My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
Read Chapter 10
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Life. Job had intimated a fear to proceed any farther. (Calmet)
But perceiving that he had not convinced his friends, he continues his discourse (Haydock) in still stronger terms, yet so as to acknowledge the justice of God. (Calmet)
Speech against. Hebrew, "complaint upon, (Haydock) or respecting myself "I will deplore my misfortunes, (Calmet) or I will say no more about them. (Menochius)
My soul is weary of my life.
65. Now whensoever the present life has once begun to grow tasteless, and the love of the Creator to become sweet, the soul inflames itself against self, that it may accuse self for the sins, wherein it formerly vindicated itself, being ignorant of the things above. Whence he yet further adds with propriety,
I will let my speech go against myself.
66. He as it were employs his speech in behalf of himself, who tries to defend by excuses the evil things he has done. But he ‘lets his speech go against himself,’ who begins to accuse himself of that which he has done amiss. Now very frequently even when we commit sin, we go on to try the things we have done. The mind of itself brings what it does to trial; but forasmuch as it does not at all forsake this in the desire, it is ashamed to acknowledge what it has done; but when it now comes down upon the indulgence of the flesh with the whole weight of its judgment, it lifts itself with a bold voice in the ...
But he also said above, “God would not hearken to him, so that he should answer to one of his charges or of a thousand.” How can Job speak so here? “In the bitterness of my soul,” he says. Therefore it is not him who speaks but his bitterness, insofar as the reflections of Job allow us to express what he means. “Would that one were present who should hear the cause between both” not in order to examine his life in detail and to show that he is unjustly suffering. He does not say that actually, as in the previous passages. He has often said that it is “because of his iniquity.” He wants to demonstrate that the persisting oppression overwhelms him. And this is what Isaiah says, “You became angry, and we, we are distraught,” and in another passage, “Why did you lead us astray from your path?” “I fear, [Job] says, lest I fall or capsize; I am afraid to be forced, one day, to blaspheme or to commit suicide.” - "Commentary on Job 9.32b–10.1"
