He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
Job 27:17 belongs to the extended debate over Job's afflictions in chapters 4 to 31 between Job and his three friends, conducted in three rounds or circles of speeches by each side. The book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible and the oldest poetical book to have come down to us. It is structured as the prose prologue in chapters 1 and 2, followed by the debate, then the speeches of Elihu in chapters 32 to 37, then the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud, and finally the prose epilogue in chapter 42:7-17.
The verse teaches that though the wicked may lay up wealth, it is the just who will in the end wear the garments prepared and the innocent who will divide the silver. In this it states the principle that evil is ultimately punished and good is rewarded. It does not teach that every sufferer lies under God's displeasure, and that general principle was misapplied by Job's friends to his affliction.
Job 27:17 belongs to the extended debate over Job's afflictions in chapters 4 to 31 between Job and his three friends, conducted in three rounds or circles of speeches by each side. The book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible and the oldest poetical book to have come down to us. It is structured as the prose prologue in chapters 1 and 2, followed by the debate, then the speeches of Elihu in chapters 32 to 37, then the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud, and finally the prose epilogue in chapter 42:7-17.
The verse teaches that though the wicked may lay up wealth, it is the just who will in the end wear the garments prepared and the innocent who will divide the silver. In this it states the principle that evil is ultimately punished and good is rewarded. It does not teach that every sufferer lies under God's displeasure, and that general principle was misapplied by Job's friends to his affliction.