(Job 42:6). The mouth in the dust is the attitude of suppliant and humble submission to God’s dealings as righteous and loving in design (compare Ezr 9:6; 1Co 14:25).
if so be there may be hope - This does not express doubt as to whether God be willing to receive the penitent, but the penitent’s doubt as to himself; he whispers to himself this consolation, “Perhaps there may be hope for me.”