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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 9:18 He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/9-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/18_Job_09_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 9:18 - Job: How Can I Argue with God?" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness." /><script type="application/javascript" 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src="/ad18.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/job/9-17.htm" title="Job 9:17">◄</a> Job 9:18 <a href="/job/9-19.htm" title="Job 9:19">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/job/9.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/job/9.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />He will not allow me to catch my breath, But fills me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“He will not allow me to get my breath, But He saturates me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220He will not allow me to get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“He will not allow me to get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />He will not allow me to get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“He will not allow me to catch my breath, But fills <i>and</i> saturates me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He doesn’t let me catch my breath but fills me with bitter experiences.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He doesn&#8217t let me catch my breath but soaks me with bitter experiences. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Before I could get my breath, my miseries would multiply. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He would not let me catch my breath. He fills me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He won't let me catch my breath; he has filled my life with bitterness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He won't let me catch my breath; instead, he fills me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He does not allow me to recover my breath, for he fills me with bitterness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />He does not permit me to refresh my spirit, "" But fills me with bitter things.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> He permitteth me not to refresh my spirit, But filleth me with bitter things.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />He will not give me to draw in my spirit, for he will fill me with bitterness.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He would not allow me to draw breath, but might fill me with bitter griefs. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />He will not suffer me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he has not left me that my spirit may rest, because bitterness filled me, and wormwood made me drunk<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />That would not suffer me to take my breath, But fill me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For he suffers me not to take breath, but he has filled me with bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/9-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=1383" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/9.htm">Job: How Can I Argue with God?</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">17</span>For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause. <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">He does not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: yit·tə·nê·nî (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms:: 1cs) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">let me</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: hā·šêḇ (V-Hifil-InfAbs) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">catch</a> <a href="/hebrew/7307.htm" title="7307: rū·ḥî (N-csc:: 1cs) -- Breath, wind, spirit. From ruwach; wind; by resemblance breath.">my breath,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">but</a> <a href="/hebrew/7646.htm" title="7646: yaś·bi·‘a·nî (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms:: 1cs) -- To be sated, satisfied or surfeited. Or sabeay; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. Fill to satisfaction.">overwhelms me</a> <a href="/hebrew/4472.htm" title="4472: mam·mə·rō·rîm (N-mp) -- A bitter thing. From marar; a bitterness, i.e. calamity.">with bitterness.</a> </span><span class="reftext">19</span>If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/88-15.htm">Psalm 88:15-18</a></span><br />From my youth I was afflicted and near death. I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair. / Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. / All day long they engulf me like water; they enclose me on every side. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/3-17.htm">Lamentations 3:17-18</a></span><br />My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. / So I say, “My strength has perished, along with my hope from the LORD.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/38-13.htm">Isaiah 38:13-14</a></span><br />I composed myself until the morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me. / I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/77-2.htm">Psalm 77:2-4</a></span><br />In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted. / I remembered You, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint. Selah / You have kept my eyes from closing; I am too troubled to speak.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/102-3.htm">Psalm 102:3-5</a></span><br />For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers. / My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread. / Through my loud groaning my skin hangs on my bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/31-9.htm">Psalm 31:9-10</a></span><br />Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well. / For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/69-1.htm">Psalm 69:1-3</a></span><br />For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck. / I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me. / I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/1-8.htm">2 Corinthians 1:8-9</a></span><br />We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. / Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-37.htm">Matthew 26:37-38</a></span><br />He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. / Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/14-33.htm">Mark 14:33-34</a></span><br />He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed. / Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/22-44.htm">Luke 22:44</a></span><br />And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-8.htm">2 Corinthians 4:8-9</a></span><br />We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; / persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-35.htm">Romans 8:35-37</a></span><br />Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? / As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” / No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/1-6.htm">1 Peter 1:6-7</a></span><br />In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials / so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/7-5.htm">2 Corinthians 7:5</a></span><br />For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">He will not suffer me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.</p><p class="hdg">will not</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/7-19.htm">Job 7:19</a></b></br> How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/39-13.htm">Psalm 39:13</a></b></br> O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/88-7.htm">Psalm 88:7,15-18</a></b></br> Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted <i>me</i> with all thy waves. Selah… </p><p class="hdg">filleth me</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20</a></b></br> Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter <i>in</i> soul;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/lamentations/3-15.htm">Lamentations 3:15,19</a></b></br> He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/12-11.htm">Hebrews 12:11</a></b></br> Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/esther/3-8.htm">Allow</a> <a href="/job/7-11.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/job/7-11.htm">Bitterness</a> <a href="/job/7-16.htm">Breath</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-14.htm">Catch</a> <a href="/job/8-21.htm">Fill</a> <a href="/job/8-21.htm">Filleth</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/16-32.htm">Fills</a> <a href="/job/8-21.htm">Full</a> <a href="/job/6-2.htm">Grief</a> <a href="/job/7-3.htm">Misery</a> <a href="/job/6-27.htm">Overwhelm</a> <a href="/1_kings/13-7.htm">Refresh</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/13-20.htm">Regain</a> <a href="/job/7-11.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/esther/3-8.htm">Suffer</a> <a href="/1_peter/4-16.htm">Suffereth</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/11-14.htm">Allow</a> <a href="/job/10-1.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/job/10-1.htm">Bitterness</a> <a href="/job/11-20.htm">Breath</a> <a href="/job/18-9.htm">Catch</a> <a href="/job/13-17.htm">Fill</a> <a href="/psalms/80-9.htm">Filleth</a> <a href="/job/20-11.htm">Fills</a> <a href="/job/10-1.htm">Full</a> <a href="/job/9-27.htm">Grief</a> <a href="/job/10-15.htm">Misery</a> <a href="/job/12-15.htm">Overwhelm</a> <a href="/songs/2-5.htm">Refresh</a> <a href="/proverbs/2-19.htm">Regain</a> <a href="/job/10-12.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/job/21-3.htm">Suffer</a> <a href="/psalms/66-9.htm">Suffereth</a><div class="vheading2">Job 9</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/9-1.htm">Job acknowledges God's justice</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/9-22.htm">Man's innocence is not to be condemned by afflictions</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/job/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>He does not let me catch my breath</b><br>In this phrase, Job expresses the relentless nature of his suffering. The imagery of not being able to catch one's breath suggests an overwhelming and continuous affliction. In the context of Job's life, this reflects the rapid succession of calamities that befell him, as described in the earlier chapters of the book. Theologically, this can be seen as a test of faith, where God allows Satan to test Job's righteousness. The inability to catch one's breath can also symbolize the spiritual and emotional exhaustion that comes with prolonged suffering. This phrase connects to other biblical passages that speak of God's sovereignty over human circumstances, such as <a href="/psalms/66-10.htm">Psalm 66:10-12</a>, where trials are seen as a refining process.<p><b>but overwhelms me with bitterness</b><br>Here, Job speaks to the emotional and spiritual impact of his trials. The term "bitterness" conveys a deep sense of grief and resentment. In the cultural context of the Ancient Near East, suffering was often seen as a result of divine displeasure, which adds to Job's confusion and bitterness, as he perceives himself as righteous. This phrase can be linked to the lamentations found in the Psalms, such as <a href="/psalms/73.htm">Psalm 73</a>, where the psalmist struggles with the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous. Theologically, this bitterness can be seen as a precursor to the New Testament understanding of Christ's suffering, where Jesus, in His humanity, experienced deep anguish and sorrow, as seen in the Garden of Gethsemane (<a href="/matthew/26-38.htm">Matthew 26:38</a>). This connection highlights the idea of righteous suffering and the ultimate hope of redemption.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning the reasons behind it.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The sovereign Creator, whose ways and purposes are often beyond human understanding. Job is addressing God in this passage, expressing his feelings of being overwhelmed by his circumstances.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/job's_suffering.htm">Job's Suffering</a></b><br>The context of this verse is Job's lament over his suffering, which includes the loss of his children, wealth, and health. Job feels that his suffering is relentless and overwhelming.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_suffering.htm">Understanding Suffering</a></b><br>Suffering can feel relentless and overwhelming, as Job describes. It's important to acknowledge these feelings honestly before God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Even when we feel overwhelmed, we must remember that God is sovereign and His purposes, though mysterious, are ultimately for our good and His glory.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_trials.htm">Faith in Trials</a></b><br>Like Job, we may not understand why we suffer, but we are called to maintain our faith and trust in God's character and promises.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/empathy_and_support.htm">Empathy and Support</a></b><br>As believers, we should offer empathy and support to those who feel overwhelmed by life's challenges, reflecting Christ's love and compassion.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_deliverance.htm">Hope in God's Deliverance</a></b><br>While Job felt overwhelmed, the broader biblical account assures us of God's deliverance and the hope we have in Christ, who overcame the ultimate suffering on our behalf.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 9</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'curse_god_and_die'_mean.htm">What is the meaning of 'Curse God and Die'?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_bible's_view_on_self-pity.htm">What is the Bible's view on self-pity?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_i_become_a_child_of_god.htm">Why do evil people succeed?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_comatose_states.htm">What does the Bible say about comatose states?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/job/9.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(18) <span class= "bld">Take my breath.</span>--The action being that of breathing again after complete exhaustion--recovering breath and the power to breathe, &c. "If I say I am perfect, it also shall prove me perverse by the very act of saying so; because for man to maintain his righteousness before God is at once to proclaim his iniquity. The finite cannot come into competition with the Infinite, nor measure itself therewith."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">He will not suffer me to take my breath</span>. "He gives me no breathing-space," that is, "no time of relaxation or refreshment. My existence is one continual. <span class="accented">misery."</span> (comp. <a href="/job/7-3.htm">Job 7:3-6, 13-19</a>). But filleth me with bitterness; literally, <span class="accented">with bitter things</span> or <span class="accented">bitterness</span> (Hebrew, <span class="hebrew">מַמְּר ורִים</span>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/9-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">He does not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹֽא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">let</span><br /><span class="heb">יִ֭תְּנֵנִי</span> <span class="translit">(yit·tə·nê·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">me catch</span><br /><span class="heb">הָשֵׁ֣ב</span> <span class="translit">(hā·šêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my breath,</span><br /><span class="heb">רוּחִ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(rū·ḥî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7307.htm">Strong's 7307: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">overwhelms me</span><br /><span class="heb">יַ֝שְׂבִּעַ֗נִי</span> <span class="translit">(yaś·bi·‘a·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7646.htm">Strong's 7646: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be sated, satisfied or surfeited</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with bitterness.</span><br /><span class="heb">מַמְּרֹרִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(mam·mə·rō·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4472.htm">Strong's 4472: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bitterness, calamity</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/9-18.htm">Job 9:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/9-18.htm">Job 9:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/9-18.htm">Job 9:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/9-18.htm">Job 9:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/9-18.htm">Job 9:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/9-18.htm">Job 9:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/9-18.htm">Job 9:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/9-18.htm">Job 9:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/9-18.htm">Job 9:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/9-18.htm">Job 9:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/9-18.htm">OT Poetry: Job 9:18 He will not allow me to catch (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/9-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 9:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 9:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/9-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 9:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 9:19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>