The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 155

allow mo boldly to stand up behre him and would I not know my 1oul: I would despi1e frooly to oh11llenge hie doings. Buoh con- my life. The original is very elliptical deeconeion on hie p1ut, euoh an abnegation e.nd very obscure. The words nm, I perfect of hie eupremo.oy, ie inconoeivn.ble, e.ncl I - I know not myself-I abhor my life, which oould not have aoted on it." Yet would I some explain e.s meaning, " Were I perfect, not believe that he had hearkened unto my I. should not know it myself; I deApise voioe j mther, yet oould I not believe. It my life under such conditions" (Stanley was not the.t ho woulrl not he.vo wished, but Leathes); others, '' I am pP,rfect" (i.e. that ho would not have been nble, to believe. guiltless of any phin offence), "but do not Ver. 17.-For he breaketh me with a understand myself, and care not what be- tempest, "God," that is, " would not be comes of me" (Canon Cook) ; others again, likely pntiently to hear my justification, and "Were I perfect, should I not know m_,,self, calmly to weigll it, when he is already over- e.nd, knowing myself, despise my own life?" whelming me with his wrath, brenking e.nd (Professor Lee). The 8eptnagint gives us no crushing me (comp. Gen. iii. 15, where the help, as it plainly follows a different reading. so.me word ~,iii is used) with a ve1,y storm of Probably onr present text is a corrupt one. calamity," The sentiment ce.n scarcely be Ver. 22.-This is one thing; rather, the justified, since it breathes something of e. matter is one, or it M all one. There is no contumacious spirit. But this only shows difference, the.t is, between the case of tl,e thnt Job we.snot yet" made perfect through righteous and the wicked ; all are alike sufferings" (Heh. ii. 10). And multiplieth sinful in God's sight, all equally" conclurled my wounds without cause. A further asser- under sin" (Gal. iii. 22), and a.II conse- tion, not of absolute sinlessness, but of com- quently obnoxious to punishment at his parative innocence-of the belief that he hands (comp. Eccles. ix. 2). In a certain had done nothing to deserve such a terrible sense the statement is true, and corresponds punishment as he is suffering (comp. eh. vi. with the argument of Rom. i.-iii.; but no 24, 29). account is to.ken here of God's gracious Ver. 18.-He will not suft'er me to take forgiveness of sin, much less of the general my breath. "He gives me no breathing- scheme or redemption, or the compensation epace," that is, " no time of relaxation or for earthly sufferings in e.n eternity of hap- refreshment. My existence is one continue.I piness, on which the hope of tile Christian misery" (comp. eh. vii. 3-6, 13-19). But rests. Therefore I said it; rather, therefore filleth me with bitterness; literally, with I say, witll the Revised Version. Ha de- bitter things, or bitternesses (Hebrew, c•:,i,q~). stroyeth the perfect e.nd tha wicked. As Ver. 19.-If I speak of strength, lo, he is fe.r as this world is concerned, it is nn- strong, Still the idea is, '' How can I con- doubte,lly true that cafo.mities fall alike tend with God? If it is to be e. trial of upon the just and upon the unjust. Death strength, it is ho who is strong, not I; if it is the lot of all; trouble, suffering, grief, is to be e. suit, or plenrling for justice, who the lot of all ( eh. vi. 7). N nr can it even be will appoint me I\ de.y?" And if of judgment, said the.t the wicked in this world suffer who she.II set me a time to plead? (comp. more than the good (comp. 1 Cnr. xv. 29). below, ver. 33). Their suffei-ings are more the natural con- Ver. 20.-If I justify myself, mine own sequence of their actions, but Jo not seem •mouth shall condemn me. Since he could to exceed in amount or severity tbc suffer- not wholly justify himself. "All men he.ve ings of the good. But this only shows that sinned, and come short of the glory of God" there must be e. future life tu redress the (Rom. iii. 23). Job ho.a already ndmitted apparent injustice of the pre:;ent one, e.nd the utterance of •• rash words" ( eh. vi. 3), set the balance right. and, at least hn,othetically, that he "he.s Ver. 23.-If the scourge sla.y suddenly. sinned " ( eh. vii. 20), and needs "pardon " Such e." scourge" as war, or pestilence, or for hie "transgression" (oh. vii. 24). Job, fa.mine, is probably mennt. If one of these if he tried to" justify himself," would have be let loose upon e. le.nd, e.nd sle.y, as it to acknowlerlge euoh shortcomings, such always does slay, i11d·iffere1,tly tbe good e.nd imperfections, such sins-at nny rate, of the bad, the innocent e.nd the guilt.y, what infirmity-as would make his attempted is God's attitude? Does he interpose to justificntion 11 reo.l self-condemnation. If I suve tile righteous? By no means. He say, I am perfeot, it shall also prove me looks on passively, indifferently. Job even perverse; rather, even Wef'e I perfect, it (i.e. goes further, and says, with an audacity my niouth) would prove me perverse; i.e. that borders on irreverence, if it does not supposing I were actually perfect, e.nd tried even overstep the border, He will laugh at to prove it, my speech would be so hesitating the trial of the innocent. St. Jerome says, and oonfnsed, the.t I should only seem to bti "There is nothing in the whole book harsher rerveree. than this." It me.y, perhaps, be excused, Ver, 21.-Thougb I were perfeot, yet partly as ?hetoriool, partly us needful for  158 THE BOOK OF JOB.