Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
Read Chapter 5
Didymus the Blind
AD 398
The text demonstrates that the curses with which Eliphaz cursed the evildoers … were said for a reason. “Afflictions are fitting for human beings but not for animals.” The words may be meant as a comfort. As many people used to say, “What you have suffered is not beyond human nature. For our life consists of hardship. Even our birth occurs with hardship and suffering, since those who give birth must endure a thousand things. In addition, the life of a new born is cumbersome. One can aptly compare this text to the story in the Bible of the man born blind.” For it was regarding him that Jesus’ disciples asked, “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Young vultures fly upwards” means “Punishment does not tame animals.” The young vultures, he says, fly upward, meaning, “They are untroubled—they do not live in wickedness after all.” His meaning is this: Lifeless things and animals—by the vulture’s young he seems to refer to animals—do not experience vengeance themsel...
“And the young birds will raise their feathers over him.” This text indicates that sin is the cause of the calamities humans suffer. In a different sense we may understand the text to speak of angels as “sons of the winged ones,” sent by God either for our correction and punishment when we transgress or for our protection and salvation after we have repented. - "Commentary on Job 5.7"
Bird. Hebrew, "sparks fly up. "(Haydock)
You can no more then expect to pass unpunished, since it is impossible for man to be innocent! (Calmet) and, at any rate, labour is inevitable. (Menochius)
We must gain our bread by the sweat of our brow. (Worthington)
15. For ‘man is born to labour,’ in that he, who is furnished with the gift of reason, bethinks himself that it is wholly impossible for him to pass through this season of his pilgrimage without sorrowing. Hence when Paul was recounting his woes to his disciples, he justly added, For yourselves know that we are appointed thereto. [1Thess. 3, 3] But even in that the flesh is afflicted with scourges, the mind is lifted up to seek higher things, as Paul again bears witness, saying, But though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. [2 Cor. 4, 16] So then, ‘man is born to labour, and a bird to flying,’ for the mind flies free on high for the very same reason that the flesh toils the sorer below.
16. By the designation of ‘man’ too, may be represented the life of the carnal sort. And hence Paul says, For whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions, are ye not carnal? [1 Cor. 3, 3] Soon after which he subjoins and says, Are ye not men? [ver....
