91 Then Job answered , 2 "In truth I know that this is so ; But how can a man be in the right before God ? 3 "If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times. 4 " Wise in heart and mighty in strength , Who has defied e Him without harm ? 5 " It is God who removes the mountains , they know not how, When He overturns them in His anger ; 6 Who shakes the earth out of its place , And its pillars tremble ; 7 Who commands the sun not to shine , And sets a seal upon the stars ; 8 Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea ; 9 Who makes the Bear , Orion and the Pleiades , And the chambers of the south ; 10 Who does great things , unfathomable e e , And wondrous works without e number . 11 "Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him. 12 "Were He to snatch away , who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, ' What are You doing ?' 13 "God will not turn back His anger ; Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab .
14 "How then e can I answer Him, And choose my words before Him? 15 "For though I were right , I could not answer ; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge . 16 "If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice . 17 "For He bruises me with a tempest And multiplies my wounds without cause . 18 "He will not allow me to get my breath , But saturates me with bitterness . 19 "If it is a matter of power , behold , He is the strong one ! And if it is a matter of justice , who can summon Him? 20 " Though I am righteous , my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless , He will declare me guilty . 21 "I am guiltless ; I do not take notice of myself ; I despise my life .
22 "It is all one ; therefore e I say , 'He destroys the guiltless and the wicked .' 23 "If the scourge kills suddenly , He mocks the despair of the innocent . 24 "The earth is given into the hand of the wicked ; He covers the faces of its judges . If it is not He, then who is it?
25 "Now my days are swifter than a runner ; They flee away , they see no good . 26 "They slip by like reed boats , Like an eagle that swoops on its prey . 27 "Though I say , 'I will forget my complaint , I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful ,' 28 I am afraid of all my pains , I know that You will not acquit me. 29 "I am accounted wicked , Why then should I toil in vain ? 30 "If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye , 31 Yet You would plunge me into the pit , And my own clothes would abhor me.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 9:1-31
Commentary on Job 9:1-13
(Read Job 9:1-13)
In this answer Job declared that he did not doubt the justice of God, when he denied himself to be a hypocrite; for how should man be just with God? Before him he pleaded guilty of sins more than could be counted; and if God should contend with him in judgment, he could not justify one out of a thousand, of all the thoughts, words, and actions of his life; therefore he deserved worse than all his present sufferings. When Job mentions the wisdom and power of God, he forgets his complaints. We are unfit to judge of God's proceedings, because we know not what he does, or what he designs. God acts with power which no creature can resist. Those who think they have strength enough to help others, will not be able to help themselves against it.
Commentary on Job 9:14-21
(Read Job 9:14-21)
Job is still righteous in his own eyes, 1, and this answer, though it sets forth the power and majesty of God, implies that the question between the afflicted and the Lord of providence, is a question of might, and not of right; and we begin to discover the evil fruits of pride and of a self-righteous spirit. Job begins to manifest a disposition to condemn God, that he may justify himself, for which he is afterwards reproved. Still Job knew so much of himself, that he durst not stand a trial. If we say, We have no sin, we not only deceive ourselves, but we affront God; for we sin in saying so, and give the lie to the Scripture. But Job reflected on God's goodness and justice in saying his affliction was without cause.
Commentary on Job 9:22-24
(Read Job 9:22-24)
Job touches briefly upon the main point now in dispute. His friends maintained that those who are righteous and good, always prosper in this world, and that none but the wicked are in misery and distress: he said, on the contrary, that it is a common thing for the wicked to prosper, and the righteous to be greatly afflicted. Yet there is too much passion in what Job here says, for God doth not afflict willingly. When the spirit is heated with dispute or with discontent, we have need to set a watch before our lips.
Commentary on Job 9:25-35
(Read Job 9:25-35)
What little need have we of pastimes, and what great need to redeem time, when it runs on so fast towards eternity! How vain the enjoyments of time, which we may quite lose while yet time continues! The remembrance of having done our duty will be pleasing afterwards; so will not the remembrance of having got worldly wealth, when it is all lost and gone. Job's complaint of God, as one that could not be appeased and would not relent, was the language of his corruption. There is a Mediator, a Daysman, or Umpire, for us, even God's own beloved Son, who has purchased peace for us with the blood of his cross, who is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God through him. If we trust in his name, our sins will be buried in the depths of the sea, we shall be washed from all our filthiness, and made whiter than snow, so that none can lay any thing to our charge. We shall be clothed with the robes of righteousness and salvation, adorned with the graces of the Holy Spirit, and presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. May we learn the difference between justifying ourselves, and being thus justified by God himself. Let the tempest-tossed soul consider Job, and notice that others have passed this dreadful gulf; and though they found it hard to believe that God would hear or deliver them, yet he rebuked the storm, and brought them to the desired haven. Resist the devil; give not place to hard thoughts of God, or desperate conclusions about thyself. Come to Him who invites the weary and heavy laden; who promises in nowise to cast them out.