(11) Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. (12) Amos I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? (13) When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; (14) Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: (15) So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. (16) I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity. (17) В¶ What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? (18) And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? (19) How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? (20) I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? (21) And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
Those who know what restless nights and pains are, will best enter into an apprehension of Job's complaints, in these verses. But amidst these expostulations of Job, what is the most pleasing part of this prayer, and which shows that grace was still alive in his breast, is that expression where Job confessed; that he hath sinned. Here we find him a child of GOD still. And let the Reader remark with me, from this precious evidence, what seems the whole design of the HOLY GHOST, in recording the life and trials of Jobadiah GOD describes him as his servant: so he mentioned him to Satan: A perfect and an upright man, one that feared GOD, and eschewed evil: chap. 1:8. And what is the scripture sense of such a character? The word of GOD tells us elsewhere, when we are informed, that there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Ecclesiastes 7:20. Hence, therefore, the character of Job was peculiarly marked as a man faithfully attached to GOD. Against this, Satan contends that Job would prove himself to be an hypocrite. To demonstrate the reverse of this, the LORD permitted Job to be thus severely exercised. When, therefore, we find Job's integrity unimpeached, and in the midst of owning himself to have sinned, that he is still faithful in his creed, the testimony of GOD is confirmed. Job, like Elias, is a man of like passions with other servants of the LORD. But GOD'S testimony standeth sure; Job is the one that feared GOD, and eschewed evil.