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13:1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
13:2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
13:3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
13:4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
13:5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
13:6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
13:7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 13:8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? 13:9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? 13:10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
13:11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? 13:12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13:13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
13:14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
13:16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
13:17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
13:18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
13:19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
13:20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
13:21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
13:22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
13:23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
13:24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? 13:25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 13:26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
13:27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
13:28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.


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Everything King James Bible:Job
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Job
Book: Job
Chapter: 13

Overview:
Job reproves his friends. (1-12) He professes his confidence
in God. (13-22) Job entreats to know his sins. (23-28)

1-12 With self-preference, Job declared that he needed not to
be taught By them. Those who dispute are tempted to magnify
themselves, and lower their brethren, more than is fit. When
dismayed or distressed with the fear of wrath, the force of
Temptation, or the weight of affliction, we should apply to the
Physician of our souls, who never rejects any, never prescribes
amiss, and never leaves any case uncured. To Him we may speak at
all times. To broken hearts and wounded consciences, all
creatures, without Christ, are physicians of No value. Job
evidently speaks with a very angry Spirit against his friends.
They had advanced some truths which nearly concerned Job, but
the Heart unhumbled before God, never meekly receives the
reproofs of men.

13-22 Job resolved to cleave to the Testimony his own
Conscience gave of his uprightness. He depended upon God for
Justification and Salvation, the two great things we Hope for
through Christ. Temporal Salvation he little expected, but of
his eternal Salvation he was very confident; that God would not
only be his Saviour to make him happy, but his Salvation, in the
sight and enjoyment of whom he should be happy. He knew himself
not to be a Hypocrite, and concluded that he should not be
rejected. We should be Well pleased with God as a Friend, even
when he seems against us as an enemy. We must believe that all
shall work for good to us, even when all seems to make against
us. We must cleave to God, yea, though we cannot for the present
find comfort in him. In a dying Hour, we must derive from him
living comforts; and this is to trust in him, though he slay us.

23-28 Job begs to have his sins discovered to him. A true
penitent is willing to know the worst of himself; and we should
all desire to know what our transgressions are, that we may
confess them, and Guard against them for the future. Job
complains sorrowfully of God's severe dealings with him. Time
does not wear out the guilt of Sin. When God writes Bitter
things against us, his design is to make us bring forgotten sins
to mind, and So to bring us to repent of them, as to break us
off from them. Let young persons beware of indulging in Sin.
Even in this world they may So possess the sins of their youth,
as to have months of sorrow for moments of pleasure. Their
Wisdom is to remember their Creator in their early days, that
they may have assured Hope, and sweet peace of Conscience, as
the solace of their declining years. Job also complains that his
present mistakes are strictly noticed. So far from this, God
deals not with us according to our deserts. This was the
language of Job's melancholy views. If God marks our steps, and
narrowly examines our paths, in Judgment, both body and soul
feel his righteous vengeance. This will be the awful case of
unbelievers, yet there is Salvation devised, provided, and made
known in Christ.

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