Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. I am as one mocked of his neighbour ] Though I am invoking God for help and salvation, yet my friends mock me in this most solemn and sacred work. But God answereth me.
The just upright man is laughed to scorn ] This is a very difficult verse, on which no two critics seem to be agreed. Mr. Good translates the fourth and fifth verses thus: - "Thus brother is become a laughing-stock to his companions, While calling upon God that he would succour him.
The just, the perfect man, is a laughing-stock to the proud, A derision amidst the sunshine of the prosperous, While ready to slip with his foot.
For a vindication of this version, I must refer to his notes. Coverdale gives at least a good sense. Thus he that calleth upon God, and whom God heareth, is mocked of his neighboure: the godly and innocent man is laughed to scorne. Godlynesse is a light despysed in the hertes of the rich; and is set for them to stomble upon. The fifth verse is thus rendered by Mr. Parkhurst: "A torch of contempt, or contemptible link, (see Isa. vii. 4; xl. 2, 3,) twt[l leashtoth, to the splendours of the prosperous (is he who is) ready ( wkn nachon, chap. xv. 23; xviii. 12; Psa. xxxviii. 17) to slip with his foot." The general sense is tolerably plain; but to emendations and conjectures there is no end.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Job upbraids his friends with the good opinion they had of their ow wisdom compared with his. We are apt to call reproofs reproaches, an to think ourselves mocked when advised and admonished; this is ou folly; yet here was colour for this charge. He suspected the true caus of their conduct to be, that they despised him who was fallen int poverty. It is the way of the world. Even the just, upright man, if he comes under a cloud, is looked upon with contempt.
Original Hebrew שׂחק7814 לרעהו7453 אהיה1961 קרא7121 לאלוה433 ויענהו6030 שׂחוק7814 צדיק6662 תמים׃8549
