Job 11:16

16 And thou shalt forget (thy) wretchedness, and thou shalt not think of it, as of waters that have passed. (And thou shalt forget thy wretchedness, and thou shalt not think of it any more, like water that hath passed by, and is forgotten.)

Job 11:16 Meaning and Commentary

Job 11:16

Because thou shall forget [thy] misery
Former afflictions and distresses; having an abundance of prosperity and happiness, and long continued; and so, in process of time, the miseries and distresses before endured are forgotten; thus it was with Joseph in his advanced state, and therefore he called one of his sons Manasseh, ( Genesis 41:51 ) ; and as it is with convinced and converted persons and believers in Christ, who, under first convictions and awakenings, are filled with sorrow and distress, on a view of their miserable estate by nature; but when Christ is revealed to them as their Saviour and Redeemer, and the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts, and they have faith and hope in Jesus, and a comfortable view of heaven and happiness, and eternal life, by him, they forget their spiritual poverty, and remember their misery no more, unless it be to magnify the riches of the grace of God; see ( Proverbs 31:6 Proverbs 31:7 ) ;

[and] remember [it] as waters [that] pass away;
either the waters of the stream in a river, which, when gone, are seen and remembered no more or as waters occasioned by floods in the winter season, which when over, and summer is come, are gone and are no more discerned; and as they pass from the places where they were, so from the minds of men: or it may be respect is had to the waters of Noah's flood, which, according to the divine promise and oath, should no more go over the earth, ( Genesis 9:15 ) ; and being past and gone, and no fear or danger of their returning, are forgotten.

Job 11:16 In-Context

14 If thou doest away from thee the wickedness, that is in thine hand, and if unrightwiseness dwelleth not in thy tabernacle, (If thou doest away from thee the wickedness, that is in thy hand, and if unrighteousness dwelleth not in thy home,)

15 then thou shalt raise up thy face without wem, and thou shalt be steadfast, and thou shalt not dread. (then thou shalt raise up thy face without blemish, or without fault, and thou shalt be strong, and thou shalt not have fear.)

16 And thou shalt forget (thy) wretchedness, and thou shalt not think of it, as of waters that have passed. (And thou shalt forget thy wretchedness, and thou shalt not think of it any more, like water that hath passed by, and is forgotten.)

17 And as midday shining, it shall raise (up) to thee at eventide; and when thou guessest thee (to be) wasted, thou shalt rise up as the day star. (And thy life shall shine forth, like the noonday sun; and when thou thinkest thyself to be destroyed, thou shalt rise up like the day star.)

18 And thou shalt have trust, while hope shall be set forth to thee; and thou buried shalt sleep securely (and thou shalt lie down in safety and security).