:

9 Who does great things outside our knowledge, wonders without number:

10 Who gives rain on the earth, and sends water on the fields:

11 Lifting up those who are low, and putting the sad in a safe place;

12 Who makes the designs of the wise go wrong, so that they are unable to give effect to their purposes.

13 He takes the wise in their secret designs, and the purposes of the twisted are cut off suddenly.

14 In the daytime it becomes dark for them, and in the sunlight they go feeling about as if it was night.

15 But he keeps safe from their sword those who have no father, and the poor from the power of the strong.

Job 5:5-15 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.