7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it.
7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:
7 "That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it.
7 Vultures are blind to its riches, hawks never lay eyes on it.
7 That path no bird knows, Nor has the falcon's eye seen it.
7 These are treasures no bird of prey can see, no falcon's eye observe.
10 He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.
10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
10 he returns no more to his house, nor does his place know him anymore.
10 They don't return to visit their families; never again will friends drop in for coffee.
10 He shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him anymore.
10 They are gone forever from their home- never to be seen again.
(Read Job 7:7-16)
Plain truths as to the shortness and vanity of man's life, and the certainty of death, do us good, when we think and speak of them with application to ourselves. Dying is done but once, and therefore it had need be well done. An error here is past retrieve. Other clouds arise, but the same cloud never returns: so a new generation of men is raised up, but the former generation vanishes away. Glorified saints shall return no more to the cares and sorrows of their houses; nor condemned sinners to the gaieties and pleasures of their houses. It concerns us to secure a better place when we die. From these reasons Job might have drawn a better conclusion than this, I will complain. When we have but a few breaths to draw, we should spend them in the holy, gracious breathings of faith and prayer; not in the noisome, noxious breathings of sin and corruption. We have much reason to pray, that He who keeps Israel, and neither slumbers nor sleeps, may keep us when we slumber and sleep. Job covets to rest in his grave. Doubtless, this was his infirmity; for though a good man would choose death rather than sin, yet he should be content to live as long as God pleases, because life is our opportunity of glorifying him, and preparing for heaven.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 28:7
Commentary on Job 28:1-11
(Read Job 28:1-11)
Job maintained that the dispensations of Providence were regulated by the highest wisdom. To confirm this, he showed of what a great deal of knowledge and wealth men may make themselves masters. The caverns of the earth may be discovered, but not the counsels of Heaven. Go to the miners, thou sluggard in religion, consider their ways, and be wise. Let their courage and diligence in seeking the wealth that perishes, shame us out of slothfulness and faint-heartedness in labouring for the true riches. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! How much easier, and safer! Yet gold is sought for, but grace neglected. Will the hopes of precious things out of the earth, so men call them, though really they are paltry and perishing, be such a spur to industry, and shall not the certain prospect of truly precious things in heaven be much more so?