Chapter 6
(Note: The "prose" format remains for many chapters in the NASB95. Reminds me of an epic poem, like Ulysses or the long version of "The Raven".)
Job's reply to Eliphaz begins in this chapter. Job asks several rhetorical questions with an obvious "no" answer. The question he's answering is whether or not this punishment is justified? If not, then Job has grounds to complain. In the next paragraph, Job wishes for God to let him die - to release him from the pain of this life.
2021 - It seems that it is ok to wish God would end your life, put you out of your misery, let the pain end. It is not ok for us to do so ourselves, but we can pray for death. That is not sin, it seems.
2025 - This verse:
10 "But it is still my consolation, And I rejoice in unsparing pain, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One. [Job 6:10 NASB95]. In NASB95, Job seems to be saying that if he dies right there, despite his intense misery and physical pain, even if he dies in this state, he will die satisfied with his life, BECAUSE he NEVER denies God. In the ESV though...it is translated this way:
10 This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One. [Job 6:10 ESV]. Not as poignantly stated, but the sentiment is the same.
In the next, Job says his friends are not really behaving like friends. He says that if they have answers for him, they should provide them. He hasn't asked them to make sacrifices for him or to offer large bribes to anyone for his release. He only wants kindness from them, and instead they criticize and tell him he must be a sinner to deserve all this pain. The assumption being that the pain is deserved.
2025 - This verse opens Job's point:
14 "He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. [Job 6:10, 14 ESV]. Again, the ESV is not very "memorable" here. NASB95 does so much better:
14 "For the despairing man [there should be] kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty. [Job 6:14 NASB95]. In the NASB we get an actionable idea. In a suffering friend, never encourage the idea that all his problems and pain are because of his own doing. That the evil that has befallen him is sent by God because of his sins. The evils of this world ought not first be blamed on God! If you tell someone that his pain is punishment - certainly and exclusively punishment - you encourage him to blame God for being unfair, and Satan laughs all the way to the bank. Do not send people here. This is the wrong interpretation.
Job says it is easy to sit there and tell him he's earned this punishment, but why can they not tell him what sin of his earned it? They accuse him, but they have no grounds. Chastening as severe as Job's should have an obvious cause, and they know no such cause exists. Job is therefore justified in protesting his situation. Least I think that's Job's point.
2021 - Yes, that is Job's point. They can spout principles to him about how bad things are ALWAYS punishment for sin and commensurate with the magnitude of that sin. But can they tell him what horror he has committed to earn this punishment? He tells them to just look at him, at the state he is in. How could he have possibly earned this and the cause be unknown to them.