Job 6

1 Y respondió Job y dijo

2 ¡Oh, si pesaren al justo mi queja y mi tormento, y se alzaren igualmente en balanza

3 Porque mi tormento pesaría más que la arena del mar; y por tanto mis palabras son tragadas

4 Porque las saetas del Todopoderoso están en mí, cuyo veneno bebe mi espíritu; y terrores de Dios me combaten

5 ¿Acaso gime el asno montés junto a la hierba? ¿Muge el buey junto a su pasto

6 ¿Por ventura se comerá lo desabrido sin sal? ¿O habrá gusto en la clara del huevo

7 Las cosas que mi alma no quería tocar antes, ahora por los dolores son mi comida

8 ¡Quién me diera que viniera mi petición, y que Dios me diera lo que espero

9 y que quisiera Dios quebrantarme; y que soltara su mano, y me despedazare

10 Y en esto crecería aún consolación, si me asare con dolor sin haber misericordia; no que haya contradicho las palabras del que es Santo

11 ¿Cuál es mi fortaleza para esperar aún? ¿Y cuál mi fin para dilatar mi vida

12 ¿Es mi fortaleza la de las piedras? O mi carne, ¿es de acero

13 ¿No me ayudo cuanto puedo, y con todo eso el poder me falta del todo

14 El atribulado merece recibir misericordia de su compañero; pero se ha abandonado el temor del Omnipotente

15 Mis hermanos me han mentido como arroyo; se pasaron como las riberas impetuosas

16 que están escondidas por la helada, y encubiertas con nieve

17 Que al tiempo del calor son deshechas, y calentándose, desaparecen de su lugar

18 apártanse de las sendas de su camino, suben en vano y se pierden

19 Las miraron los caminantes de Temán, los caminantes de Sabá esperaron en ellas

20 pero fueron avergonzados por su esperanza; porque vinieron hasta ellas, y se hallaron confusos

21 Ahora ciertamente vosotros sois como ellas; que habéis visto el tormento, y teméis

22 ¿Os he dicho yo: Traedme, y pagad por mí de vuestra hacienda

23 y libradme de la mano del angustiador, y rescatadme del poder de los violentos

24 Enseñadme, y yo callaré; y hacedme entender en qué he errado

25 ¡Cuán fuertes son las palabras de rectitud! Mas ¿qué reprende el argumento de vosotros

26 ¿No estáis pensando las palabras para reprender, y echáis al viento palabras perdidas

27 También os arrojáis sobre el huérfano, y hacéis hoyo delante de vuestro amigo

28 Ahora pues, si queréis, mirad en mí, y ved si mentiré delante de vosotros

29 Tornad ahora, y no haya iniquidad; volved aún a mirar por mi justicia en esto

30 Si hay iniquidad en mi lengua; o si mi paladar no discierne los tormentos

Job 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

Job justifies his complaints. (1-7) He wishes for death. (8-13) Job reproves his friends as unkind. (14-30)

Verses 1-7 Job still justifies himself in his complaints. In addition to outward troubles, the inward sense of God's wrath took away all his courage and resolution. The feeling sense of the wrath of God is harder to bear than any outward afflictions. What then did the Saviour endure in the garden and on the cross, when he bare our sins, and his soul was made a sacrifice to Divine justice for us! Whatever burden of affliction, in body or estate, God is pleased to lay upon us, we may well submit to it as long as he continues to us the use of our reason, and the peace of our conscience; but if either of these is disturbed, our case is very pitiable. Job reflects upon his friends for their censures. He complains he had nothing offered for his relief, but what was in itself tasteless, loathsome, and burdensome.

Verses 8-13 Job had desired death as the happy end of his miseries. For this, Eliphaz had reproved him, but he asks for it again with more vehemence than before. It was very rash to speak thus of God destroying him. Who, for one hour, could endure the wrath of the Almighty, if he let loose his hand against him? Let us rather say with David, O spare me a little. Job grounds his comfort upon the testimony of his conscience, that he had been, in some degree, serviceable to the glory of God. Those who have grace in them, who have the evidence of it, and have it in exercise, have wisdom in them, which will be their help in the worst of times.

Verses 14-30 In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his friends, but now was disappointed. This he compares to the failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations on the creature, will find it fail when it should help them; whereas those who make God their confidence, have help in the time of need, ( Hebrews 4:16 ) . Those who make gold their hope, sooner or later will be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it. It is our wisdom to cease from man. Let us put all our confidence in the Rock of ages, not in broken reeds; in the Fountain of life, not in broken cisterns. The application is very close; "for now ye are nothing." It were well for us, if we had always such convictions of the vanity of the creature, as we have had, or shall have, on a sick-bed, a death-bed, or in trouble of conscience. Job upbraids his friends with their hard usage. Though in want, he desired no more from them than a good look and a good word. It often happens that, even when we expect little from man, we have less; but from God, even when we expect much, we have more. Though Job differed from them, yet he was ready to yield as soon as it was made to appear that he was in error. Though Job had been in fault, yet they ought not to have given him such hard usage. His righteousness he holds fast, and will not let it go. He felt that there had not been such iniquity in him as they supposed. But it is best to commit our characters to Him who keeps our souls; in the great day every upright believer shall have praise of God.

Chapter Summary

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.