Job 10

“My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.” The line’s distinctive content terms include soul, bitterness, complaint. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man’s days,” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.” Naming Thine keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.” The line’s distinctive content terms include heart, know. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.” The line’s distinctive content terms include acquit, iniquity, markest. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore…” The line’s distinctive content terms include affliction, confusion, full. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.” The line’s distinctive content terms include carried, grave, womb. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as…” The line’s distinctive content terms include darkness, death, land. Its relationship to verses 21 shows what work it does in this passage.