Job 17:12
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
American King James Version (AKJV)
They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
American Standard Version (ASV)
They change the night into day: The light,'say they , is near unto the darkness.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
They are changing night into day; they say, The light is near the dark.
Webster's Revision
They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
World English Bible
They change the night into day, saying 'The light is near' in the presence of darkness.
English Revised Version (ERV)
They change the night into a day: the fight, say they, is near unto the darkness.
Clarke's Job 17:12 Bible Commentary
They change the night into day - These purposes and thoughts are so very gloomy, that they change day into night.
The light is short because of darkness - אור קרוב מפני חשך or karob mippeney choshek, "The light is near from the face of darkness." I have scarcely any light: what is called light is so near akin to darkness, that it is scarcely severed from it. There is either no light, or merely such as is sufficient to render darkness visible. A fine picture of the state of his mind - he was generally in darkness; but had occasional gleams of hope.
Barnes's Job 17:12 Bible Commentary
They change - The word "they" in this place, some understand as referring to his friends; others, to his thoughts. Rosenmuller supposes it is to be taken impersonally, and that the meaning is, "night is become day to me." Wemyss translates it, "night is assigned me for day." So Dr. Good renders it. The meaning may be, that the night was to him as the day. He had no rest. The period when he had formerly sought repose, was now made like the day, and all was alike gloom and sadness.
The light is short because of darkness - Margin, near. The meaning is, probably, "even the day has lost its usual brilliancy and cheerfulness, and has become gloomy and sad. It seems to be like night. Neither night nor day is natural to me; the one is restless and full of cares like the usual employments of day, and the other is gloomy, or almost night, where there is no comfort and peace. Day brings to me none of its usual enjoyments. It is short, gloomy, sad, and hastens away, and a distressing and restless night soon comes on."
Wesley's Job 17:12 Bible Commentary
17:12 They - My thoughts so incessantly pursue and disturb me, that I can no more sleep in the night, than in the day.The light - The day - light, which often gives some comfort to men in misery, seems to be gone as soon as it is begun. Darkness - Because of my grievous pains and torments which follow me by day as well as by night.