Job chapter 17

Job pours out the depth of his pain. He is emaciated and nearly blind. His friends are hostile. They hope to gain a reward for supposedly defending God.

 


 

JOB POURS OUT THE DEPTH OF HIS PAIN

 

VERSE 1. “My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct, And the grave is ready for me.

the grave is ready for me. Experts say that as people approach their own death, they will experience a time of depression.

This is normal. It is almost a necessary step.

If you accompany someone toward their own death, you can expect they will become depressed.

 

VERSE 2. Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.

there are mockers with me. Job’s friends are mocking him.

their provocation. The words of his “friends” are hostile.  They sting.

Job cannot direct his attention elsewhere.

 

VERSE 3. “Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?

 

VERSE 4. For you have hidden their heart from understanding, Therefore you shall not exalt them.

hidden their heart from understanding. Job’s “friends” lack understanding. They lack empathy.

They are utterly unable to provide comfort to a person who is suffering.

 

VERSE 5. He who denounces his friends for plunder, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

denounces his friends for plunder. Job’s “friends” attacked him, selfishly hoping to gain some personal reward for supposedly defending God.

 

VERSE 6. “But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.

They spit in my face. This is the most insulting, abhorrent act.

 

VERSE 7. My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.

my members are as a shadow. That is, Job is emaciated.

 

VERSE 8. Upright men shall be astonished at this. The innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.

 

VERSE 9. Yet shall the righteous hold on his way. He who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.

 

VERSE 10. But as for you all, come on now again; I shall not find a wise man among you.

I shall not find a wise man among you. Job realizes his “friends” are ignorant fools.

 

VERSE 11. My days are past, my plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.

 

VERSE 12. They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.

 

VERSE 13. If I look for Sheol  as my house, if I have spread my couch in the darkness,

Sheol. The New Testament describes heaven and eternal life. But what does the Old Testament say about life after death? Read more »

 

VERSE 14. If I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father;’ to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘my sister;’

corruption. The New Testament describes heaven and eternal life. But what does the Old Testament say about life after death? Read more »

 

VERSE 15. where then is my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

 

VERSE 16. Shall it go down with me to the gates of Sheol, or descend together into the dust?”

Sheolmy hope. The New Testament describes heaven and eternal life. But what does the Old Testament say about life after death? Read more »

 


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JOB

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 0708, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 1819, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, MemorizeJob’s Dark Night

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.