Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
Parallel translations
- WEB Didn’t I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn’t my soul grieved for the needy?
- BSB Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has my soul not grieved for the needy?
- NKJV Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
- NASB “Have I not wept for the one whose life is hard? Was my soul not grieved for the needy?
- NLT Did I not weep for those in trouble? Was I not deeply grieved for the needy?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Job recalls that he himself wept for the troubled and grieved for the needy. He contrasts his past mercy with the lack of mercy now shown to him.
Overview
Job defends his character by recalling his genuine compassion for those in trouble and his sorrow over the poor. This shows that his earlier righteousness was not mere outward show but heartfelt mercy. Such compassion reflects the heart of God himself, fully embodied in Christ, who wept with the grieving and showed mercy to the needy, and who calls his people to the same mercy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Rom 12:15Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
- Ps 35:13–14But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
- Jer 13:17But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive.
- Prov 14:21He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
- Prov 19:17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
- Prov 28:8He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
- Prov 14:31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
- Isa 58:7–8Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
- Job 24:4They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
- Job 31:16–21If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
- Dan 4:27Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
- Luke 19:41And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
- 2 Cor 9:9(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
- Prov 17:5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
- Ps 12:1Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
- John 11:35Jesus wept.
- Jer 18:20Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 30:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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