Chapter commentary
Job Chapter 7
1
Job 7:1-21.
简体中文
English original
Job 7:1-21.
JOB EXCUSES HIS DESIRE FOR DEATH.
1. appointed time--better, "a warfare," hard conflict with evil (so in
Isa 40:2; Da 10:1).
Translate it "appointed time"
(Job 14:14).
Job reverts to the sad picture of man, however great, which he had drawn
(Job 3:14),
and details in this chapter the miseries which his friends will see, if, according to his request
(Job 6:28),
they will look on him. Even the Christian soldier, "warring a good warfare," rejoices when it is completed
(1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 2:3; 4:7, 8).
2
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简体中文
2. 切切渴想（earnestly desireth）——希伯来文作“切慕[傍晚的]影子”。东方人按影子的长短来估量时辰。仆人既渴慕发工钱的傍晚，约伯为何不能渴慕他那艰苦服事的终局，好进入他的“赏赐”呢？这证明约伯并不像许多人所主张的那样，视坟墓为单纯的睡眠。
English original
2. earnestly desireth--Hebrew, "pants for the [evening] shadow." Easterners measure time by the length of their shadow. If the servant longs for the evening when his wages are paid, why may not Job long for the close of his hard service, when he shall enter on his "reward?" This proves that Job did not, as many maintain, regard the grave as a mere sleep.
3
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简体中文
3. ——即毫无安慰的灾祸之月。
我受了……为业（I am made to possess）——原文作“承受为业”。反语。“承受为业”通常是喜事；但此处却是一份不由自主、阴郁的遗产。
月（Months）——以“月”代“日”，表示其长久。
指定（Appointed）——原文作“他们为我数算了”，清楚地标明那派定给他、无法逃避的命运。
English original
3.--Months of comfortless misfortune.
I am made to possess--literally, "to be heir to." Irony. "To be heir to," is usually a matter of joy; but here it is the entail of an involuntary and dismal inheritance.
Months--for days, to express its long duration.
Appointed--literally, "they have numbered to me"; marking well the unavoidable doom assigned to him.
4
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简体中文
4. 原文作：“黑夜何时飞去？”[格塞纽斯（GESENIUS）]。翁布雷特（UMBREIT）译得较逊：“黑夜漫长地拖长”；原文作“被量度出来”（如边注）。
English original
4. Literally, "When shall be the flight of the night?" [GESENIUS]. UMBREIT, not so well, "The night is long extended"; literally, "measured out" (so Margin).
5
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简体中文
5. 大麻风（elephantiasis）使疮中生蛆（徒12:23；赛14:11）。
尘土的硬块（clods of dust）——更当译作干结的污秽与积聚的腐败所成的硬壳（伯2:7、8）。
我的皮肤破裂……可憎（my skin is broken and . . . loathsome）——更当译作：愈合起来，又再溃裂流脓[格塞纽斯（GESENIUS）]。更简单地，希伯来文作：“我的皮肤（暂时）静止，又（再）消融”（诗58:7）。
English original
5. In elephantiasis maggots are bred in the sores
(Ac 12:23; Isa 14:11).
clods of dust--rather, a crust of dried filth and accumulated corruption
(Job 2:7, 8).
my skin is broken and . . . loathsome--rather, comes together so as to heal up, and again breaks out with running matter [GESENIUS]. More simply the Hebrew is, "My skin rests (for a time) and (again) melts away"
(Ps 58:7).
6
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简体中文
6. （赛38:12）。每日如同织布的梭子留下一条线；各人所织的必穿在自己身上。但约伯的意思是：他的日子必如织成的布被快快剪断；
没有指望（without hope）——即没有恢复更新生命的指望（伯14:19；代上29:15）。
English original
6.
(Isa 38:12).
Every day like the weaver's shuttle leaves a thread behind; and each shall wear, as he weaves. But Job's thought is that his days must swiftly be cut off as a web;
without hope--namely, of a recovery and renewal of life
(Job 14:19; 1Ch 29:15).
7
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简体中文
7. 向神的呼吁。
气息（Wind）——转瞬即逝的写照（诗78:39）。
不再见（shall no more see）——更当译作：“不再回来见福乐。”这与伯3:17等处不同的愿望相比，最合乎人性。他此时心境较为柔和；从前兴旺之日的余晖照在记忆上，又想到那“不得再见”的幽冥世界（伯7:8），便引出他对离开这光明之世的遗憾之情（传11:7）；希西家也是如此（赛38:11）。恩典超越本性（林后5:8）。
English original
7. Address to God.
Wind--a picture of evanescence
(Ps 78:39).
shall no more see--rather, "shall no more return to see good." This change from the different wish in
Job 3:17,
&c., is most true to nature. He is now in a softer mood; a beam from former days of prosperity falling upon memory and the thought of the unseen world, where one is seen no more
(Job 7:8),
drew from him an expression of regret at leaving this world of light
(Ec 11:7);
so Hezekiah
(Isa 38:11).
Grace rises above nature
(2Co 5:8).
8
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简体中文
8. 那看见我之人的眼（现在，不是过去），即在观看我的当下，就不再看见我了。
你的眼目定在我身上，我却不在了（Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not）*——他消失，就在神注视他之时。约伯不能在耶和华的注视下存活（诗104:32；启20:11）。不是“你的眼目寻找我，我却寻不见”；因神的眼目能透视到不可见的世界（诗139:8）。翁布雷特（UMBREIT）不自然地把“你的”解为三位朋友之一。
English original
8. The eye of him who beholds me (present, not past), that is, in the very act of beholding me, seeth me no more.
Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not--He disappears, even while God is looking upon him. Job cannot survive the gaze of Jehovah
(Ps 104:32; Re 20:11).
Not, "Thine eyes seek me and I am not to be found"; for God's eye penetrates even to the unseen world
(Ps 139:8).
UMBREIT unnaturally takes "thine" to refer to one of the three friends.
9
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9. （撒下12:23）。
阴间（the grave）——Sheol，即已脱之灵所在之处，并不否定约伯对复活的信仰。其意思只是说：“在现今的秩序中他不再上来。”
English original
9.
(2Sa 12:23).
the grave--the Sheol, or place of departed spirits, not disproving Job's belief in the resurrection. It merely means, "He shall come up no more" in the present order of things.
10
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10. （诗103:16）。东方人深爱其居所。在阿拉伯挽歌中，居所因主人离世而被遗弃，常是悲伤的主题。恩典也能胜过此事（路18:29；徒4:34）。
English original
10.
(Ps 103:16).
The Oriental keenly loves his dwelling. In Arabian elegies the desertion of abodes by their occupants is often a theme of sorrow. Grace overcomes this also
(Lu 18:29; Ac 4:34).
11
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简体中文
11. 所以，既然我的命运如此艰苦，我至少要以言语倾诉忧愁，作为苦中之慰。希伯来文开头的话：“因此，我无论如何”，表达了自尊自高[翁布雷特（UMBREIT）]。
English original
11. Therefore, as such is my hard lot, I will at least have the melancholy satisfaction of venting my sorrow in words. The Hebrew opening words, "Therefore I, at all events," express self-elevation [UMBREIT].
12
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简体中文
12. 你为何不让我得着那减轻忧愁的睡眠之安慰？为何以可怕的梦惊吓我？
我岂是海（Am I a sea）——在旧约诗歌中被视为对神——自然之主——强暴叛逆的，故神限制它的狂暴（耶5:22）。
或是大鱼（or a whale）——或某种海中巨兽（赛27:1），以致你需要这样监视并限制我？埃及人极小心地看守鳄鱼，以防其为害。
English original
12. Why dost thou deny me the comfort of care-assuaging sleep? Why scarest thou me with frightful dreams?
Am I a sea--regarded in Old Testament poetry as a violent rebel against God, the Lord of nature, who therefore curbs his violence
(Jer 5:22).
or a whale--or some other sea monster
(Isa 27:1),
that Thou needest thus to watch and curb me? The Egyptians watched the crocodile most carefully to prevent its doing mischief.
14
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简体中文
14. 他把象皮病所带来的恐怖梦魇归因于神;当时的信仰将一切夜间异象归于神。
English original
14. The frightful dreams resulting from elephantiasis he attributes to God; the common belief assigned all night visions to God.
15
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15. UMBREIT 译作:“以致我情愿勒死自己——亲手了结。”他为约伯怀自杀之念这意思加以软化,将其当作只在痛苦梦中浮现,并随即在
Job 7:16
以恐惧之中立即否认:“然而那(自勒)是我所厌恶的。”这一译法有力而生动。或者意思仅为:“我的心宁选(哪怕)勒死(或任何暴死),也不愿要我的生命”,字面作“我的骨头”\n (Ps 35:10);
即指他所剩下那消瘦病骨嶙峋的骸架。这样看,在
Job 7:16
“我厌恶它”乃指他的生命。
English original
15. UMBREIT translates, "So that I could wish to strangle myself--dead by my own hands." He softens this idea of Job's harboring the thought of suicide, by representing it as entertained only in agonizing dreams, and immediately repudiated with horror in
Job 7:16,
"Yet that (self-strangling) I loathe." This is forcible and graphic. Perhaps the meaning is simply, "My soul chooses (even) strangling (or any violent death) rather than my life," literally, "my bones"
(Ps 35:10);
that is, rather than the wasted and diseased skeleton, left to him. In this view, "I loathe it"
(Job 7:16)
refers to his life.
16
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简体中文
16. Let me alone——即在我所剩无几、又虚空的年日中,不要再苦待我。
English original
16. Let me alone--that is, cease to afflict me for the few and vain days still left to me.
17
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简体中文
17.
(Ps 8:4; 144:3)。
约伯的意思是:“人算什么,你竟使他[如此重要],又竟对他费如此心力[思虑]”,以至使他成为如此严厉试炼的对象?约伯本应反过来推论:神既如此俯就近于人、要试炼他,试炼中必有着智慧而慈爱的旨意。大卫用同样的话,以其正当的应用,表达对神竟为微小的人作了这许多的稀奇。认识那位在人基督耶稣里显明的神的基督徒,使用这些话更为合适。
English original
17.
(Ps 8:4; 144:3).
Job means, "What is man that thou shouldst make him [of so much importance], and that thou shouldst expend such attention [or, heart-thought] upon him" as to make him the subject of so severe trials? Job ought rather to have reasoned from God's condescending so far to notice man as to try him, that there must be a wise and loving purpose in trial. David uses the same words, in their right application, to express wonder that God should do so much as He does for insignificant man. Christians who know God manifest in the man Christ Jesus may use them still more.
18
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简体中文
18. 每一个新日子\n (Ps 73:14)。
其实每早晨更新的乃是神的怜悯,不是我们的试炼\n (La 3:23)。
意思是牧人每早晨点算他的羊群,看是否都在[COCCEIUS]。
English original
18. With each new day
(Ps 73:14).
It is rather God's mercies, not our trials, that are new every morning
(La 3:23).
The idea is that of a shepherd taking count of his flock every morning, to see if all are there [COCCEIUS].
19
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19. (如嫉妒的看守者)你多久才不(从希伯来文“离开”之意)目不转睛地盯着我?也不让我稍微喘息(字面作“我咽一口唾沫的功夫”),这是阿拉伯谚语,如我们的“到我喘一口气”。
English original
19. How long (like a jealous keeper) wilt thou never take thine eyes off (so the Hebrew for "depart from") me? Nor let me alone for a brief respite (literally, "so long as I take to swallow my spittle"), an Arabic proverb, like our, "till I draw my breath."
20
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20. I have sinned——然而我能犯什么罪(“得罪”,\n Job 35:6)
得罪你(以至于你如此嫉妒地监视我、剥夺我一切力量,仿佛你怕我)?然而你是那位眼中常有人、常常注视他们的——哦,你这鉴察者\n (Job 7:12; Da 9:14)
人的神。约伯一直忍耐地承受他所受、由神所降的试炼\n (Job 1:21; 2:10);
只是他的理智无法将他身心之苦的不息延续与他对神性的观念相调和。
set me as a mark——你为何以我为你的攻击目标?即为何屡以新的痛苦攻击我?[UMBREIT]\n (La 3:12)。
English original
20. I have sinned--Yet what sin can I do against ("to,"
Job 35:6)
thee (of such a nature that thou shouldst jealously watch and deprive me of all strength, as if thou didst fear me)? Yet thou art one who hast men ever in view, ever watchest them--O thou Watcher
(Job 7:12; Da 9:14)
of men. Job had borne with patience his trials, as sent by God
(Job 1:21; 2:10);
only his reason cannot reconcile the ceaseless continuance of his mental and bodily pains with his ideas of the divine nature.
set me as a mark--Wherefore dost thou make me thy point of attack? that is, ever assail me with new pains? [UMBREIT]
(La 3:12).
21
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21. for now——很快。
in the morning——不是指复活;那时约伯将被寻见。这是一个喻象,取自一人清晨去探望病人,却发现他夜间已死。照样,约伯暗示:若神不立即帮助他,就为时已晚,因他将离去。神之所以不立即给蒙唤醒的罪人以赦免之感,是因为他们以为自己对此有权利要求神。
English original
21. for now--very soon.
in the morning--not the resurrection; for then Job will be found. It is a figure, from one seeking a sick man in the morning, and finding he has died in the night. So Job implies that, if God does not help him at once, it will be too late, for he will be gone. The reason why God does not give an immediate sense of pardon to awakened sinners is that they think they have a claim on God for it.
伯7:1-21。
约伯为自己愿死之心辩解
1. 争战时候（appointed time）——更佳译作“争战”（a warfare），即与邪恶的艰难争战（参 赛40:2；但10:1）。“定期”则见于伯14:14。约伯回到他先前（伯3:14）所描绘的那幅人无论怎样伟大终究可悲的图画，在本章中详述他的朋友们若肯照他所求（伯6:28）观看他，就必看见的种种苦难。即使那“打美好仗”的基督精兵，当争战完成时也是欢喜快乐（提前1:18；提后2:3，4:7、8）。