14 She lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand,
14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
14 For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground,
14 She lays her eggs on the hard ground, leaves them there in the dirt, exposed to the weather,
14 For she leaves her eggs on the ground, And warms them in the dust;
14 She lays her eggs on top of the earth, letting them be warmed in the dust.
10 For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
10 For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.
10 Anyone can see that the brightest and best die, wiped out right along with fools and dunces.
10 For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their wealth to others.
10 Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind.
(Read Psalm 49:6-14)
Here is a description of the spirit and way of worldly people. A man may have wealth, and may have his heart enlarged in love, thankfulness, and obedience, and may do good with it. Therefore it is not men's having riches that proves them to be worldly, but their setting their hearts upon them as the best things. Worldly men have only some floating thoughts of the things of God, while their fixed thoughts, their inward thoughts, are about the world; that lies nearest the heart. But with all their wealth they cannot save the life of the dearest friend they have. This looks further, to the eternal redemption to be wrought out by the Messiah. The redemption of the soul shall cost very dear; but, being once wrought, it shall never need to be repeated. And he, the Redeemer, shall rise again before he sees corruption, and then shall live for evermore, Daniel 12:2. Let us now judge of things as they will appear in that day. The beauty of holiness is that alone which the grave cannot touch, or damage.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 39:14
Chapter Contents
God inquires of Job concerning several animals.
In these questions the Lord continued to humble Job. In this chapter several animals are spoken of, whose nature or situation particularly show the power, wisdom, and manifold works of God. The wild ass. It is better to labour and be good for something, than to ramble and be good for nothing. From the untameableness of this and other creatures, we may see, how unfit we are to give law to Providence, who cannot give law even to a wild ass's colt. The unicorn, a strong, stately, proud creature. He is able to serve, but not willing; and God challenges Job to force him to it. It is a great mercy if, where God gives strength for service, he gives a heart; it is what we should pray for, and reason ourselves into, which the brutes cannot do. Those gifts are not always the most valuable that make the finest show. Who would not rather have the voice of the nightingale, than the tail of the peacock; the eye of the eagle and her soaring wing, and the natural affection of the stork, than the beautiful feathers of the ostrich, which can never rise above the earth, and is without natural affection? The description of the war-horse helps to explain the character of presumptuous sinners. Every one turneth to his course, as the horse rushes into the battle. When a man's heart is fully set in him to do evil, and he is carried on in a wicked way, by the violence of his appetites and passions, there is no making him fear the wrath of God, and the fatal consequences of sin. Secure sinners think themselves as safe in their sins as the eagle in her nest on high, in the clefts of the rocks; but I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord, Jeremiah 49:16. All these beautiful references to the works of nature, should teach us a right view of the riches of the wisdom of Him who made and sustains all things. The want of right views concerning the wisdom of God, which is ever present in all things, led Job to think and speak unworthily of Providence.