Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 6:13

13. Is not my help in me and is wisdom driven quite from me .

Though I have no strength in my body or outward man, yet I have some help, and support within me, or in my inward man, even the conscience of my own innocency and piety, notwithstanding all your bitter accusations and censures as if I had no integrity, Ch. 4. 6.

If I have no strength in my body, have I therefore no wisdom or judgment left in my Soul? Am I therefore unable to judge of the vanity of thy discourse, and of the truth of my own case? Have I not common sence and discretion? do not I know my own condition, & the nature and degree of my sufferings better than thou doest. Am not I a better judge whether I have integrity or no than thou art? But this verse is rendred otherwise, and that very agreeably to the Hebrew words, What if I have no help in me, (i. e. If I cannot help my self, if my outward condition be helpless and hopeless, as I confess it is) is wisdom driven quite from me? Have I therefore lost my understanding and common reason? Cannot I judge whether it is more desirable for me to live or to die, whether I am an hypocrite or no, whether your words have truth and weight in them or no, whether you take the right method in dealing with me, whether you deal mercifully and sincerely with me, or no. Yet again (because the construction and sense of these words is judged very difficult) this verse may be joyned with the following, and rendred thus, What if there be no help in me (or, if I be not able to bear my miseries) and if counsel be driven from me, so that I know not what to do, or how to help, or ease my self? Or, and subsistence, or power of subsisting be driven, or taken away from me, so that I can neither help my self out of my troubles, nor subsist under them, yet to the afflicted pity should be shewed, &c.