Job 13

Job 13:2

WHat ye know, the same do I know also] See notes on chap. 12. 3.

Job 13:4

ye are forgers of lies] Psalms 119:69. Ye forge lies to defend Gods justice, when ye say, He punisheth onely wicked men, and so would make me wicked, because I am afflicted.

physicians of no value] Ye do not well apply your medicines. Ye come to comfort me your friend, whose pictie ye have known. Ye should cheer me up with Gods promises: but ye adde affliction to me, in that ye say, God punisheth me for wickednesse.

Job 13:5

wisdom] Proverbs 17:28.

Job 13:7

and talk deceitfully for him?] In maintaining a false cause, under colour of upholding Gods justice. He means, they taught false doctrine, in saying, God did plague none but the wicked.

Job 13:8

Will ye accept his person?] Will ye favour God more then is fitting, because of his greatnesse, and condemn me for my meannesse?

will ye contend for God?] Judges 6:31. God can maintain his own cause: he needs not you to strive for him.

Job 13:9

Is it good that he should search you out?] Whether ye have pleaded his cause honestly, or by flattery.

do ye so mock him?] Think ye, that by a false plea, ye can make him think himself just, as ye do men?

Job 13:10

persons] Or, his person, as vers. 8.

Job 13:11

Shall not his exellency make you afraid?] Mens greatnesse may make you flatter them, but Gods should keep you from it, for he likes not flattery. It may be read, oth not his greatnesse: That is, but ye do fear Gods greatnesse too much, and so condemn me to flatter him, and therefore he will finde it out, and punish you, and bring you to nothing, as vers. 12.

Job 13:12

Your remembrances are like unto ashes] Your fame shall come to nothing.

bodies of clay] Chap. 4. 19. and 10. 9.

Job 13:13

Hold your peace] Heb. Be silent from me.

let come on me what will] Let me speak at my own perill, and if God shall lay heavier things upon me, yet I will not confesse my self to be a wicked man.

Job 13:14

in my teeth] If God afflict onely wicked men, why have I so many ulcers, that I may bite of my flesh with my teeth? Chap. 18. 4.

in mine hand?] Why am I brought into so great danger of death, that my life seems to be in my hand, whence it may quickly fall out? 1 Samuel 28:21. Psalms 119:109. 1 Samuel 19:5.

Job 13:15

Though he slay me] Though he should proceed in anger to take away my life, yet I would trust on him, and maintain mine innocency.

yet will I trust in him] Or, that I may not trust, ye I will: or lo, let him slay me, should I not trust? surely I will.

maintain] Heb. prove, or, argue.

Job 13:16

for] Or, but, or, though.

an hypocrite shall not come before him] Whereby he declareth, That an hypocrite he is not, as they charged him.

Job 13:18

I have ordered my cause] I have put my reasons in order, to prove my innocency.

that I shall be justified] I shall be pronounced just, and not condemned, as ye say.

Job 13:19

Who is he that will plead with me?] Seeing God clears me, who dares say God punishes me as a wicked man, Romans 8:33.

I shall give up the ghost] If I should not defend my innocencie, when ye condemn me for an hypocrite, I should burst with passion.

Job 13:20

do not two things unto me] Chap. 9. 34. and 33. 7.

then will I not hide my self from thee] I will appear boldly before thy face.

Job 13:21

Withdraw thine hand far from me] He sheweth what the two things spoken of in the former verse are, to wit, the taking away of Gods plagues, and laying aside his terrible majestie. See notes on chap. 9. 2.

from me] Heb. from upon me: That is, from abiding upon me.

Job 13:22

Then call thou, and I will answer] Then be either plaintiff, or defendant. I am ready on both sides.

Job 13:23

How many are mine iniquities] Now he pleads his cause. I have many plagues, but not so many or great sins, as require such plagues.

Job 13:24

holdst me for thine enemy?] Chap. 33. 10. Seeing thou hast no just cause to lay so many great plagues upon me, why dost thou deal so rigidly with me, as if I were thine enemy?

Job 13:25

Wilt thou break a leaf] Isaiah 42:3. Doth it become thy majestie to trample upon my weaknesse?

Job 13:26

thou writest bitter things against me] Like the clerk of assize, thou writest down an heavie sentence for me.

makest me to possesse the iniquities of my youth] Psalms 25:7. Job 20:11. Thou punishest me for sins committed in the days of my ignorance.

Job 13:27

in the stocks] Chap. 7. 12. and 42. 10. Thou bindest me in with diseases, as a prisoner with fetters.

lookest] Heb. observest, chap. 7. 20.

lookest narrowly unto all my paths] Thou compassest me about with troubles, as so many keepers, chap. 10. 17.

thou settest a print] Thou printest thy self, or settest thy talons on me as an hawk: men may see how thou hast dealt with me, chap. 10. 17.

heels] Heb. roots, Psalms 56:6.

of my feet] Thy plagues have gone from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet.

Job 13:28

he] Or, this body, as chap. 19. 26.

as a rotten thing consumeth] Or, consumeth with rottennesse.

moth-eaten] Chap. 4. 19.