17:2 [Are there] not {a} mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in {b} their provocation?

(a) Instead of comfort, being now at death's door, he had but them that mocked at him, and discouraged him.

17:3 {c} Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who [is] he [that] {d} will strike hands with me?

(c) He reasons with God as a man beside himself, so that his cause might be brought to light.

(d) And answers for you?

17:4 For thou hast hid their heart from {e} understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt [them].

(e) That these my afflictions are your just judgments, though man does not know the reason.

17:5 {f} He that speaketh flattery to [his] friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

(f) He who flatters a man, and only judges him happy in his prosperity, will not himself only but in his posterity be punished.

17:6 He hath made me also a {g} byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

(g) God has made all the world speak of me, because of my afflictions.

17:8 Upright [men] shall be astonied at {i} this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

(i) That is, when they see the godly punished: but in the end they will come to understanding and know what will be the reward of the hypocrite.

17:9 The righteous also shall hold on his {k} way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

(k) That is, will not be discouraged, considering that the godly are punished as well as the wicked.

17:10 But as for {l} you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find [one] wise [man] among you.

(l) Job speaks to the three who came to comfort him.

17:12 They change the {m} night into day: the light [is] short because of darkness.

(m) That is, have brought me sorrow instead of comfort.

17:13 If I wait, {n} the grave [is] mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

(n) Though I should hope to come from adversity to prosperity, as your discourse pretends.

17:14 I have said to corruption, Thou [art] my {o} father: to the worm, [Thou art] my mother, and my sister.

(o) I have no more hope in father, mother, sister, or any worldly thing: for the dust and worms will be to me instead of them.

17:16 {p} They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when [our] rest together [is] in the dust.

(p) All worldly hope and prosperity fail which you say, are only signs of God's favour but seeing that these things perish, I set my hope in God and in the life everlasting.