Job 5

King James Version

Full text for Job Chapter 5

1¶ Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?

2For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

3I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.

4His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither [is there] any to deliver [them].

5Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.

6¶ Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;

7Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

8I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

9Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:

10Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:

11To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

12He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform [their] enterprise.

13He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

14They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.

15But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.

16So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

17¶ Behold, happy [is] the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

18For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

19He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

20In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.

21Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

22At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

23For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

24And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle [shall be] in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

25Thou shalt know also that thy seed [shall be] great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

26Thou shalt come to [thy] grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.

27Lo this, we have searched it, so it [is]; hear it, and know thou [it] for thy good.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Eliphaz begins by challenging Job to find anyone who agrees with him, asserting that foolishness leads to destruction and that man is born to trouble. He then advises Job to seek God, who performs great and unsearchable works, exalting the humble and frustrating the wicked. Eliphaz concludes by proclaiming that happy is the man whom God corrects, promising deliverance, peace, and prosperity for those who accept divine chastening.

Medium Summary

Eliphaz opens his discourse by questioning Job's appeal to others, asserting that wrath and envy destroy the foolish, whose children are left vulnerable and substance consumed. He posits that while affliction does not arise from the ground, man is inherently born to trouble, "as the sparks fly upward." Eliphaz then shifts to advocating for seeking God, describing Him as one who performs unsearchable wonders, provides rain, exalts the humble, and frustrates the schemes of the crafty. He emphasizes God's protection of the poor from the powerful. Furthermore, Eliphaz declares that blessed is the one whom God chastens, for divine correction brings healing and deliverance from numerous troubles, including famine, war, and the "scourge of the tongue." He promises peace, prosperity for offspring, and a full life for those who accept God's discipline.

Long Summary

Eliphaz begins his counsel by challenging Job to find any "saints" who would answer his lament, asserting that foolishness, driven by wrath and envy, inevitably leads to destruction. He illustrates this by noting how the foolish may initially prosper but their habitations are suddenly cursed, their children rendered unsafe and crushed, and their harvests consumed by the hungry and robbers. Eliphaz then presents a foundational theological point, stating that while affliction does not spring from the dust, man is naturally "born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." He advises Job to seek God and commit his cause to Him, describing the Almighty as one who performs "great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number." God is portrayed as the provider of rain, the exalter of the low, and the one who brings the mourning to safety. Eliphaz highlights God's power to frustrate the "devices of the crafty" and take "the wise in their own craftiness," causing them to grope in darkness even at noonday. Conversely, God saves the poor from the sword and the hand of the mighty, giving them hope and silencing iniquity. A pivotal point is made regarding divine correction: "Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth." Eliphaz urges Job not to despise God's chastening, explaining that God both wounds and heals. He promises deliverance through "six troubles" and "in seven," ensuring no evil touches the corrected individual. Specific protections are listed, including redemption from death in famine, from the sword in war, and from the "scourge of the tongue." The corrected person will laugh at destruction, be unafraid of beasts, and find peace with nature. Eliphaz assures Job that his dwelling will be peaceful, his offspring numerous, and he will reach a full age, concluding that this wisdom has been thoroughly examined and is for Job's good.

Core Concepts

  • Consequences of FoolishnessEliphaz asserts that wrath and envy are destructive forces that kill the foolish, leading to the ruin of their households, the vulnerability of their children, and the consumption of their substance by others.
  • Man's Inherent TroubleWhile affliction does not arise from the ground, Eliphaz states that man is naturally born to trouble, a condition as inevitable as sparks flying upward.
  • God's Unsearchable WorksGod is described as performing great and unsearchable, marvellous things without number, including providing rain, exalting the humble, and frustrating the cunning plans of the crafty.
  • Divine Correction and HealingEliphaz declares that the man whom God corrects is happy, emphasizing that God both wounds and binds up, and makes whole, through His chastening.
  • Deliverance and Prosperity through DisciplineFor those who accept God's correction, promises are made of deliverance from multiple troubles, including famine, war, slander, and destruction, leading to peace, numerous offspring, and a full life.
  • God's Protection of the PoorGod is specifically noted for saving the poor from the sword, from the mouth of the wicked, and from the hand of the mighty, thereby giving the poor hope and silencing iniquity.