16 Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sin.
16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
16 For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin;
16 You'll watch over every step I take, but you won't keep track of my missteps.
16 For now You number my steps, But do not watch over my sin.
16 For then you would guard my steps, instead of watching for my sins.
12 Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that you put me under guard?
12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
12 Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me?
12 Are you going to put a muzzle on me, the way you quiet the sea and still the storm?
12 Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, That You set a guard over me?
12 Am I a sea monster or a dragon that you must place me under guard?
(Read Job 7:7-16)
Plain truths as to the shortness and vanity of man's life, and the certainty of death, do us good, when we think and speak of them with application to ourselves. Dying is done but once, and therefore it had need be well done. An error here is past retrieve. Other clouds arise, but the same cloud never returns: so a new generation of men is raised up, but the former generation vanishes away. Glorified saints shall return no more to the cares and sorrows of their houses; nor condemned sinners to the gaieties and pleasures of their houses. It concerns us to secure a better place when we die. From these reasons Job might have drawn a better conclusion than this, I will complain. When we have but a few breaths to draw, we should spend them in the holy, gracious breathings of faith and prayer; not in the noisome, noxious breathings of sin and corruption. We have much reason to pray, that He who keeps Israel, and neither slumbers nor sleeps, may keep us when we slumber and sleep. Job covets to rest in his grave. Doubtless, this was his infirmity; for though a good man would choose death rather than sin, yet he should be content to live as long as God pleases, because life is our opportunity of glorifying him, and preparing for heaven.
4 Does he not see my ways and count my every step?
4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps?
4 Isn't God looking, observing how I live? Doesn't he mark every step I take?
4 Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps?
4 Doesn't he see everything I do and every step I take?
(Read Job 31:1-8)
Job did not speak the things here recorded by way of boasting, but in answer to the charge of hypocrisy. He understood the spiritual nature of God's commandments, as reaching to the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is best to let our actions speak for us; but in some cases we owe it to ourselves and to the cause of God, solemnly to protest our innocence of the crimes of which we are falsely accused. The lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world, are two fatal rocks on which multitudes split; against these Job protests he was always careful to stand upon his guard. And God takes more exact notice of us than we do of ourselves; let us therefore walk circumspectly. He carefully avoided all sinful means of getting wealth. He dreaded all forbidden profit as much as all forbidden pleasure. What we have in the world may be used with comfort, or lost with comfort, if honestly gotten. Without strict honestly and faithfulness in all our dealings, we can have no good evidence of true godliness. Yet how many professors are unable to abide this touchstone!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 14:16
Commentary on Job 14:16-22
(Read Job 14:16-22)
Job's faith and hope spake, and grace appeared to revive; but depravity again prevailed. He represents God as carrying matters to extremity against him. The Lord must prevail against all who contend with him. God may send disease and pain, we may lose all comfort in those near and dear to us, every hope of earthly happiness may be destroyed, but God will receive the believer into realms of eternal happiness. But what a change awaits the prosperous unbeliever! How will he answer when God shall call him to his tribunal? The Lord is yet upon a mercy-seat, ready to be gracious. Oh that sinners would be wise, that they would consider their latter end! While man's flesh is upon him, that is, the body he is so loth to lay down, it shall have pain; and while his soul is within him, that is, the spirit he is so loth to resign, it shall mourn. Dying work is hard work; dying pangs often are sore pangs. It is folly for men to defer repentance to a death-bed, and to have that to do which is the one thing needful, when unfit to do anything.