Job 6:17-27

17 Ten tijde, als zij van hitte vervlieten, worden zij uitgedelgd; als zij warm worden, verdwijnen zij uit haar plaats.

18 De gangen haars wegs wenden zich ter zijde af; zij lopen op in het woeste, en vergaan.

19 De reizigers van Thema zien ze, de wandelaars van Scheba wachten op haar.

20 Zij worden beschaamd, omdat elkeen vertrouwde; als zij daartoe komen, zo worden zij schaamrood.

21 Voorwaar, alzo zijt gijlieden mij nu niets geworden; gij hebt gezien de ontzetting, en gij hebt gevreesd.

22 Heb ik gezegd: Brengt mij, en geeft geschenken voor mij van uw vermogen?

23 Of bevrijdt mij van de hand des verdrukkers, en verlost mij van de hand der tirannen?

24 Leert mij, en ik zal zwijgen, en geeft mij te verstaan, waarin ik gedwaald heb.

25 O, hoe krachtig zijn de rechte redenen! Maar wat bestraft het bestraffen, dat van ulieden is?

26 Zult gij, om te bestraffen, woorden bedenken, en zullen de redenen des mismoedigen voor wind zijn?

27 Ook werpt gij u op een wees; en gij graaft tegen uw vriend.

Job 6:17-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 6

This and the following chapter contain Job's answer to the speech of Eliphaz in the two foregoing; he first excuses his impatience by the greatness of his afflictions, which, if weighed by good and impartial hands, would be found to be heavier than the sand of the sea, and which words were wanting to express, Job 6:1-3; and the reason why they were so heavy is given, they being the arrows and terrors of the Almighty, Job 6:4; and by various similes he shows that his moans and complaints under them need not seem strange and unreasonable, Job 6:5-7; and what had been said not being convincing to him, he continues in the same sentiment and disposition of mind, and wishes to be removed by death out of his miserable condition, and gives his reasons for it, Job 6:8-13; and though his case was such as required pity from his friends, yet this he had not from them, but represents them as deceitful, and as having sadly disappointed him, and therefore he neither hoped nor asked for anything of them, Job 6:14-23; and observes that their words and arguments were of no force and weight with him, but harmful and pernicious, Job 6:24-27; and in his turn gives them some exhortations and instructions, and signifies that he was as capable of discerning between right and wrong as they, with which this chapter is concluded, Job 6:28-30.