ments, and having shaven his head, fell spoke to him a word: for they saw that his down upon the ground, and worshipped. grief was very great. 21 And said: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thi CHAP. III. ther: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath Job expresseth his sense of the miseries of taken away as it hath pleased the Lord, so it is done: blessed be the name of the Lord. 22 In all these things Job sinned not by his lips, nor spoke he any foolish thing against God. AND it came to pass when on a certain man's life, by cursing the day of his birth. AFTER this Job opened his mouth,` and cursed his day,* 2 And he said: 3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it it was said: a manchild is conceived. 4 Let that day be turned into darkness, let not God regard it from above, and let not the light shine upon it. 5 Let darkness, and the shadow of death day the sons of God came, and stood cover it, let a mist overspread it, and let it before the Lord, and Satan came among be wrapped up in bitterness. them, and stood in his sight, 2 That the Lord said to Satan: Whence comest thou? and he answered, and said: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it. 3 And the Lord said to Satan: Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a man simple and upright, and fearing God, and avoiding evil, and still keeping his innocence? But thou hast moved me against him, that I should af flict him without cause. 4 And Satan answered, and said: Skin for skin, and all that a man hath he will give for his life. 5 But put forth thy hand, and touch his bone and his flesh, and then thou shalt see that he will bless thee to thy face. 6 And the Lord said to Satan: Behold he is in thy hand, but yet save his life. 7 So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with a very grievous ulcer, from the sole of the foot even to the top of his head: 8 And he took a potsherd and scraped the corrupt matter, sitting on a dunghill. 9. And his wife said to him: Dost thou still continue in thy simplicity? bless God and die. 10 And he said to her: Thou hast spoken like one of the foolish women: if we have received good things at the hand of God, why should we not receive evil? In all these things Job did not sin with his lips. 11 Now when Job's three friends heard all the evil, that had befallen him, they came every one from his own place, Eliphaz the Themanite, and Baldad the Suhite, and Sophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment to come together and visit him, and comfort him. 6 Let a darksome whirlwind seize upon that night, let it not be counted in the days of the year, nor numbered in the months. 7 Let that night be solitary, and not worthy of praise. 8 Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to raise up a Leviathan. 9 Let the stars be darkened with the mist thereof: let it expect light and not see it, nor the rising of the dawning of the day: 10 Because it shut not up the doors of the womb that bore me, nor took away evils from my eyes. 11 Why did I not die in the womb, why did I not perish when I came out of the belly? 12 Why received upon the knees? why suckled at the breasts? 13 For now I should have been asleep and still, and should have rest in my sleep: 14 With kings and consuls of the earth, who build themselves solitudes : 15 Or with princes, that possess gold, and fill their houses with silver: 16 Or as a hidden untimely birth I should not be, or as they that being conceived have not seen the light. 17 There the wicked cease from tumult, and there the wearied in strength are at rest. 18 And they sometime bound together without disquiet, have not heard the voice of the oppressor. 19 The small and great are there, and the servant is free from his master. 20 Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to them that are in bitterness of soul? 21 That look for death, and it cometh not, as they that dig for a treasure. 22 And they rejoice exceedingly when they have found the grave. 12 And when they had lift up their eyes afar off, they knew him not, and crying out • Cursed his day. Job cursed the day of they wept, and rending their garments they his birth, not by way of wishing evil to any sprinkled dust upon their heads toward thing of God's creation; but only to express in a stronger manner his sense of human 13 And they sat with him on the ground miseries in general, and of his own calamiseven days and seven nights, and no manlities in particular. heaven. 23 To a man whose way is hidden, and 19 How much more shall they that dwell God hath surrounded him with darkness? in houses of clay, who have an earthly foun24 Before I eat I sigh: and as overflow-dation, be consumed as with the moth? 2 If we begin to speak to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it ill, but who can withhold the words he hath conceived? 3 Behold, thou hast taught many, and|| thou hast strengthened the weary hands: 4 Thy words have confirmed them that were staggering, and thou hast strengthened the trembling knees: 5 But now the scourge is come upon thee, and thou faintest: it hath touched thee, and thou art troubled. 20 From morning till evening they shall be cut down: and because no one understandeth, they shall perish for ever. 21 And they that shall be left, shall be taken away from them: they shall die, and not in wisdom. CHAP. V. Eliphaz proceeds in his charge, and exhorts ALL now if there be any that will an 2 Anger indeed killeth the foolish, and envy slayeth the little one. 3I have seen a fool with a strong root, and I cursed his beauty immediately. 4 His children shall be far from safety, and shall be destroyed in the gate, and there shall be none to deliver them. 5 Whose harvest the hungry shall eat, and the armed man shall take him by violence, and the thirsty shall drink up his riches. 6 Nothing upon earth is done without a 6 Where is thy fear, thy fortitude, thy cause, and sorrow doth not spring out of patience, and the perfection of thy ways?the ground. 7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever 7 Man is born to labour, and the bird to perished being innocent? or when were fly. the just destroyed? 8 On the contrary I have seen those who work iniquity, and sow sorrows, and reap them, 9 Perishing by the blast of God, and consumed by the spirit of his wrath. 10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of the whelps of lions are broken: 11 The tiger hath perished for want of prey, and the young lions are scattered abroad. 12 Now there was a word spoken to me in private, and my ears by stealth as it were received the veins of its whisper. 13 In the horror of a vision by night, when deep sleep is wont to hold men, 14 Fear seized upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were affrighted: 15 And when a spirit passed before me, the hair of my flesh stood up. 8 Wherefore I will pray to the Lord, and address my speech to God: 9 Who doeth great things, and unsearchable and wonderful things without number: 10 Who giveth rain upon the face of the earth, and watereth all things with waters: 11 Who setteth up the humble on high, and comforteth with health those that mourn. 12 Who bringeth to nought the designs of the malignant, so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had begun : 13 Who catcheth the wise in their craftiness, and disappointeth the counsel of the wicked: 14 They shall meet with darkness in the day, and grope at noon-day as in the night. 15 But he shall save the needy from the sword of their mouth, and the poor from the hand of the violent. 16 And to the needy there shall be hope, 16 There stood one whose countenance but iniquity shall draw in her mouth. I knew not, an image before my eyes, and 17 Blessed is the man whom God corI heard the voice as it were of a gentle wind:recteth: refuse not therefore the chastising 17 Shall man be justified in comparison of the Lord: of God, or shall a man be more pure than|| 18 For he woundeth, and cureth, he striketh and his hands shall heal. his maker? 18 Behold, they that serve him are not 19 In six troubles he shall deliver thee, stedfast, and in his angels he found wicked-and in the seventh, evil shall not touch thee. ness: 20 In famine he shall deliver thee from death; and in battle from the hand of the Shall man be justified in comparison of sword. God, &c. These are the words which Eli 21 Thou shalt be hidden from the scourge phaz had heard from an Angel, which, ver. of the tongue and thou shalt not fear ca15, he calls a spirit. : lamity when it cometh. 22 In destruction and famine thou shalt laugh and thou shalt not be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 14 He that taketh away mercy from his Friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord. 15 My brethren have passed by me, as he torrent that passeth swiftly in the val eys. 23 But thou shalt have a covenant with the stones of the lands, and the beasts of the earth shall be at peace with thee. 16 They that fear the hoary frost, the 24 And thou shalt know that thy taber-snow shall fall upon them. nacle is in peace, and visiting thy beauty thou shalt not sin. 25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be multiplied, and thy offspring like the grass of the earth. 17 At the time when they shall be scattered they shall perish: and after it groweth hot they shall be melted out of their place. 18 The paths of their steps are intan26 Thou shalt enter into the grave ingled: they shall walk in vain, and shall abundance, as a heap of wheat is brought perish. in its season. 27 Behold, this is even so, as we have searched out which thou having heard,] consider it thoroughly in thy mind. CHAP. VI. Job maintains his innocence, and complains of his friends. UT Job answered, and said: 19 Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while. 20 They are confounded, because I have hoped: they are come also even unto me, and are covered with shame. 21 Now you are come and now seeing my affliction you are afraid. 22 Did I say: Bring to me, and give me B20 that my sins, whereby I have de-of your substance? served wrath, and the calamity that I suffer, were weighed in a balance. 23 Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and rescue me out of the hand of 3 As the sand of the sea this would ap-the mighty? pear heavier: therefore my words are full of sorrow : 4 For the arrows of the Lord are in me, the rage whereof drinketh up my spirit, 24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant in any thing, instruct me. 25 Why have you detracted the words of and the terrors of the Lord war against me.ruth, whereas there is none of you that can 5 Will the wild ass bray when he hath reprove me? grass or will the ox low when he stand eth before a full manger? 6 Or can an unsavoury thing be eaten, that is not seasoned with salt? or can a man taste that which when tasted bringeth death? 7 The things which before my soul would not touch, now through anguish are my 26 You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the wind. 27 You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend. 28 However, finish what you have begun: give ear and see whether I lie. 29 Answer, I beseech you, without contention: and speaking that which is just, judge ye. 30 And you shall not find iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly sound in my 9 And that he that hath begun may de-mouth. stroy me, that he may let loose his hand, and cut me off? CHAP. VII. addresses himself to God, HE life of man upon earth is a warfare, 10 And that this may be my comfort, Job declares the miseries of man's life: and that afflicting me with sorrow, he spare not, nor I contradict the words of the Holy one. 11 For what is my strength, that I ca hold out? or what is my end that I should keep patience? 12 My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass. 13 Behold, there is no help for me in my self, and my familiar friends also are departed from me. Tand his days are like the days of a hireling. 2 As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for the end of his work, 3 So I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome nights. 4 If I lie down to sleep, I shall say: When shall I arise and again I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even till darkness. 5 My flesh is clothed with rottenness and the filth of dust, my skin is withered and drawn together. My sins, &c. He does not mean to compare his sufferings with his real sins; but the imaginary crimes which his friends imputed to him: and especially with his wrath, or grief, expressed in the third chap- 6 My days have passed more swiftly than ter, which they so much accused. Though, the web is cut by the weaver, and are conas he tells them here, it bore no proportion sumed without any hope. with the greatness of his calamity. 7 Remember that my life is but wind, and my eye shall not return to see good things.|| 9 (For we are but of yesterday, and are 8 Nor shall the sight of man behold me: ignorant that our days upon earth are but a thy eyes are upon me, and I shall be no shadow :) more. 10 And they shall teach thee: they shall 9 As a cloud is consumed, and passeth speak to thee, and utter words out of their away: so he that shall go down to hell shall hearts. not come up. 10 Nor shall he return any more into his house, neither shall his place know him any more. 11 Wherefore I will not spare my mouth, I will speak in the affliction of my spirit: I will talk with the bitterness of my soul. 12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast enclosed me in a prison? 13 If I say: My bed shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved speaking with myself on my couch: 14 Thou wilt frighten me with dreams, and terrify me with visions. 15 So that my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death. 11 Can the rush be green without moisture? or a sedge-bush grow without water? 12 When it is yet in flower, and is not plucked up with the hand, it withereth before all herbs. 13 Even so are the ways of all that forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish : 14 His folly shall not please him, and his trust shall be like the spider's web. 15 He shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand; he shall prop it up, and it shall not rise: 16 He seemeth to have moisture before the sun cometh, and at his rising his blos. som shall shoot forth. 17 His root shall be thick upon a heap of 16 I have done with hope, I shall now live no longer spare me, for my days are no- stones, and among the stones he shall abide. thing. 18 If one swallow him up out of his place, 17 What is a man that thou shouldst he shall deny him, and shall say: I know magnify him? or why dost thou set thy thee not. heart upon him? 19 For this is the joy of his way, that 18 Thou visitest him early in the morn-others may spring again out of the earth. ing, and thou provest him suddenly. 19 How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down my spittle? 20 God will not cast away the simple, nor reach out his hand to the evil doer: 21 Until thy mouth be filled with laugh 20 I have sinned, what shall I do to thee, ter, and thy lips with rejoicing. O keeper of men? why hast thou set me 22 They that hate thee, shall be clothed opposite to thee, and I am become burden-with confusion: and the dwelling of the some to myself? wicked shall not stand. CHAP. IX. 21 Why dost thou not remove my sin, and why dost thou not take away mine ini- Job acknowledges God's justice; although quity? Behold now, I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me in the morning. I shall not be. he often afflicts the innocent. ND Job answered and said: Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified, compared with God. 4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace? 5 Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not. 6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. 7 Who commandeth the sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal. 8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea. * 6 If thou wilt walk clean and upright, he 9 Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and will presently awake unto thee, and will Hyades, and the inner parts of the south. make the dwelling of thy justice peaceable: 10 Who doeth things great and incom 7 In so much, that if thy former things prehensible, and wonderful, of which there were small, thy latter things would be mul- is no number. tiplied exceedingly. 8 For enquire of the former generation, * Arcturus, &c. These are names of stars and search diligently into the memory of or constellations. In Hebrew, Ash, Cecil, the fathers: and Cimah. See note ch. xxxviii. ver 31. 11 If he come to me, I shall not see him:[] if he depart I shall not understand. 35 I will speak, and will not fear him : for I cannot answer while I am in fear. СНАР. Х. 12 If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why doest Job laments his afflictions, and begs to be de thou so ? 13 God, whose wrath no man can resist, livered. and under whom they stoop that bear up MY soul is weary of my life, I will let go my speech against myself, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. the world. 14 What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him? 15 I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge. I 16 And if he should hear me when I call, should not believe that he had heard my voice. 17 For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.* 18 He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness. 19 If strength be demanded, he is most strong if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me. 2 I will say to God: Do not condemn me : tell me why thou judgest me so. 3 Doth it seem good to thee that thou shouldst calumniate me, and oppress me, the work of thy own hands, and help the counsel of the wicked? 4 Hast thou eyes of flesh: or shalt thou see as man seeth? 5 Are thy days as the days of man, and are thy years as the times of men: 6 That thou shouldst enquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin? 7 And shouldst know that I have done no wicked thing, whereas there is no man that can deliver out of thy hand. 8 Thy hands have made me, and fashion20 If I would justify myself, my owned me wholly round about, and dost thou mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew thus cast me down headlong on a sudden? myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked. 21 Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life. 22 One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth. 23 If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent. 24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covereth the face of the judges thereof: and if it be not he, who is it then? 25 My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good. 26 They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey. 27 If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face and am tormented with sorrow. 28 I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender. 29 But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain? 9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay, and thou wilt bring me into dust again. 10 Hast thou not milked me as milk, and curdled me like cheese? 11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh: thou hast put me together with bones and sinews: 12 Thou hast granted me life and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. 13 Although thou conceal these things in thy heart, yet I know that thou rememberest all things. 14. If I have sinned and thou hast spared me for an hour: why dost thou not suffer me to be clean from my iniquity? 15 And if I be wicked, wo unto me : and if just, I shall not lift up my head, being filled with affliction and misery. 16 And for pride thou wilt take me as a lioness, and returning thou tormentest me wonderfully. 17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and multipliest thy wrath upon me, and 30 If I be washed as it were with snow-pains war against me. waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean : 31 Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me. 32 For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may be heard with me equally in judgment. 18 Why didst thou bring me forth out of the womb? O that I had been consumed, that eye might not see me! 19 I should have been as if I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave. 20 Shall not the fewness of my days be ended shortly? suffer me, therefore, that I 33 There is none that may be able to re-may lament my sorrow a little : prove both, and to put his hand between both. 34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me. 21 Before I go and return no more, to a land that is dark and covered with the mist of death: 22 A land of misery and darkness, where * Without cause. That is, without my the shadow of death, and no order, but knowing the cause: or without any crime everlasting horror dwelleth. of mine. |