Job 17

“My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include breath, corrupt, days. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?” 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.

“Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with 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.

“For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.” The line’s distinctive content terms include aforetime, byword, people. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.” Naming Mine keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.” The line’s distinctive content terms include broken, days, heart. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include change, darkness, light. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include darkness, grave, house. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?” 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.

“They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.