They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
They - namely, my friends-would change the night into day; would assert that bright day is there where nothing is to be seen but dark nigh - i:e., would try to persuade me of the change of my misery into joy, which is impossible (Umbreit) (Job 11:17); (but) the light of prosperity (could it be enjoyed) would be short, because of the darkness of adversity. Or, better, for "short," the Hebrew 'near;' 'and the light of new prosperity should be near in the face of (before) the darkness of death;' i:e., they would persuade me that light is near, even though darkness approaches. Maurer translates, somewhat similarly, 'Light is nearer than the face х qaarowb (H7138) mipªneey (H6440)] of darkness'-namely, than the meet palpable darkness. My friends say that the light of prosperity (though really it is utterly remote from me) is nearer to me my calamity, which is most palpable, and by which I am on the point of dying.