16 Will it go down to the gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?"
16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
16 Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?"
16 No. If hope and I are to be buried together, I suppose you'll all come to the double funeral!"
16 Will they go down to the gates of Sheol? Shall we have rest together in the dust?"
16 No, my hope will go down with me to the grave. We will rest together in the dust!"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 17:16
Commentary on Job 17:10-16
(Read Job 17:10-16)
Job's friends had pretended to comfort him with the hope of his return to a prosperous estate; he here shows that those do not go wisely about the work of comforting the afflicted, who fetch their comforts from the possibility of recovery in this world. It is our wisdom to comfort ourselves, and others, in distress, with that which will not fail; the promise of God, his love and grace, and a well-grounded hope of eternal life. See how Job reconciles himself to the grave. Let this make believers willing to die; it is but going to bed; they are weary, and it is time that they were in their beds. Why should not they go willingly when their Father calls them? Let us remember our bodies are allied to corruption, the worm and the dust; and let us seek for that lively hope which shall be fulfilled, when the hope of the wicked shall be put out in darkness; that when our bodies are in the grave, our souls may enjoy the rest reserved for the people of God.