Job 10: Job speaks to God about his life and his birth
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Job goes on speaking, and he turns to speak to God. He says his soul is weary of his life, asks God not to condemn him, and reminds God that God made him like clay. He says that if he is wicked it is woe to him, and if he is righteous he still cannot lift his head, and that if his head rises God hunts him like a lion. He asks why God brought him out of the womb, and asks for a little comfort before he goes to the land of darkness.
Who is speaking?
Job speaks the whole chapter, going on from his words in chapter 9. In verse 2 he says what he will say to God, and from there to the end he speaks to God as "you". God does not speak in this chapter, so nothing is in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1“My soul is weary of my life. I will give free course to my complaint. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
In plain English: I am weary of my life (or: my soul loathes my life). I will give free course to my complaint. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
The Hebrew word: "Weary" is naqat, which the dictionary gives as "to loathe". It is in this verse only in the whole Bible. "Complaint" is siach, which the dictionary gives as "a contemplation; by implication, an utterance". It is in 5 verses of Job, and the WEB says "complaint" in all 5.
What changes: With "loathe" the verse reads that his soul loathes his life, where the WEB says "weary". The text does not say more.
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2I will tell God, ‘Do not condemn me. Show me why you contend with me.
In plain English: I will say to God, "Do not condemn me. Show me why you contend with me.
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3Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked?
In plain English: Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should reject the work of your hands, and shine (the WEB says: smile) on the plan of wicked people?
The Hebrew word: "Smile" is yapha, which the dictionary gives as "to shine". It is in 8 verses of the Bible, 4 of them in Job: , this verse, and . In the WEB says "shine".
What changes: With "shine" the verse says God shines on the plan of wicked people, where the WEB says "smile on". The text does not say more.
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4Do you have eyes of flesh? Or do you see as man sees?
In plain English: Do you have eyes of flesh? Or do you see as a man sees?
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5Are your days as the days of mortals, or your years as man’s years,
In plain English: Are your days like the days of a mortal, or your years like the years of a man,
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6that you inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin?
In plain English: that you look for my iniquity and search for my sin?
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7Although you know that I am not wicked, there is no one who can deliver out of your hand.
In plain English: Although you know that I am not wicked, there is no one who can deliver out of your hand.
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8“‘Your hands have framed me and fashioned me altogether, yet you destroy me.
In plain English: Your hands formed me and made me, altogether, all around, yet you destroy me (or: swallow me).
The Hebrew word: "Destroy" is bala, which the dictionary gives as "to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy". It is in 7 verses of Job. The WEB says "swallow" in 4 of them and "destroy" in 2.
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9Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay. Will you bring me into dust again?
In plain English: Remember, please, that you made me like clay. Will you turn me back into dust?
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10Haven’t you poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese?
In plain English: Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?
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11You have clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.
In plain English: You clothed me with skin and flesh, and wove me together with bones and sinews.
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12You have granted me life and loving kindness. Your visitation has preserved my spirit.
In plain English: You granted me life and loving kindness (or: loyalty). Your visitation (or: care) has kept my spirit.
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13Yet you hid these things in your heart. I know that this is with you:
In plain English: Yet you hid these things in your heart. I know that this is with you:
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14if I sin, then you mark me. You will not acquit me from my iniquity.
In plain English: if I sin, you watch me, and you will not acquit me from my iniquity.
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15If I am wicked, woe to me. If I am righteous, I still will not lift up my head, being filled with disgrace, and conscious of my affliction.
In plain English: If I am wicked, woe to me. If I am righteous, I still will not lift up my head, being full of shame and seeing my affliction (or: look at my affliction).
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16If my head is held high, you hunt me like a lion. Again you show yourself powerful to me.
In plain English: If it rises up (the WEB says: If my head is held high), you hunt me like a lion. Again you show yourself wonderful (the WEB says: powerful) to me.
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17You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your indignation on me. Changes and warfare are with me.
In plain English: You renew your witnesses against me and increase your vexation (the WEB says: indignation) with me. Changes and an army (the WEB says: warfare) are with me.
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18“‘Why, then, have you brought me out of the womb? I wish I had given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me.
In plain English: Why, then, did you bring me out of the womb? I wish I had given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me.
Good to know: Job asks nearly the same thing in : "Why didn't I die from the womb? Why didn't I give up the spirit when my mother bore me?"
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19I should have been as though I had not been. I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
In plain English: I should have been as though I had not been. I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
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20Aren’t my days few? Stop! Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,
In plain English: Are my days not few? Stop! Put away from me (the WEB says: Leave me alone), that I may be cheerful (or: find comfort) a little,
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21before I go where I will not return from, to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;
In plain English: before I go where I will not return from, to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death,
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22the land dark as midnight, of the shadow of death, without any order, where the light is as midnight.’”
In plain English: the land of darkness like gloom (the WEB says: dark as midnight), of the shadow of death, without any order, where the light shines like gloom (the WEB says: is as midnight)."
The Hebrew words: "Order" is seder, which the dictionary gives as "order". It is in this verse only in the whole Bible. "Shadow of death" is tsalmaveth, which the dictionary gives as "shade of death, i.e. the grave (figuratively, calamity)". It is in 9 verses of Job: , this verse and 7 others. The WEB says "shadow" in 5 of those 9 verses and "darkness" in 7 (some verses have both).
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