Bible Commentaries
Job 17

Verse 2

17:2 [Are there] not {a} mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in {b} their provocation?

(a) Instead of comfort, being now at death’s door, he had but them that mocked at him, and discouraged him.

Verse 3

17:3 {c} Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who [is] he [that] {d} will strike hands with me?

(c) He reasons with God as a man beside himself, so that his cause might be brought to light.

(d) And answers for you?

Verse 4

17:4 For thou hast hid their heart from {e} understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt [them].

(e) That these my afflictions are your just judgments, though man does not know the reason.

Verse 5

17:5 {f} He that speaketh flattery to [his] friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

(f) He who flatters a man, and only judges him happy in his prosperity, will not himself only but in his posterity be punished.

Verse 6

17:6 He hath made me also a {g} byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

(g) God has made all the world speak of me, because of my afflictions.

Verse 8

17:8 Upright [men] shall be astonied at {i} this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

(i) That is, when they see the godly punished: but in the end they will come to understanding and know what will be the reward of the hypocrite.

Verse 9

17:9 The righteous also shall hold on his {k} way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

(k) That is, will not be discouraged, considering that the godly are punished as well as the wicked.

Verse 10

17:10 But as for {l} you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find [one] wise [man] among you.

(l) Job speaks to the three who came to comfort him.

Verse 12

17:12 They change the {m} night into day: the light [is] short because of darkness.

(m) That is, have brought me sorrow instead of comfort.

Verse 13

17:13 If I wait, {n} the grave [is] mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

(n) Though I should hope to come from adversity to prosperity, as your discourse pretends.

Verse 14

17:14 I have said to corruption, Thou [art] my {o} father: to the worm, [Thou art] my mother, and my sister.

(o) I have no more hope in father, mother, sister, or any worldly thing: for the dust and worms will be to me instead of them.

Verse 16

17:16 {p} They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when [our] rest together [is] in the dust.

(p) All worldly hope and prosperity fail which you say, are only signs of God’s favour but seeing that these things perish, I set my hope in God and in the life everlasting.