Job 3:20 - Forerunner Commentary

Job 3:20

18 There the prisoners¹ rest together;
^aThey do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

19 The small and great are there,
And the servant is free from his master.

20 “Why^a is light given to him who is in misery,
And life to the ^bbitter of soul,

21 Who ^along for death, but it does not come,
And search for it more than ^bhidden treasures;

22 Who rejoice exceedingly,
And are glad when they can find the ^agrave?

23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,
^aAnd whom God has hedged in?

24 For my sighing comes before¹ I eat,
And my groanings pour out like water.

25 For the thing I greatly ^afeared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me.

Verse Comparison: Job 3:20

American Standard Version
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;

Amplified® Bible
Why is light [of life] given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,

Contemporary English Version
Why does God let me live when life is miserable and so bitter?

Darby English Version
Wherefore is light given to him that is in trouble, and life to those bitter of soul,

Good News Bible
Why let people go on living in misery? Why give light to those in grief ?

King James Version
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

New American Standard Bible
"Why is light given to him who suffers, And life to the bitter of soul,

New International Version
"Why is light given to those in misery,
and life to the bitter of soul,

New King James Version
“Why is light given to him who is in misery,
And life to the bitter of soul,

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"Why does light come to him who suffers, And life to the bitter of soul,

Revised Standard Version
"Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,

Young's Literal Translation
Why giveth He to the miserable light, and life to the bitter soul?

New English Translation
“Why does God¹ give² light to one who is in misery,³ and life to those⁴ whose soul is bitter,