16:3 Shall a vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee
that thou answerest?
(a) Which serve for vain ostentation and for no true
comfort.
16:4 I also could speak as ye [do]: if your c soul were in my
soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and d
shake mine head at you.
(c) I would that you felt what I do.
(d) That is, mock at your misery, as you do at mine.
16:5 [But] I would strengthen you e with my mouth, and the
moving of my lips should asswage [your grief].
(e) If this were in my power, yet I would comfort you and
not do as you do to me.
16:6 Though I speak, my grief is f not asswaged: and [though]
I forbear, what am I eased?
(f) If you would say, "Why do you not then comfort
yourself?" he answers that the judgments of God are
more heavy than he is able to assuage either by words
or silence.
16:7 But now g he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate
all my h company.
(g) Meaning, God.
(h) That is, destroyed most of my family.
16:8 And thou hast filled me with i wrinkles, [which] is a
witness [against me]: and my leanness rising up in me
beareth witness to my face.
(i) In token of sorrow and grief.
16:9k He teareth [me] in his wrath, who hateth me: he
gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his
eyes upon me.
(k) That is, God by his wrath: and in this diversity of
words and high style, he expresses how grievous the
hand of God was on him.
16:10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have
smitten me upon the l cheek reproachfully; they have
gathered themselves together against me.
(l) That is, has handled me contemptuously: for so
slapping the cheek signified,
(1Ki 22:24, Mr 14:65)
16:11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over
into the m hands of the wicked.
(m) They have led me where they would.
16:13 His n archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my
reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall
o upon the ground.
(n) His manifold afflictions.
(o) I am wounded to the heart.
16:15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my p
horn in the dust.
(p) Meaning, his glory was brought low.
16:17 Not for [any] injustice in q mine hands: also my prayer
r [is] pure.
(q) Signifying that he is not able to understand the cause
of this his grievous punishment.
(r) That is, unfeigned and without hypocrisy.
16:18 O earth, cover not thou my s blood, and let my cry have
no place.
(s) Let my sin be known if I am such a sinner as my
adversaries accuse me, and let me find no favour.
16:19 Also now, behold, my t witness [is] in heaven, and my
record [is] on high.
(t) Though man condemn me, yet God is witness of my cause.
16:20 My friends u scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out
[tears] unto God.
(u) Use painted words instead of true consolation.
16:21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man x
[pleadeth] for his neighbour!
(x) Thus by his great torments he is carried away, and
breaks out into passions, and speaks unadvisedly, as
though God would intreat man more gently, seeing he
has only a short time here to live.
