Verse 2

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

Preserved — From all those miseries which now I feel.

Verse 3

When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

Darkness — I passed safely through many difficulties, and dangers, and common calamities.

Verse 7

When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

Seat — When I caused the seat of justice to be set for me. By this, and several other expressions, it appears that Job was a magistrate.

Street — In that open place, near the gate, where the people assembled for the administration of justice.

Verse 10

The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

Cleaved — It lay as still as if he had done so.

Verse 11

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

Witness — Gave testimony to my pious, and just, and blameless conversation.

Verse 14

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

Put on, … — Perhaps he did not wear these: but his steady justice was to him instead of all those ornaments.

Verse 18

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

Multiply — See how apt even good men are, to set death at a distance from them!

Verse 20

My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

Glory — My reputation was growing every day.

Bow — My strength which is signified by a bow, Genesis 49:24; 1 Samuel 2:4, because in ancient times the bow and arrows were the principal instruments of war.

Verse 22

After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

Dropped — As the rain, which when it comes down gently upon the earth, is most acceptable and beneficial to it.

Verse 24

If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

Laughed — Carried myself so familiarly with them, that they could scarce believe their eyes and ears.

Cast not down — They were cautious not to give me any occasion to change my countenance towards them.

Verse 25

I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

I chose — They sought to me for advice in all difficult cases, and I directed them what methods they should take.

Sat — As a prince or judge, while they stood waiting for my counsel.

A king — Whose presence puts life, and courage, into the whole army.

As one — As I was ready to comfort any afflicted persons, so my consolations were always welcome to them.