The book of Job paraphras'd by Symon Patrick ...

A PARAPHRASE ON The BOOK of JOB .

CHAP. I. ARGUMENT .

This Chapter is a plain Narration of the flourishing condition wherein Job lived , before the envy and malice of the Devil brought upon him the sorest Calamities ; which are particularly described , with the occasion of them , and his admirable Constancy under them : whereby he became as eminent an example of Patience in Adversity , as he had been of Piety and all manner of Vertue in his Prosperity .

1. THere was a man in the land of Vz , whose name was Job ; and that man was perfect and upright , and one that feared God , and eschewed evil . 1. IN the time of the ancient Patriarchs , before the giving of the Law of Moses , there lived in Arabia a person of great eminence , whose name was Job : A man not more illustrious for his Birth or Place , then for the height of his Vertue ; which appeared in a most unblamable life , void of all hypocrisie , both in his Piety toward God , and in his dealings with men , and all other ways .

2. And there were born unto him seven sons , and three daughters . 2. Whom God therefore had so wonderfully blessed , that his outward Prosperity was equal to the Perfections of his Mind . For first , He had given him the sweet fruits of Marriage , in a numerous issue of seven Sons and three Daughters :

3. His substance also was seven thousand sheep , and three thousand camels , and five hundred yoke of oxen , and five hundred she-asses , and a very great houshold ; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east . 3. And then enriched him abundantly with the wealth of that country ; which consisted in seven thousand Sheep , three thousand Camels , five hundred yoke of Oxen , as many She-asses ; with such a very great Tillage , and so many Servants , that in those Eastern parts he had neither superiour nor equal .

4. And his sons went and feasted in their houses everyone his day , and sent and called for their three sisters , to eat and to drink with them . 4. And together with all this Happiness , he had the pleasure to see his Children live in love and unity . For it was the custom of his Sons to meet at each others houses , and to make a feast every one upon his birth-day : ( III. 1. ) And he whose turn it was to treat the rest , always invited their three Sisters to come and be merry with them .

5. And it was so , when the days of their feasting were gone about , that Job sent and sanctified them , and rose up early in the morning , and offered burnt-offerings , according to the number of them all : for Job said , It may be that my sons have sinned , and cursed God in their hearts . Thus did Job continually . 5. This Feast was wont to last seven days ; at the end of which their good Father never failed to send a Messenger to them , to call upon them , to prepare themselves by fasting and prayer for the Sacrifice he meant to offer for them : And when they were assembled , he rose up early in the morning , ( the fittest time for devotion , ) and prayed to God , by offering burnt-offerings , for every one of them ; because he was afraid they might have done or spoken something that was profane , and misbecoming their Religion , when their minds , loosened by mirth , were less upon their guard . And thus he did constantly after every Feast .

6. para ; Now there was a day , when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD , and Satan came also among them . 6. But his great Piety was not sufficient to preserve him from false accusations . For , as Job set a time for his Children to examine themselves , so there are certain seasons when the Angels come and stand in the Divine presence , to give an account of their Ministry , and to receive commands from God the Judge and Governour of the world : and Satan , that subtle adversary of mankind , came one day and thrust in himself among them .

7. And the LORD said unto Satan , Whence comest thou ? Then Satan answered the LORD , and said , From going to and fro in the earth , and from walking up and down in it . 7. And the Lord ( to make him sensible he was not an absolute Prince , but His Subject ) called to him , and demanded an account of him , where he had been , and from whence he came . To which he gave an answer , which expressed , as the great restlesness of his mind and his unwearied diligence , so the limitation of his power , which extends onely to this lower world ; for he told Him , he came from going to and fro in the earth , and from walking up and down in it .

8. And the LORD said unto Satan , Hast thou considered my servant Job , that there is none like him in the earth , a perfect and an upright man , one that feareth God , and escheweth evil ? 8. Then the Lord said to him again ; After all thy inquisitiveness and busy search , thou hast nothing to object against the Integrity of my Servant Job ; a man that excells in Piety , and Justice , and all other Vertues , which he practises exactly and sincerely .

9. Then Satan answered the LORD , and said , Doth Job fear God for nought ? 9. Yes , said Satan ; He serves himself rather then Thee : it is not Thy pleasure which he regards , but his own profit .

10. Hast thou not made an hedge about him , and about his house , and about all that he hath on every side ? thou hast blessed the work of his hands , and his substance is increased in the land . 10. Hast not Thou payed him well for his pains ? and so inviron'd him and his Family , and all belonging to him in every place , that no harm can come to them ? whereby all his business prospers , and his flocks and his herds are so increased , that the country can scarce hold them .

11. But put forth thine hand now , and touch all that he hath , and he will curse thee to thy face . 11. But I am confident , if Thou wilt but imploy that power to plague him , which hath so long preserved him , he will , not onely in his heart but , openly deny thy Providence .

12. And the LORD said unto Satan , Behold , all that he hath is in thy power , onely upon himself put not forth thine hand . So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD . 12. Then the Lord ( who was willing to prove thy Vertue of his Servant in an afflicted estate , as He had done in a prosperous ) withdrew the protection He had given him , and granted Satan a commission to dispose of all belonging to Job according as he pleased ; excepting onely his Person , which He commanded him not to touch . This was joyfull news to that malicious Spirit ; who went immediately to doe what he had long desired .

13. para ; And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house : 13. And within a short time found an opportunity to try the Constancy of Job , by doing him all the mischief possible , in one and the same day : which was the Birth-day of his eldest Son , when all his Children ( far from fearing any evil ) were met , according to their custom , at his house , to feast and rejoyce together .

14. And there came a messenger unto Job , & said , The oxen were plowing , and the asses feeding beside them ; 14. Then it was that Satan put in execution what he had designed ; and first of all stirred up a thievish sort of people in Arabia , to fall upon that part of his land which was next to them . Of which tidings was presently brought to Job by a messenger , saying ,

15. And the Sabaeans fell upon them , and took them away ; yea , they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword ; and I onely am escaped alone to tell thee . 15. As the Oxen were at plough , and the Asses in a pasture hard by them , the Sabaeans made an inrode into thy country , and carried them all away ; having slain , by an unexpected assault , all those who should have preserved them , except my self alone , who made an escape to acquaint thee with it .

16. While he was yet speaking , there came also another , and said , The fire of God is fallen from heaven , and hath burnt up the sheep , and the servants , & consumed them ; and I onely am escaped alone to tell thee . 16. He had not quite delivered his message before another of his Servants arrived , ( as evils seldom come single , ) to tell him that there had been a very great lightning in those parts , where his Sheep were feeding ; which had consumed both them and the Shepherds , and left none surviving , but himself alone , to give him notice of this disaster .

17. While he was yet speaking , there came also another , and said , The Chaldaeans made out three bands , and fell upon the camels , and have carried them away , yea , and slain the servants with the edge of the sword ; and I onely am escaped alone to tell thee . 17. He had not finished his narration before another messenger was at the door , saying , Our neighbours , the Chaldaeans , seeking for booty , divided themselves into three parties , who set upon us all at once : and they have carried away the Camels , and killed all the Servants that look'd after them , except my self , who made a shift to save my self by flight , to bring thee news of this invasion .

18. While he was yet speaking , there came also another , and said , Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house : 18. Before he had concluded came in another , the most dolefull Messenger of all , saying , Thy Children , as thou knowest , were feasting with their elder Brother ;

19. And behold , there came a great wind from the wilderness , & smote the four corners of the house , and it fell upon the young men , and they are dead ; and I onely am escaped alone to tell thee . 19. And behold , on a sudden there arose a violent wind ; which coming from the desart , and whirling about the house , took away the four corners of it , and buried them all in its ruines : and there is not one of the guests escaped , that I know of , but onely my self , to be the messenger of this great Calamity .

20. Then Job arose , and rent his mantle , and shaved his head , and fell down upon the ground , and worshipped , 20. Then Job ( who had heard all the rest without disturbance ) was overcome with grief at this last word , and , laying aside all other thoughts , gave up himself to the most lamentable sorrow : for he rent his upper garment , cut off the hair of his head , and threw himself upon the ground . Where he deceived the Devil's expectation ; for he most reverently adored , as became his Piety , the Divine Majesty , and submitted himself to his will , saying ,

21. And said , Naked came I out of my mother's womb , and naked shall I return thither : the LORD gave , and the LORD hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the LORD . 21. I am but what I was at first , and what I must have been again at last : and He that hath stript me of all before I die , hath taken away nothing but what He gave . Let Him therefore be praised , who is the donour of all good things , and the disposer of all events .

22. In all this Job sinned not , nor charged God foolishly . 22. This was the worst word rhat he spake , when all these evils came upon him so unexpectedly , and so thick together : All the rest was like this ; and nothing dropt from his mouth which in the least accused or questioned the Providence of God .

CHAP. II. ARGUMENT .

The first part of this Chapter is a continuation of the Narration , which was begun in the foregoing , of the Calamities which befell this good man ; whom God suffered the Devil to afflict in his Body , as he had already done in his Goods and Children . And then follows a farther testimony of his Constancy , notwithstanding his Wife 's angry and profane accusation of the Divine Providence . Though , it is true , he was so much dejected to see himself reduced to this extremity of Misery , that neither he , nor his Friends that came to visit him , were able for several days to speak a word .

1. AGAIN there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD , and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD . 1. AFter these things , the Angels going again to attend the pleasure of the Divine Majesty , and to give an account of their severall charges ; Satan also openly appeared among them , and presented himself , as ready and desirous to be examined about his management .

2. And the LORD said unto Satan , From whence comest thou ? And Satan answered the LORD , and said , From going to and fro in the earth , and from walking up and down in it . 2. But , not daring to speak before he was called , he waited till the Divine Majesty asked where he had been , and what he had done . To which he answered as he had done before , that he had not lost his time , but had fetch'd a circuit round about the earth , to find opportunity for the exercise of his power .

3. And the LORD said unto Satan , Hast thou considered my servant Job , that there is none like him in the earth , a perfect and an upright man , one that feareth God , and escheweth evil ? and still he holdeth fast his integrity , although thou movedst me against him , to destroy him without cause . 3. Well then , said the Lord , art not thou convinced how true a Character I gave of my Servant Job , and how much thou hast calumniated him ? For he still resolutely continues as perfectly Vertuous as he was in his Prosperity , though I have consented to these miserable Calamities , which he suffers undeservedly .

4. And Satan answered the LORD , and said , Skin for skin , yea , all that a man hath will he give for his life . 4. To which Satan answered again and said , that his Constancy was not so wonderfull ; since a man hath reason to think himself rich , who is in health . Who is there that will not give another's skin , to save his own ? nay , part with his Children , as well as his Goods , to save his Life ?

5. But put forth thine hand now , and touch his bone and his flesh , and he will curse thee to thy face . 5. But inlarge now my commission a little farther , and let me afflict his Body , so that it touch him to the very quick ; and he will openly renounce Thee , and deny thy Providence .

6. And the LORD said unto Satan , Behold , he is in thine hand , but save his life . 6. To which the Divine Majesty ( knowing the fidelity of Job , which hereby would become more illustrious ) was pleased to yield ; and said , Behold , I give thee the same power over his Person , which thou hadst over his Family and Goods : inflict what Diseases thou wilt upon him , so they do not kill him .

7. ¶ So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD , and smote Job with sore boils , from the sole of his foot unto his crown . 7. No sooner had Satan obtained this new graunt , but , withdrawing himself from the presence of the Divine Majesty , he went to pursue his mischievous desires ; and smote Job from top to toe with a fiery Ulcer , whose sharp humour was extream grievous and painfull , and prick'd him ( according to his wish ) to the very bone .

8. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withall ; and he sate down among the ashes . 8. The filthiness of the Disease also increased that sorrow and heaviness which before had seized on him , and made him sit down in the ashes : where he laid hold on what came next to hand , a piece of a broken pot , to wipe away the foul Matter which issued out of his Boils .

9. ¶ Then said his wife unto him , Dost thou still retain thine integrity ? curse God , and die . 9. And it was a farther addition to his Grief , to hear his dear Consort ( whom the Divine goodness he thought had still left to help him to bear his Affliction ) utter this profane speech ; What a folly is it still to persist in the Service of God , when all thou gettest by it is to give Him thanks , and perish ?

10. But he said unto her , Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh : what ? shall we receive good at the hand of God , and shall we not receive evil ? In all this did not Job sin with his lips . 10. These words struck him to the very heart : but , in stead of being angry with God , he onely severely reproved her ; telling her , that she talked like one of the wicked women : and then piously represented to her , that we ought to take nothing ill which comes from the hand of God ; ( as all evil things do , as well as good ; ) and the more good we have received from Him , the less reason we have to complain when we suffer any evil . No discourse but such as this was heard to come from his mouth .

11. ¶ Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him , they came every one from his own place ; Eliphaz the Temanite , and Bildad the Shuhite , and Zophar the Naamathite : for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him , & to comfort him . 11. Now there dwelt in the neighbouring Provinces three great men , with whom Job had long maintained a particular friendship ; who , hearing the sad tidings of his Sufferings , came every one from his country to visit him . Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite , Bildad the Shuhite , and Zophar the Naamathite ; who all three met at his house on the same day , according to an appointment they had made , to come and condole with him , and comfort him .

12. And when they lift up their eyes afar off , and knew him not , they lifted up their voice and wept ; and they rent every one his mantle , & sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven . 12. But as soon as ever they entred into the place where he lay , they were surprised with so miserable a spectacle of deformity , that they shrieked aloud , as men affrighted , and burst out into tears , and rent their garments , and threw dust into the air ; which , falling on their heads , expressed the confusion they were in , to find him so covered over with Ulcers that they could not know him .

13. So they sats down with him upon the ground seven days , and seven nights ; and none spake a word unto him : for they saw that his grief was very great . 13. And when they approached nearer him , they onely sate down upon the earth , in the same mournfull posture wherein they found him ; but were not able ( so much were they astonished ) for seven days and nights to say one word of the business about which they were come to him . And indeed his Grief was so exceeding great , that they did not well know what to say ; till time , which alters all things , had asswaged a little both his Grief and theirs .

CHAP. III. ARGUMENT .

Here begin the Discourses which Job and his Friends had about his Affliction ; which are all represented , by the Authour of this Book , poetically ; not , as hitherto , in a plain simple narration , but in most elegant verse . And being overcharged with Grief , ( without the least word of comfort from his Friends , ) he that had for some time born the weight of his Afflictions with an admirable Constancy , could not contain himself any longer , but bursts out ( to such a degree was the anguish of his spirit increased ) into the most passionate Complaints of the Miseries of humane Life . The consideration of which made him prefer Death much before it ; and wish that , either he had never come into the world , or gone presently out of it again , or , at least , might now forthwith be dismissed .

1. AFter this opened Job his mouth , and cursed his day . 1. AND at the end of seven days Job himself began by Complaints to give some vent to his Grief ; which had stupefied him thus long : But he burst out into such bitter Lamentations , that he wisht a thousand times he had never been born .

2. And Job spake , and said , 2. That which he said was to this effect .

3. Let the day perish wherein I was born , and the night in which it was said , There is a man-child conceived . 3. Let the Day and the Night of my Birth be never more mentioned ; but be quite forgotten , as if it had never been .

4. Let that day be darkness , let not God regard it from above , neither let the light shine upon it . 4. Let that Day be turned into Night , and not be counted among the days : let the Sun then withdraw its light , and never shine upon it .

5. Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it , let a cloud dwell upon it , let the blackness of the day terrifie it . 5. Let the most dismall darkness and the thickest clouds wholly possess it , and render it terrible to men .

6. As for that night , let darkness seise upon it , let it not be joyned unto the days of the year , let it not come into the number of the months . 6. And let the Night be of the same sort : and both of them quite blotted out of the Calendar .

7. Lo , let that night be solitary , let no joyfull voice come therein . 7. Let no body meet together on that Night , to feast or make merry .

8. Let them curse it that curse the day , who are ready to raise up their mourning . 8. Let it be as odious as the day wherein men bewail the greatest misfortune ; or the time wherein they see the most dreadfull apparition .

9. Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark , let it look for light , but have none , neither let it see the dawning of the day : 9. Let there not so much as a Star appear in that Night ; nor so much light as we see at peep of day :

10. Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb , nor hid sorrow from mine eyes . 10. Because it did not bury me in my mother's womb , and thereby secure me from all these Miseries .

11. Why died I not from the womb ? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly ? 11. What a misfortune was it , that I did not die before I was born ; or at least as soon as I came into the world ?

12. Why did the knees prevent me ? or why the breasts that I should suck ? 12. That they who received me from the womb did not let me fall on the ground ; or my Nurse refuse to give me suck ?

13. For now should I have lien still , and been quiet , I should have slept ; then had I been at rest : 13. Then should I have felt none of these Miseries which I now endure ; but lain quiet and undisturbed :

14. With kings and counsellers of the earth , which built desolate places for themselves ; 14. Equall to Kings and the greatest persons , who lie alone in the Tombs which they built themselves :

15. Or with princes that had gold , who filled their houses with silver : 15. ( Having gold and silver in abundance , whereof now they are bereaved : )

16. Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been ; as infants which never saw light . 16. Or like an Abortive , which was never numbred among men .

17. There the wicked cease from troubling : and there the weary be at rest . 17. There are none can hurt us in the grave , though they be never so malicious ; nor shall we toil any more , when we come thither .

18. There the prisoners rest together , they hear not the voice of the oppressour . 18. The Captives , and they who are condemned to hard servitude , take no pains there ; and do not dread the voice of the Exactour of their labours .

19. The small and great are there , and the servant is free from his master . 19. There none are greater then other ; but the Servant in that place is as free as his Master .

20. Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery , and life unto the bitter in soul ? 20. Is it not strange that a man should be forced to live , when he hath no mind to it ?

21. Which long for death , but it cometh not , and dig for it more then for hid treasures ? 21. But wishes for death , though in vain ; and seeks it more eagerly then the greatest riches ?

22. Which rejoyce exceedingly , and are glad when they can find the grave ? 22. Leaping for joy when he can meet with his grave , as far more welcome to him then a mine of Silver ;

23. Why is light given to a man whose way is hid , and whom God hath hedged in ? 23. Not knowing which way to turn himself , but onely thither ?

24. For my sighing cometh before I eat , and my roarings are poured out like the waters . 24. This is my condition , whose meat merely sustains a miserable life ; which is all Sighs and Sobs , as loud as the roarings of the Lion .

25. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me , and that which I was afraid of is come unto me . 25. For the very thing which I dreaded is faln upon me , notwithstanding all my care to prevent it .

26. I was not in safety , neither had I rest , neither was I quiet : yet trouble came . 26. I did not confide in my Riches , nor in the least lull my self in security ; ( Chap. l. 5. ) and yet that did not preserve me from being miserable .

CHAP. IV. ARGUMENT .

Eliphaz incensed at this Complaint of Job , in stead of condoling with him , and pitying the Miseries which had put him into this Agony , and applying fitting Lenitives to his Anguish ; bluntly rebukes him for not following the good Advice that he used to give to others in their Adversity : and tells him , he had reason to suspect his Piety , because the Innocent were not wont to suffer such things , but onely wicked Oppressours ; whom , though never so mighty , God had always humbled . Witness the Horims , who dwelt in Seir , ( II. Deut. 12. ) whom the ancestours of Eliphaz ( XXXVI . Gen. 11. ) had overcome , though they were as fierce as Lions . To those Beasts of prey , of all sorts , he compares the Tyrants whom he speaks of in this Chapter , v. 10 , 11. intending , it is likely , to remember him also of the destruction of the Emims by the children of Moab , ( II. Deut. 10 , 11. ) and of the Zamzummims , ( v. 20 , 21. ) who were rooted out by the children of Ammon , as the Horims by the children of Esau : from whose Grandchild Eliphaz seems to have been descended , and called by the name of the eldest Son of Esau . He tells Job also of a Vision he had , to confirm the same truth , That man's Wickedness is the cause of his Destruction .

1. THen Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said , 1. THen Eliphaz ( one of his most ancient Friends , descended from Teman ) replied to him , and said ;

2. If we assay to commune with thee , wilt thou be grieved ? but who can withhold himself from speaking ? 2. We must either still keep silence , or speak what will not please thee . But Truth sure is more to be regarded then Friendship ; and therefore I must remember thee ,

3. Behold , thou hast instructed many , and thou hast strengthened the weak hands . 3. That thou , it is well known , hast given good Counsel unto others , ( and perhaps reproved their Impatience , ) thou hast incouraged those who were dis-spirited ;

4. Thy words have upholden him that was falling , and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees . 4. And by thy discourse hast supported those whose hearts were ready to sink , and settled those who trembled under their burthen .

5. But now it is come upon thee , and thou faintest ; it toucheth thee , and thou art troubled . 5. And now that thou art faln into the same condition , thou canst not practise thy own Lessons ; but faintest , and art struck with consternation .

6. Is not this thy fear , thy confidence , thy hope , and the uprightness of thy ways ? 6. Is not this the time to exercise thy Piety , ( so much fam'd , ) thy Confidence in God , thy Hope , thine Integrity ?

7. Remember , I pray thee , who ever perished being innocent ? or where were the righteous cut off ? 7. Consult thine own observation , and tell me when thou ever sawest a Righteous man forsaken by God .

8. Even as I have seen , they that plow iniquity , and sow wickedness , reap the same . 8. Quite contrary , I have seen the Wicked reaping the fruit of their doings .

9. By the blast of God they perish , and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed . 9. God blasts and consumes them as the nipping wind , or the fire doth the corn in the field .

10. The roaring of the lion , and the voice of the fierce lion , and the teeth of the young lions are broken . 10. Though they be as fierce as the Lions and as strong , their power is broken .

11. The old lion perisheth for lack of prey , and the stout lions whelps are scattered abroad . 11. The greatest Tyrants and their posterity , after they have long injoy'd their power , are deprived of all their riches gotten by oppression , and come to nothing .

12. Now a thing was secretly brought to me , and mine ear received a little thereof . 12. If these observations be not sufficient to convince thee , hear what God himself secretly whispered to me .

13. In thoughts from the visions of the night , when deep sleep falleth on men , 13. As I was ruminating one night , when all were asleep , of some Visions which I had had ;

14. Fear came upon me , and trembling , which made all my bones to shake . 14. I was on a sudden seized with such a fear , that it made every joynt of my body tremble .

15. Then a spirit passed before my face , the hair of my flesh stood up . 15. Whereupon I saw a Spirit pass by me , which made mine hair stand an end .

16. It stood still , but I could not discern the form thereof : an image was before mine eyes , there was silence , and I heard a voice , saying , 16. I am not able to describe what it was like ; for though it stood still , and I saw an image of something , yet I can onely tell what I heard in a still voice , saying ;

17. Shall mortal man be more just then God ? shall a man be more pure then his maker ? 17. Can any one think that a miserable Man is more righteous then God his Judge ? or that it is possible for any-body to be more unreprovable then He that made him ?

18. Behold , he put no trust in his servants ; and his angels he charged with folly : 18. The Heavenly Ministers themselves may fail ; for they are not perfectly wise , though they have no flesh and bloud as we have .

19. How much less on them that dwell in houses of clay , whose foundation is in the dust , which are crushed before the moth ? 19. How can we then pretend to Perfection , who dwell in bodies of dirt ; which stand upon no firm foundation , but are as subject to be destroyed as a garment to be fretted with moths ?

20. They are destroyed from morning to evening : they perish for ever without any regarding it . 20. We see continual examples of those that are cut off : they are quite taken away , when no-body thinks of it .

21. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away ? they die even without wisedome . 21. Though their Dignities be never so great , and their Posterity never so numerous , all go away with them , and they die like so many Beasts , who have no understanding of their latter end .

CHAP. V. ARGUMENT .

Eliphaz still prosecutes the very same Argument ; endeavouring to confirm it from the opinion and observation of other men , as well as from his own . And thereupon exhorts him to Repentance , as the surest way to find mercy with God ; and to be not onely restored to his former Prosperity , but to be preserved hereafter from the Incursions of savage people , or of wild beasts , and from all the rest of the Disasters which had befaln him . Of this he bids him , in the conclusion , to be assured ; for it was a point he had studied .

1. CALL now , if there be any that will answer thee ; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn ? 1. IF thou dost not believe me , thou mayst enquire of others . There is no good man but is of this opinion : and if an Angel should appear to thee , ( as there did to me , ) thou wouldst have no other information but this ;

2. For wrath killeth the foolish man , and envy slayeth the silly one . 2. That God in his anger and indignation destroys the wicked , and him that errs from his Precepts .

3. I have seen the foolish taking root : but suddenly I cursed his habitation . 3. This is so certain , that I have predicted his downfall , when he seemed most firmly settled in his Prosperity .

4. His children are far from safety , and they are crushed in the gate , neither is there any to deliver them . 4. His Children also fell with him ; Justice took hold of them , and would not let them escape :

5. Whose harvest the hungry eateth up , and taketh it even out of the thorns ; and the robber swalloweth up their substance . 5. The hungry Souldier devoured their harvest ; there was no fence could secure it , but the rest of their riches became a prey to the Robber .

6. Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust , neither doth trouble spring out of the ground : 6. For we are not to ascribe the Trouble and Misery of mankind merely to earthly Causes , which are but the instruments of God's Justice ;

7. Yet man is born unto trouble , as the sparks fly upward . 7. Who hath made it as natural to Man to suffer , ( having offended Him ) as it is for the sparks to fly upward .

8. I would seek unto God , and unto God would I commit my cause : 8. Wherefore , if I were in thy case , I would humbly address my self to God , and desire Him to order all things as He pleases .

9. Which doeth great things , and unsearchable ; marvellous things without number . 9. For He is the Authour of all those wonderfull things , whose Causes we can no more find out , then we can count their number .

10. Who giveth rain upon the earth , and sendeth waters upon the fields : 10. Of the Rain , for instance , in its season ; and of the Springs which run in the fields ;

11. To set up on high those that below ; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety . 11. Whereby men of low condition are inriched and grow great ; as the plants and corn shoot out of the earth , after they are moistned with Showrs .

12. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty , so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise . 12. And , on the contrary , He defeats the craftiest Designs of subtle men to raise themselves ; and it is not in their power to effect that which they have most wisely contrived .

13. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness : and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong . 13. Nay , they produce that which they studied to avoid ; and when they think themselves sure , make too much haste to their ruine .

14. They meet with darkness in the day-time , and grope in the noon-day as in the night . 14. They trip in the plainest way ; and see not their danger , when it is visible to every-body but themselves .

15. But he saveth the poor from the sword , from their mouth , and from the hand of the mighty . 15. Whereby many a helpless man is delivered , both from the open force , and from the treacherous flatteries or calumnies of those that are too strong for them .

16. So the poor hath hope , and iniquity stoppeth her mouth . 16. And therefore he that is oppressed should not despair , nor should the Oppressours boast themselves ; for there is hope that God will save the one , to the utter destruction of the other .

17. Behold , happy is the man whom God correcteth : therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty : 17. Behold then , how little reason there is to complain of God's Chastisements ; which if thou dost not refuse , He is able to turn to thy good .

18. For he maketh sore , and bindeth up ; he woundeth , and his hands make whole . 18. For He doth not merely wound , but , like a wise Chirurgion , by that very means He cures and heals .

19. He shall deliver thee in six troubles : yea , in seven there shall no evil touch thee . 19. Thy Troubles cannot be so many , but if thou submissively accept them , He will free thee from them .

20. In famine he shall redeem thee from death ; and in war , from the power of the sword . 20. He will feed thee in the most barren years , and defend thee in the day of battel .

21. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue : neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh . 21. False accusers shall not be able to hurt thee ; and when whole Countries are depopulated thou shalt be secure .

22. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh : neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth . 22. When nothing is to be seen but wild Beasts , whom famine forces from their dens , thou shalt be chearfull and undaunted :

23. For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field : and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee . 23. For the stony parts of the country shall not fail to bring forth its fruits plentifully ; and the Beasts of the field shall not devour them .

24. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace ; and thou shalt visit thy habitation , and shalt not sin . 24. Wheresoever thou pitchest thy Tent , thou shalt find it in safety : and when thou takest an account of thine Estate , all things shall answer thine expectation .

25. Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great , and thine offspring as the grass of the earth . 25. Thou shalt find thy Posterity also very great and numerous like the grass ; though now thou art as bare as the earth in winter .

26. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age , like as a shock of corn cometh in , in his season . 26. Thou shalt not die a violent or untimely death ; but be carried to thy grave as corn is to the barn , when it is full ripe and fit to be gathered .

27. Lo this , we have searched it , so it is ; hear it , and know thou it for thy good . 27. Doubt not of this , for we have thoroughly considered it , and find it so : receive it therefore , and keep it in memory .

CHAP. VI. ARGUMENT .

Job , not at all convinced by these Discourses , justifies the Complaint he had made , ( Chap. III. ) which Eliphaz had now accused ; maintaining that his Grief was not equal to the Cause of it . And therefore he renews his wishes of Death : at which though they might wonder who felt nothing to make them weary of Life ; yet he had reason , he shews , for what he did ; and one more then before , which was their Vnkindness : who pretended to be Friends ; but by this rude Reproof of him at the very first , without so much as one compassionate word , or the least syllable of Consolation , shewed how little sympathy they had with him in his Sufferings . These things he desires them to consider , and weigh the cause of his Complaint a little better , before they passed any farther judgment on it .

1. BVT Job answered and said , 1. HERE Job replied to Eliphaz , and spake in these terms to him :

2. Oh that my grief were throughly weighed , and my calamity laid in the balances together ! 2. Would to God some more equall person then you would lay my Complaint and my Sufferings one against the other , and judge sincerely which is the heaviest .

3. For now it would be heavier then the sand of the sea : therefore my words are swallowed up . 3. He would soon find , that the Sand of the Sea is not so heavy as my Misery ; and that I am not able to complain enough .

4. For the arrows of the Almighty are within me , the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit : the terrours of God do set themselves in aray against me . 4. The Almighty himself hath given me such a wound , that I am dis-spirited : for nothing but dreadfull Spectacles present themselves ready arm'd against me .

5. Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass ? or loweth the ox over his fodder ? 5. It is easie for you , who feel no pain nor want , to forbear Complaints ; which is no more then the very Ass and other brute creatures doe .

6. Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt ? or is there any tast in the white of an egge ? 6. But may not he who eats insipid things , call for a little salt to make them go down better ? ( How much more then may we call for something to qualify that which is very bitter ? )

7. The things that my soul refused to touch , are as my sorrowfull meat . 7. As I do now , who have nothing afforded me for my support , but such Discourses as yours , which my very soul loaths .

8. Oh that I might have my request ! and that God would grant me the thing that I long for ! 8. I cannot but cry unto God , and beseech Him to grant me my heart's desire .

9. Even that it would please God to destroy me ; that he would let loose his hand , and cut me off . 9. Which is , that He would be pleased not to let me languish in this miserable condition ; but with one stroke more quite cut me off .

10. Then should I yet have comfort , yea , I would harden my self in sorrow : let him not spare , for I have not concealed the words of the holy One . 10. It would be a great comfort to me , to hope for this ; and would strengthen me to endure the severest pains : for I would receive the sentence of Death with acclamations of praise , if God would pronounce it against me .

11. What is my strength , that I should hope ? and what is mine end , that I should prolong my life ? 11. For I have not strength enough to endure any longer ; nor any hope of better days in the conclusion , which should make me willing to have my Life prolonged .

12. Is my strength the strength of stones ? or is my flesh of brass ? 12. God hath not made me insensible ; and therefore do not wonder that I desire to be released from the sharpest Pains .

13. Is not my help in me ? and is wisedom driven quite from me ? 13. Do not think my Reason hath forsaken me , and that I do not understand my self .

14. To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend ; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty . 14. Were it so , a Friend should shew me the more Pity ; as you would doe , but that you fear not God , nor remember that he can afflict you as he doth me .

15. My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook , and as the stream of brooks they pass away : 15. My dearest Friends prove as deceitfull as the Torrents , which make a great noise , and run with a violent stream ,

16. Which are blackish by reason of the ice , and wherein the snow is hid . 16. When the melted Ice and Snow fall thick into them :

17. What time they wax warm , they vanish : when it is hot , they are consumed out of their place . 17. They promise water , but in the Summer-time are dried up ;

18. The paths of their way are turned aside ; they go to nothing , and perish . 18. So that you can scarce find any mark of the course wherein they ran , they are so perfectly vanish'd .

19. The troups of Tema looked , the companies of Sheba waited for them . 19. They that travell into our neighbouring Countries expected to quench their thirst there , where they had sometime seen so much water ;

20. They were confounded because they had hoped ; they came thither and were ashamed . 20. But were shamefully disappointed , and blusht to think they should seek relief from such uncertain Streams .

21. For now ye are nothing ; ye see my casting down , and are afraid . 21. Just such are you , good for nothing ; who , seeing my Calamity , shrink from me .

22. Did I say , Bring unto me ? or , Give a reward for me of your substance ? 22. And yet I never sent for you ; nor do I ask , now you are come , any Relief from you .

23. Or , Deliver me from the enemie's hand ? or , Redeem me from the hand of the mighty ? 23. I do not expect you should deliver me from these Calamities , which as so many mighty enemies oppress me .

24. Teach me , and I will hold my tongue : and cause me to understand wherein I have erred . 24. Do not mistake me , nor think that I despise the assistence of your Counsel & Advice : no , I am ready to receive your Reproofs , and humbly to submit to them , if you can better inform me .

25. How forcible are right words ! but what doth your arguing reprove ? 25. Oh what power is there in Truth ! but your Reprehensions are ineffectual .

26. Do ye imagine to reprove words , and the speeches of one that is desperate , which are as wind ? 26. You onely study to shew your Eloquence ; and in vain use words to drive me to Desperation .

27. Yea , ye overwhelm the fatherless , and you dig a pit for your friend . 27. You fall upon him who is already depressed and without defence ; and in a barbarous manner devise counsel against your Friend .

28. Now therefore be content , look upon me , for it is evident unto you , if I lie . 28. But let it please you to consider my Case a little better ; and then judge if I be in the wrong .

29. Return , I pray you , let it not be iniquity ; yea , return again , my righteousness is in it . 29. Discuss things over again , I beseech you , and doe it fairly . I say , let me have a second Hearing ; it will but the more shew my Innocence .

30. Is there iniquity in my tongue ? cannot my tast discern perverse things ? 30. Have I said any thing hitherto that is faulty ? I do not think my judgment is so corrupted , but that I can discern what is bad , though spoken by my self .

CHAP. VII . ARGUMENT .

Job proceeds still in the defence of his Complaint , and of his Wishes to see an end of so miserable a Life ; which at the best is full of Toil and Trouble . And , since his Friends had so little consideration of him , he addresses himself to God ; and hopes he will not be angry , if he ease his Grief by representing to him the Dolefulness of his condition , and expostulating a little with him about the continuance of it , and his release from it .

1. IS there not an appointed time to man upon earth ? are not his days also like the days of an hireling ? 1. IS not the whole Life of miserable Man a perpetual conflict with various Troubles ? and must he not at best undergo much toil , labour and weariness ?

2. As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow , and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work : 2. Why may I not then as passionately wish to see an end of it , as the Slave in a hot day gasps for the refreshment of the Shade ? or the Labourer longs for the Evening when he may rest , and be paid for his pains ?

3. So am I made to possess moneths of vanity , and wearisom nights are appointed to me . 3. I am sure my days are no less void of Contentment then theirs ; and in the night , when men are wont to forget their Sorrows , I can doe nothing but restlesly increase them .

4. When I lie down , I say , When shall I arise , and the night be gone ? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day . 4. I no sooner am laid down , but I wish to be up again ; and the night seems very tedious , while I toss up and down in unquiet and tormenting thoughts , calling for the morning .

5. My flesh is cloathed with worms and clods of dust ; my skin is broken , and become loathsom . 5. How can I doe otherways , when my Body is nothing but Ulcers full of Worms , and crusted over with Scabs ; which have made such clefts in my skin , that I am loathsom to my self ?

6. My days are swifter then a weaver's shuttle , and are spent without hope . 6. All my happy days are run away in a moment ; and there is no hope I should recover them .

7. O remember that my life is wind : mine eye shall no more see good . 7. O my God , remember how short the most pleasant Life is ; which when it is gone , I cannot live over again .

8. The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more : thine eyes are upon me , and I am not . 8. I can never return to my Friends after I have left them : Thou dost but frown upon me , and I vanish quite out of the World .

9. As the cloud is consumed , and vanisheth away : so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more . 9. Just as a Cloud dissolves on a sudden before the Sun , so doth Man sink down into his grave and appear no more .

10. He shall return no more to his house , neither shall his place know him any more . 10. He must make his habitation there , for hither he cannot return ; but others shall take his place , which will no longer acknowledge him the owner of it .

11. Therefore I will not refrain my mouth , I will speak in the anguish of my spirit , I will complain in the bitterness of my soul . 11. Suffer me then to speak freely , and to give vent to my Grief , by complaining a little of the inexpressible Miseries which oppress me .

12. Am I a sea , or a whale , that thou settest a watch over me ? 12. Am I like a Sea , or a Whale , ( or wild Beast , ) that must be shut up and confined under these unsupportable Sufferings , and by no means break through them ?

13. When I say , My bed shall comfort me , my couch shall ease my complaint : 13. If Death may not come and put an end to them , one would have hoped at least to have found some intermission of them by Sleep .

14. Then thou scarest me with dreams , and terrifiest me through visions . 14. But then I am haunted with such frightfull Dreams , and such horrid Apparitions ,

15. So that my soul chuseth strangling , and death rather then my life . 15. That I had much rather die the most violent death , then carry this carkass any longer about with me .

16. I loath it , I would not live alway : let me alone , for my days are vanity . 16. It is loathsome to me : I would not , if I might , live always in it . Dismiss me therefore , since I have no pleasure in Life , which of it self will end shortly .

17. What is man , that thou shouldest magnifie him ? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him ? 17. Is mortall Man so considerable , that Thou shouldst honour him so much as to contend with him , and set Thy self against him ?

18. And that thou shouldest visit him every morning , and try him every moment ? 18. That Thou shouldst send new Afflictions on him every morning ; nay , try his strength and courage every moment ?

19. How long wilt thou not depart from me , nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle ? 19. It is time to turn away thy Displeasure from me ; at least for so short a space , as to give me leave to breathe .

20. I have sinned , what shall I doe unto thee , O thou preserver of men ? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee , so that I am a burthen to my self ? 20. I am not able to give Thee satisfaction for my Offences against Thee , O Thou Observer of men . But why dost Thou not remove me quite out of thy sight , if I be a burthen to Thee ?

21. And why dost thou not pardon my transgression , and take away mine iniquity ? for now shall I sleep in the dust , and thou shalt seek me in the morning , but I shall not be . 21. Or else forgive my Sin , and so far release me from its Punishment , as to let me die ? which I shall doe presently , and not be found to morrow to endure these Afflictions , if Thou dost not still hold me under them .

CHAP. VIII . ARGUMENT .

The foregoing Apologies of Job , it seems , made little impression on his Friends : for , he had no sooner done , but another of them , called Bildad , continued the Dispute ; with as little intermission , as there was between the Messengers that brought him ( Chap. I. ) the sad tidings of his Calamities . And it doth not appear by his discourse , that he differed at all in his Principles from Eliphaz . For , though he give him very good Counsel , yet , he still presses this as the sense of all Antiquity , ( v. 8. ) that God ever prospers the Just , and roots out the Wicked , be they never so flourishing for a season . And he being descended from Shuah , one of Abraham's Sons by Keturah , ( XXV . Gen. 2. ) seems to me to have a particular respect , in this appeal to History , unto the Records , which then remained , of God's blessing upon that faithfull man's posterity , ( who hitherto , and long after , continued in his Religion , ) and of the extirpation of those Eastern people , ( neighbours to Job , ) in whose countrey they were settled , because of their Wickedness .

1. THEN answered Bildad the Shuhite , and said , 1. WHEN Job had made an end of this Discourse , Bildad ( another great Friend of his , descended from Shuah , one of Abraham's Sons by Keturah , ) reprehended him in the same manner as Eliphaz had done , saying ;

2. How long wilt thou speak these things ? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind ? 2. Why dost thou persist to talk on this fashion , and with such vehemence expostulate with God ?

3. Doth God pervert judgment ? or doth the Almighty pervert justice ? 3. Dost thou imagine the Supreme Judge will not doe thee right ? or that He who needs nothing will swerve from the rules of Equity ?

4. If thy children have sinned against him , and he have cast them away for their transgression ; 4. Is it not now reasonable to think that thy Children had highly offended Him ; for which cause He took a sudden and hasty Vengeance on them ?

5. If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes , and make thy supplication to the Almighty ; 5. And that if thou didst now ( in stead of Complaining ) implore his Grace and Favour , with humble Supplication ,

6. If thou wert pure and upright ; surely now he would awake for thee , and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous . 6. And wert thy self sincere in heart and upright in thine actions , He would certainly have a regard to thee , and restore thy Family to its former splendour ?

7. Though thy beginning was small , yet thy latter end should greatly increase . 7. I am confident , thou art not now so low , but in time He would make thee as high , nay , far more eminent then thou wast before .

8. For enquire , I pray thee , of the former age , and prepare thy self to the search of their fathers . 8. I do not desire thee to take my word for it ; but let those who are gone before us instruct thee , and search diligently into the Histories of the most ancient Times .

9. ( For we are but of yesterday , and know nothing , because our days upon earth are a shadow . ) 9. ( For , alas ! we are not old enough to understand much ; being able to make but few Observations , by reason of the exceeding shortness of our lives . )

10. Shall not they teach thee , and tell thee , and utter words out of their heart ? 10. They will not fail to inform thee aright ; and out of their long experience , and the prudent Observations of many Ages , justify the truth of my words .

11. Can the rush grow up without mire ? can the flag grow without water ? 11. The Rushes and Flags we see can shoot up no higher , when they want their mud and their moisture .

12. While it is yet in his greenness , and not cut down , if withereth before any other herb . 12. There is no need to stop their growth by cutting them down ; for they will wither of themselves , even when they are fresh and green : while smaller Herbs , which want not water , continue their beauty .

13. So are the paths of all that forget God , and the hypocrites hope shall perish : 13. Just such is the condition of all those who neglect God : ( without whose Blessing none can flourish : ) who knows him also that counterfeits Piety , and will defeat him of the Happiness he expects .

14. Whose hope shall be cut off , and whose trust shall be a spider's web . 14. He may flatter himself with vain hopes , and be so much the more miserable ; for the things wherein he trusts are as weak as a Spider's web .

15. He shall lean upon his house , but it shall not stand : he shall hold it fast , but it shall not endure . 15. He may fansy his Family to be so great and potent , that it will support him ; but it shall fall as well as himself : He may endeavour to keep it up by strong Alliances , but to no purpose .

16. He is green before the sun , and his branch shooteth forth in his garden . 6. Nay , he may seem to all the world , as well as to himself , to be like a flourishing Tree , which spreads its branches in a fair garden ;

17. His roots are wrapped about the heap , and seeth the place of stones . 7. Whose roots have wreathed themselves thick about the earth , and whose head lifts up it self above the highest edifices :

18. If he destroy him from his place , then it shall deny him , saying , I have not seen thee . 18. But when God blasts him , and plucks him up by the roots , there shall remain no remembrance that such a man ever lived in that place .

19. Behold , this is the joy of his way , and out of the earth shall others grow . 19. Believe it , the pleasure such men take in their prosperous estate is no better then this ; and out of the dust shall others spring up and flourish in their stead .

20. Behold , God will not cast away a perfect man , neither will he help the evil-doers : 20. It is a certain truth , that God will not desert the Upright ; nor will He uphold the Wicked .

21. Till he fill thy mouth with laughing , and thy lips with rejoycing . 21. Thou thy self ( if thou art upright ) shalt still be so blessed by Him , that thou shalt not be able to contain thy Joy within thy heart ; but it shall appear in thy countenance , and burst out into joyfull Songs .

22. They that hate thee shall be cloathed with shame , and the dwelling-place of the wicked shall come to nought . 22. They that rejoyced at thy Fall , shall be perfectly counfounded at thy happy Restauration ; and never recover themselves , but utterly perish .

CHAP. IX . ARGUMENT .

Job allows what Bildad had well spoken in the beginning of his Speech ; and very religiously adores the Justice , Wisedom , and Sovereignty of the Almighty : with whom he protests he had no intention to quarrel or dispute ; but onely to assert the contrary Maxime to that which they maintained , That Piety will not secure us from all Calamities , which do not ever fall upon those that deserve them . Witness , on one hand , the prosperous estate of wicked Princes , v. 24. ( particularly of one great Prince , who then somewhere reigned in their neighbouring countries ; ) and , on the other hand , his own Infelicity , notwithstanding his known Integrity , v. 25. About this he confesses he was very much unsatisfied : though he knew it was in vain to argue with God about it ; nor would his Affliction suffer him to doe it .

1. THEN Job answered and said , 1. WHEN he had done , Job began again , and replied in this manner :

2. I know it is so of a truth : but how should man be just with God ? 2. There need not so many words to prove what thou saidst in the entrance of thy Speech ; for I know very well that God never perverts Judgment , and that frail Man cannot justify himself before Him .

3. If he will contend with him , he cannot answer him one of a thousand . 3. If he should go about to answer to a thousand things which may be objected to him , he would hardly clear himself in One.

4. He is wise in heart , and mighty in strength : who hath hardened himself against him , and hath prospered ? 4. I adore also His Wisedom and Power as well as his Justice ; and am sensible that no men can be safe who obstinately oppose Him .

5. Which removeth the mountains , and they know not : which overturneth them in his anger . 5. Though they were as big and as strong as the Mountains , He can hastily overturn them , in a moment , before they think of it .

6. Which shaketh the earth out of her place , and the pillars thereof tremble . 6. For He is able to remove the whole Earth out of its place , and shatter the very Foundations of it .

7. Which commandeth the sun , and it riseth not ; and sealeth up the stars . 7. Nor are the Heavens less subject to His Power ; for neither Sun nor Stars can shine if He forbid them .

8. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens , and treadeth upon the waves of the sea . 8. He alone commands the Clouds to cover them , and makes the Sea swell and lift up its Waves .

9. Which maketh Arcturus , Orion , and Pleiades , and the chambers of the south . 9. All the Constellations of Heaven obey Him in their several seasons : both those which we see , and those in the other Hemisphere .

10. Which doeth great things past finding out , yea , and wonders without number . 10. In short , I agree with Eliphaz , ( V. 9. ) that the Wonders He doeth are innumerable , and past my comprehension .

11. Lo , he goeth by me , and I see him not : he passeth on also , but I perceive him not . 11. He sets them before mine eyes continually , and yet I am not able to understand them .

12. Behold , he taketh away , who can hinder him ? who will say unto him , What doest thou ? 12. If He snatch away any thing suddenly , who can make Him restore it , or cause Him to give an account why He did it .

13. If God will not withdraw his anger , the proud helpers do stoop under him . 13. If He will continue his Displeasure , there is no remedy ; but the proudest Undertakers must confess their inability to relieve us .

14. How much less shall I answer him , and chuse out my words to reason with him ? 14. What am I then , poor Wretch , that I should contend with his Anger ? or where shall I find out words choise enough to plead with Him ?

15. Whom , though I were righteous , yet would I not answer , but I would make supplication to my judge . 15. It is not fit for me to open my mouth before Him in the justest Cause ; unless it be to supplicate his Favour when He judges me .

16. If I had called , and he had answered me ; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice . 16. And if I had made Supplication , and He had granted my desire , I would not think my Prayer had done the buisiness , ( or believe my self to be out of all danger . )

17. For he breaketh me with a tempest , and multiplieth my wounds without cause . 17. For I am not conscious of any Guilt ; and yet you see with what violent blasts He hath shattered me and my Family in pieces , and given me one Wound after another .

18. He will not suffer me to take my breath , but filleth me with bitterness . 18. No sooner was one past , but another immediately followed ; which have left me not the least pleasure in Life .

19. If I speak of strength , lo , he is strong : and if of judgment , who shall set me a time to plead ? 19. If I stand upon my Might ; alas ! it is not to be named with His : if upon my Right ; what Judge is there above Him , to appoint us a day of hearing ?

20. If I justifie my self , mine own mouth shall condemn me : If I say , I am perfect , it shall also prove me perverse . 20. If I should justify my self , there would be something in my very Plea to condemn me : it will render my Cause worse to pretend I am innocent .

21. Though I were perfect , yet would I not know my soul : I would despise my life . 21. Though I were so , yet I would not be mine own Judge in the Case : I do not value my Life so much , as to contend about it .

22. This is one thing , therefore I said it , he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked . 22. All that I affirm is this , and I persist in that opinion , That He lets the Innocent suffer sad things as well as the Guilty .

23. If the scourge slay suddenly , he will laugh at the trial of the innocent . 23. When a Plague comes , which kills in a moment , He regards not though it fall upon the Innocent .

24. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked : he covereth the faces of the judges thereof ; if not , where , and who is he ? 24. And on the other side , ( so false is your Discourse , ) we see the Government of the Earth given into the hands of a wicked Prince , who blinds the eyes of his Judges . If you deny this , tell me , where is the man , and what is his name , who administers things uprightly ?

25. Now my days are swifter then a post : they flee away , they see no good . 25. I my self was in Prosperity , but it is fled away swifter then a post ; and there is not the least footstep of it remaining .

26. They are passed away as the swift ships : as the eagle that hasteth to the prey . 26. The Ships that are carried with the most rapid stream , or the hungry Eagle in chace of her prey , do not make more haste away .

27. If I say , I will forget my complaint , I will leave off my heaviness , and comfort my self : 27. I think sometime with my self , that I will forget the Miseries of which I complain , and be more chearfull and courageous .

28. I am afraid of all my sorrows , I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent . 28. But then my Grief frights away that resolution ; knowing Thou wilt not release me , but make me still groan under them .

29. If I be wicked , why then labour I in vain ? 29. I am wicked in Thine account ; and therefore it is to no purpose to vindicate mine Innocence .

30. If I wash my self with snow-water , and make my hands never so clean ; 30. Were I never so pure and clean from all Filthiness in heart and life ,

31. Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch , and mine own cloaths shall abhor me . 31. Thou wouldest notwithstanding cover me with filthy Ulcers , and make my nearest Relations abhor to approach me .

32. For he is not a man as I am , that I should answer him , and we should come together in judgment . 32. For God is not like to me , that we should dispute upon even terms .

33. Neither is there any days-man betwixt us , that might lay his hand upon us both . 33. Nor is there any body above us both to compose our differences , and command silence , when either of us exceeds our bounds .

34. Let him take his rod away from me , and let not his fear terrifie me . 34. As for my self , His Rod , which is upon me , keeps me in such awe , that I cannot speak freely .

35. Then would I speak , and not fear him ; but it is not so with me . 35. Let Him remove that , and then I shall utter my mind with less dread : For I am not so bad as you imagine .

CHAP. X. ARGUMENT .

In this Chapter the passionate Complaints and Expostulations with God , from which Job tells us ( in the foregoing Chapter ) he intended hereafter to refrain , break out afresh ; and he earnestly desires to know what his Guilt is : which God , who made him , he was sure could not but perfectly understand , if there was any ; and needed not , for the discovery of it , to expose him to these severe Torments . Which , he still is of the opinion , may justify his Wishes of never being born , or of dying presently after . Though , those Wishes being vain , he acknowledges it is more rational to desire , that God would be pleased to intermit his Pain a while ; if He did not think fit quite to remove it .

1. MY soul is we ary of my life , I will leave my complaint upon my self ; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul . 1. AND since Life is a burthen to me , which can find no ease but onely in complaining , I will take that liberty , ( for it is in vain to contend against it , IX . 27. ) though no words can express my Anguish and Misery .

2. I will say unto God , Do not condemn me ; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me . 2. O Thou Supreme Judg of all , do not pronounce thy final Sentence against me , till Thou hast first shewn me what the Crimes are for which I suffer .

3. Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress ? that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands ? and shine upon the counsel of the wicked ? 3. What benefit wilt Thou receive by my spoils ? or is it agreeable to Thee to slight thine own workmanship , and to countenance the reasonings and designs of evil men ?

4. Hast thou eyes of flesh ? or seest thou as man seeth ? 4. Dost Thou judge of things as Men do , who can see no farther then the outside , or are led by their affections ?

5. Are thy days as the days of man ? are thy years as man's days , 5. Must Thou take time , as we do , to find out the truth , and understand the bottom of a buisiness ?

6. That thou enquirest after mine iniquity , and sear●best after my sin ? 6. Is that the reason Thou usest me thus severely , ( and hast laid me upon a Rack , ) and as it were examinest what I have done amiss ?

7. Thou knowest that I am not wicked , and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand . 7. Surely Thou ( whose Vengeance none can escape ) knowest without the help of such torments , that I am not guilty .

8. Thine hands have made me , and fashioned me together round about ; yet thou dost destroy me . 8. There is no part of me but was most elaborately made and fashioned by Thee ; ( and therefore Thou canst not be ignorant of me ; ) though now Thou art about to ruine me .

9. Remember , I beseech thee , that thou hast made me as the clay , and wilt thou bring me into dust again ? 9. Need I put Thee in mind that I was formed by Thee , as the Potter works the Clay into what shape he pleases ; and now Thou art crumbling me in pieces again ?

10. Hast thou not poured me out as milk , and crudled me like cheese ? 10. Didst not Thou gather all the scattered Parts together , and compact them in my mother's womb ?

11. Thou hast cloathed me with skin and flesh , and hast fenced me with bones and sinews . 11. And first cover them with Skin , and then with Flesh , and at last strengthen them with Bones and Sinews ?

12. Thou hast granted me life and favour , and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit . 12. And in due time bring me into the world , and give me all the Comforts of life , and by thy constant care preserve both it and them ?

13. And these things hast thou hid in thine heart : I know that this is with thee . 13. Thou canst not have forgotten these things : and I am sure that this Misery I now endure is not without thy order .

14. If I sin , then thou markest me ; and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity . 14. I cannot offend Thee in the least , but Thou ( by whom I was thus formed ) must needs know and observe it ; and I cannot avoid thy Punishment for it .

15. If I be wicked , wo unto me ; and if I be righteous , yet will I not lift up my head : I am full of confusion , therefore see thou mine affliction ; 15. If I be wicked , I am undone ; and if I be righteous , I am so oppressed that I cannot look upon what a lamentable confusion I am in , beholding nothing but Misery which way soever I cast mine eyes .

16. For it increaseth : thou huntest me as a fierce lion ; and again thou shewest thy self marvellous upon me . 16. For it grows greater and greater , while Thou pursuest me as a Lion doth his prey ; and when I hope there is an end of my Troubles , sendest more to fill me with new astonishment and horrour .

17. Thou renewest thy witnesses against me , and increasest thine indignation upon me ; changes and war are against me . 17. Fresh witnesses of thine Anger rise up against me : Thou multipliest thy Plagues upon me ; so that there is no end , but onely a change of my Conflicts .

18. Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb ? Oh that I had given up the ghost , and no eye had seen me ! 18. And therefore I cannot but wish as I did at the first , that my Mother's womb had been my Grave : Happy had it been for me if I had died there , and never come into this miserable world :

19. I should have been as though I had not been ; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave . 19. Or that I had died as soon as I was born , and been carried from the Womb to my Grave ;

20. Are not my days few ? cease then , and let me alone , that I may take comfort a little : 20. To which I am now very near . May I beg therefore but this one favour , that since Thou wilt not quite remove thy Hand , Thou wilt forbear a while to strike , and let me breathe and refresh my self a little ;

21. Before I go whence I shall not return , even to the land of darkness , and the shadow of death ; 21. Before I depart thither from whence I shall not return , ( to ask any more favours ; ) be laid , I mean , in my Grave , the place of dismall darkness :

22. A land of darkness , as darkness it self , and of the shadow of death , without any order , and where the light is as darkness . 22. Where it is as dark as dark can be ; and there is no succession of day and night , as we have here , but one perpetual night .

CHAP. XI . ARGUMENT .

This Chapter gives an account of the sense of Zophar about the buisiness in dispute . It is uncertain whence he was descended ; but probably he dwelt upon the borders of Idumaea , ( for there we find an ancient City called Naama , XV. Josh. 41. ) and from thence came to visit Job in his Affliction . But in stead of joyning with him in his Prayer for a little respite from his Pain , ( with which Job had concluded his last Discourse , ) he calls him an idle Talker , and accuses him of irreverence towards God . Concerning whose incomprehensible Counsels , and irresistible Power , &c. he discourses with great sense , and gives Job exceeding good Advice : but still follows the opinion of the other two Friends , that he would not have been so miserable , if he had not been Wicked .

1. THEN answered Zophar the Naamathite , and said , 1. HERE a third Friend of Job's ( Zophar of Naama ) began to speak with no small passion .

2. Should not the multitude of words be answered ? and should a man full of talk be justified ? 2. Dost thou think to stop our mouths with abundance of words ; and by thy Talkativeness to perswade us thou art innocent ?

3. Should thy lies make men hold their peace ? and when thou mockest , shall no man make thee ashamed ? 3. Must we not confute thy false Allegations ; but suffer thee to be insolent , because thou art miserable ?

4. For thou hast said , My doctrine is pure , and I am clean in thine eyes . 4. For thou pretendest not to have offended either in word or deed ; and that God himself can find no reason to condemn thee .

5. But , Oh that God would speak , and open his lips against thee ; 5. O that He would vouchsafe to shew thee thine errour , and with his own mouth confute thee !

6. And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisedom , that they are double to that which is ! know therefore that God exacteth of thee less then thine iniquity deserveth . 6. That He would shew thee the secret Reasons of his wise Counsels ( which far surpass thine ) in this Affliction ; and make thee know that He would be just , if He should punish thy Sin more severely !

7. Canst thou by searching find out God ? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection ? 7. Art thou able , after all thy buisy inquiries , to give an account of God's Judgments , and perfectly comprehend the Reasons of his Providence ?

8. It is as high as heaven , what canst thou doe ? deeper then hell , what canst thou know ? 8. Thou mayest as well take a measure of the height of Heaven , or of the depth of Hell .

9. The measure thereof is longer then the earth , and broader then the sea . 9. The Earth and the Sea , as long and as broad as they are , have their bounds ; but that hath none .

10. If he cut off , and shut up , or gather together , then who can hinder him ? 10. If He seize upon any thing , and shut it up , ( as a Hunter doth his prey in a net , ) He will gather it , and who shall force Him to restore it ?

11. For he knoweth vain men : he seeth wickedness also , will he not then consider it ? 11. For he knows vain Men , ( who mind not what they say or doe , ) He sees their most hidden wickedness ; and will not He punish it ?

12. For vain man would be wise , though man be born like a wild asse's colt . 12. Shall Man , void of understanding , take the confidence to dispute with God ? Man , who is naturally as rude and blockish as a wild Asse's colt ?

13. If thou prepare thine heart , and stretch out thine hands towards him ; 13. If thou art truly wise , cease disputing , and fall to Prayer .

14. If iniquity be in thine hand , put it far away , and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles . 14. If thou art guilty of any Sin , banish it quite away ; and reform thy self and thy Family .

15. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot , yea , thou shalt be stedfast , and shalt not fear : 15. For then shalt thou look chearfully again , and be perfectly freed from this loathsome condition : yea , thou shalt be settled without any fear of losing thy Happiness .

16. Because thou shalt forget thy misery , and remember it as waters that pass away : 16. Which shall be so great , that it shall blot out the remembrance of thy past Miseries : or thou shalt think of them as of Waters , that are run away , and will return no more .

17. And thine age shall be clearer then the noon-day ; thou shalt shine forth , thou shalt be as the morning . 17. The rest of thy Life shall be more glorious then the Sun at noon : even thy darkness shall be like the morning-light .

18. And thou shalt be secure , because there is hope ; yea , thou shalt dig about thee , and thou shalt take thy rest in safety . 18. Thou shalt be confident , though any evil threaten thee ; because there is hope God will deliver thee : thou shalt dig wells of water , and none shall disturb thy Tents or thy Flocks .

19. Also thou shalt lie down , and none shall make thee afraid ; yea , many shall make suit unto thee . 19. Thou shalt be in perfect peace , and none shall disquiet thee : yea , the multitude shall sue to thee for thy Favour , and the greatest persons shall desire thy Friendship .

20. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail , and they shall not escape ; and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost . 20. But the Wicked shall in vain look for Happiness : they shall not escape their deserved Punishment , but their hope of Deliverance shall faint away .

CHAP. XII . ARGUMENT .

In this Chapter Job taxes all his three Friends with too great a conceit of their own Wisedom , which had not , as yet , taught them common Humanity to the miserable . And lets them understand , that he need not come to them to learn , but might rather teach them the falseness of that Proposition , wherewith Zophar had concluded his Speech , concerning the Infelicity of the Wicked . For the contrary , he tells them , was obvious to sense , v. 7 , 8 , &c. And as for what Zophar had discoursed of the Wisedom and Power of God , he would have them know , that he was as well skill'd in those Points as the best of them , and understood as much of the History of ancient Times : particularly of the vain attempt at the Tower of Babel , unto which it is probable he hath respect in the 14. verse ; as , in all the following , he seems to have to what you reade in XIV . Gen. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8. of the rooting out of those fierce Giants the Rephaim , and other such like barbarous and rapacious people ; of the particulars of which we have now no Records remaining .

1. AND Job answered , and said , 1. TO this Job replied in such words as these .

2. No doubt but ye are the people , and wisedom shall die with you . 2. You believe then there are no men of sense in the world besides your selves : so that if you were dead , there would be no Wisedom left among us .

3. But I have understanding as well as you ; I am not inferiour to you : yea , who knoweth not such things as these ? 3. Let not your vanity abuse you ; I have Understanding as well and as much as you ; and so hath every-body else : for I see nothing singular in all you have said .

4. I am as one mocked of his neighbour , who calleth upon God , and he answereth him : the just upright man is laughed to scorn . 4. I am not so simple but I see how you deride your Friend , when you bid him call upon God that He may answer him . But this is no new thing , the best of men hath been mock'd at on this fashion .

5. He that is ready to slip with his feet , is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease . 5. Though he be as a Lamp , yet they who are dazzled with the splendour of worldly Prosperity despise him : the Upright is never acceptable to him who is not stedfast in his goings .

6. The tabernacles of robbers prosper , and they that provoke God are secure ; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly . 6. For they thrive and flourish , though they rob the Just ; and even such men live without disturbance , as provoke God with those very things which He bestows upon them with his own hand .

7. But ask now the beasts , and they shall teach thee ; and the fowls of the air , and they shall tell thee : 7. Thou needest not go any farther then to the Beasts or Birds , to learn how well the Wicked fare .

8. Or speak to the earth , and it shall teach thee ; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee . 8. The Earth brings forth her fruit to them abundantly ; and the Fishes of the Sea deny them not their service .

9. Who knoweth not in all these , that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this ? 9. Who is so stupid as not to understand by all these , that God hath ordered it should be thus ?

10. In whose hand is the soul of every living thing , and the breath of all mankind . 10. Whose right it is to dispose of all creatures , as well as of mankind .

11. Doth not the ear try words ? and the mouth tast his meat ? 11. Cannot the mind distinguish truth from falshood , as exactly as the palate sweet from bitter ?

12. With the ancient is wisedom ; and in length of days , understanding . 12. And the older we grow , the wiser one would think we should be .

13. With him is wisedom and strength , he hath counsel and understanding . 13. But what is all our wisedom to God's ? who ( as He knows , so ) can doe all things ; and he never errs in his understanding , or miscarries in his designs .

14. Behold , he breaketh down , and it cannot be built again : he shutteth up a man , and there can be no opening . 14. In is not in the power of any creature to repair that which He throws down ; nor to extricate that man whom He casts into difficulties and streights .

15. Behold , he withholdeth the waters , and they dry up : also he sendeth them out , and they overturn the earth . 15. If He deny us Rain , the waters themselves dry up : and He sends such Flouds as break the strongest banks .

16. With him is strength and wisedom : the deceived and the deceiver are his . 16. Nor is his Wisedom , as I said , inferiour to his Power : But the Subtlety of those who deceive is as well known to Him , as the Silliness of those who are deceived .

17. He leadeth counsellers away spoiled , and maketh the judges fools . 17. He defeats the wisest Statesmen , and infatuates the ablest Senatours :

18. He looseth the bond of kings , and girdeth their loyns with a girdle . 18. So that they are not able to keep the Crown on the head of their Kings ; but they are stript of their royal ornaments , and bound in chains .

19. He leadeth princes away spoiled , and overthroweth the mighty . 19. Their great Ministers are carried captives with them ; nor are the most powerfull forces they can raise able to defend them .

20. He removeth away the speech of the trusty , and taketh away the understanding of the aged . 20. Eloquence , Fidelity , and the Prudence which hath been gained by long experience , signify as little for their preservation .

21. He poureth contempt upon princes , and weakeneth the strength of the mighty . 21. The Nobleness of their birth or their Munificence is not at all regarded : and He dissolves the strongest Confederacies , into which their Friends enter for their support .

22. He discovereth deep things out of darkness , and bringeth out to light the shadow of death . 22. No Plot can be so secretly carried but He discovers it ; and brings to light that which hath been contrived in the greatest obscurity .

23. He increaseth the nations , and destroyeth them : he enlargeth the nations , and streightneth them again . 23. Whole Nations ( as well as their Princes ) are perfectly under his power ; whom He sometimes multiplies , and again diminishes by war , famine , or pestilence . He inlarges their bounds , and , when he pleases , reduces them into narrower limits .

24. He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth , and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way . 24. He deprives their Leaders both of courage and judgment ; and brings them into such confusion , that they know not which way to turn themselves .

25. They grope in the dark without light , and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man . 25. Blind men see as much as they ; and their Counsels and motions are as uncertain as those of a man in drink .

CHAP. XIII . ARGUMENT .

From the foregoing Observations , Job still continues to assert , first , his own Vnderstanding to be equal , or rather superiour , to theirs ; who had better therefore learn of him , and know that God ▪ was not pleased to have his Providence defended by Vntruths , nor to see men partial , though it was in His behalf : and secondly , his own Integrity to be such , that he would ever defend it against all Accusers , even before God himself . Whom he desires to take cognizance of the Cause , and to let him understand what the Crimes were for which he was thus severely handled . For he protests that he was ignorant of them ; though the Punishments he had endured were more then sufficient to awaken the sense of his Guilt , he being almost consumed by them .

1. LO , mine eye hath seen all this , mine ear hath heard and understood it . 1. I Have said nothing , I would have you know , but what I my self have observed ; or received from credible reports , which I have found to be certainly true .

2. What ye know , the same do I know also : I am not inferiour unto you . 2. Whereby you may see I had reason to say , that I know as much as you , and am not to learn of you .

3. Surely I would speak to the Almighty , and I desire to reason with God . 3. Would to God I might speak with Him , and lay my Reasons open before Him ; and be troubled with your Discourses no longer .

4. But ye are forgers of lies , ye are all physicians of no value . 4. For your Conclusions are false ; and , like unskilfull Physicians , you exasperate the Diseases , which you cannot cure .

5. Oh that you would altogether hold your peace , and it should be your wisedom . 5. The best proof of your Wisedom would be , to say never a word more of these matters .

6. Hear now my reasoning , and hearken to the pleadings of my lips . 6. But listen a little to me , I beseech you , and hear by what Reasons I will defend my self .

7. Will you speak wickedly for God ? and talk deceitfully for him ? 7. Doth God stand in need of Untruths to justify his proceedings ? cannot He be righteous unless I be wicked ?

8. Will you accept his person ? will ye contend for God ? 8. Hath He so little Right on his side , that you must shew Him favour ? or do you think to oblige his Majesty by doing me wrong ?

9. Is it good that he should search you out ? or as one man mocketh another , do ye so mock him ? 9. Will it be to your advantage , think you , that God should strictly examine all you have said ? or can He be deceived with your Flatteries , as frail men may be ?

10. He will surely reprove you , if ye do secretly accept persons . 10. No ; He will severely chastise you , for designing to gratify Him by condemning me .

11. Shall not his excellency make you afraid ? and his dread fall upon you ? 11. The incomparable Excellence of God , one would think , should have frighted away such a thought ; and his dreadfull Majesty made you not presume to imagine He wanted your patronage .

12. Your remembrances are like unto ashes , your bodies to bodies of clay . 12. Whose Remonstrances , on his behalf , are no better then dust ; and the Arguments you accumulate , but like so many heaps of dirt .

13. Hold your peace , let me alone that I may speak , and let come on me what will . 13. Keep silence therefore , and do not disturb me in my Speech ; for I will omit nothing .

14. Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth , and put my life in mine hand ? 14. And I am so conscious to my self of my Innocence , that I must still wonder why I suffer such inraging Miseries , and am exposed to so many Dangers .

15. Though he slay me , yet will I trust in him : but I will maintain mine own ways before him . 15. Assure your selves I will never forgo this Plea ; but still maintain mine Innocence , though I were at the last gasp , and had no hope of Life .

16. He also shall be my salvation : for an hypocrite shall not come before him . 16. And I am confident God himself would vindicate it ; for I am no Hypocrite , nor shall false Accusations be admitted at his Tribunal .

17. Hear diligently my speech , and my declaration with your ears . 17. Do not interrupt me , but give due attention to what I am about to say .

18. Behold now , I have ordered my cause ; I know that I shall be justified . 18. See , I beseech you , I refuse not to be tried , but have framed a Process against my self ; and am so sure of the goodness of my Cause , that I know I shall be acquitted .

19. Who is he that will plead with me ? for now if I hold my tongue , I shall give up the ghost . 19. Let who will come and accuse me , I am ready to answer : for to hold my peace , on so just an occasion , is death to me .

20. Onely do not two things unto me : then will I not hide my self from thee . 20. Let me onely beg , O Great Judge of all , that Thou wilt forbear to make use of two things against me ; and then I will appear confidently , to plead my Cause before Thee .

21. Withdraw thine hand far from me : and let not thy dread make me afraid . 21. Do not continue my Pain : and let not the sight of thy Majesty put me in disorder .

22. Then call thou , and I will answer : or let me speak , and answer thou me . 22. Then summon me to thy Bar , and charge me ; and I will defend my self : or let me question Thee ; and do Thou clear thy proceedings against me .

23. How many are mine iniquities and sins ? make me to know my transgression and my sin . 23. Tell me what , and how many , are mine Iniquities and Sins ; for I am ignorant of them : I desire to know them all , great and small , against Thee , or against my Neighbour .

24. Wherefore hidest thou thy face , & holdest me for thine enemy ? 24. For what cause am I thus afflicted , and used as if I was thine Enemy ?

25. Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro ? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble ? 25. What honour wilt Thou get by imploying thy Power against One , who is no more able to stand before Thee , then the Leaf to resist the wind which sports with it , or the dry Stubble the fire which instantly consumes it ?

26. For thou writest bitter things against me , and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth . 26. For Thou hast passed severe Decrees against me ; and punished me for the Crimes which were committed before I well knew what I did .

27. Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks , and lookest narrowly unto all my paths ; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet . 27. And Thou dost execute them as severely ; for I can no more escape then a Malefactour whose feet are in the stocks ; who is incompassed with a vigilant guard , and cannot stir a foot from the place where he is :

28. And he as a rotten thing consumeth , as a garment that is moth-eaten . 28. But there he rots and wasts away , as I do , like a Garment that is eaten by the moths .

CHAP. XIV . ARGUMENT .

The good man proceeds to plead with God for some mitigation of his Miseries , from the consideration of the Shortness of life , and the Trouble that naturally belongs to it ; which he thought might move Him not to adde any greater burthen of Suffering : especially , considering that when he is dead , he cannot come into the world again , ( as the Plants do , ) to receive the marks of his Favour . Which he hopes therefore He will bestow upon him here , notwithstanding the depth of his Misery , ( which tempted him to the borders of Impatience , v. 13. ) It being very easy for Him to remove his Affliction , though never so heavy , whose Power is so great , that He removed Mountains out of their place , and brought a Deluge , as we may say , of Sand ( as they saw sometimes in their neighbouring Countries ) to overflow the most fruitfull Regions .

1. MAN that is born of a woman , is of few days , and full of trouble . 1. MAN is born to die ; and as he cannot live long , so his short Life is subject to many Cares .

2. He cometh forth like a flower , and is cut down : he fleeth also as a shadow , and continueth not . 2. He may be compared to a Flower , which is beautifull indeed , but suddenly cropt ; or to the Shadow on a diall , which never stands still , but is hasting away apace .

3. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one , and bringest me into judgment with thee ? 3. And dost Thou concern thy self so far about such a Wretch , as to summon him before thy Tribunal ; and there pass dreadfull Sentences against him , as Thou dost against me ?

4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? not one . 4. The common Frailty of Humanity might make Thee overlook him : for nothing , Thou knowest , can be better then the Originall from whence it comes .

5. Seeing his days are determined , the number of his moneths are with thee ; thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass . 5. Or if he were more considerable then he is , yet since he can live but to such a time as Thou hast prefixt , beyond which he cannot prolong his days one moment ;

6. Turn from him , that he may rest , till he shall accomplish , as an hireling , his day . 6. That , I should think , might move Thee not to torment him in this manner ; but to let him alone till that appointed time come , which will be as welcome to him as the end of his labour is to the Hireling .

7. For there is hope of a tree , if it be cut down , that it will sprout again , and that the tender branch thereof will not cease . 7. And after that , there is more hope of a Tree then of him ; for if it be cut down to the very ground , the body of it will grow again , and thrust out new branches .

8. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth , and the stock thereof die in the ground : 8. Nay , though it hath been so long cut down that the roots of it are grown old , and the trunk seems quite dead ;

9. Yet through the sent of water it will bud , and bring forth boughs like a plant . 9. Yet when it is well moistned it will shoot up again , and bring forth boughs , as if it were but newly planted .

10. But man dieth , and wasteth away : yea , man giveth up the ghost , and where is he ? 10. But when Man dies , he crumbles into dust ; and none can set it together , to make him live again .

11. As the waters fail from the sea , and the floud decayeth and drieth up : 11. As Lakes and great Rivers are dried up , when their waters find a new chanell :

12. So man lieth down , and riseth not till the heavens be no more : they shall not awake , nor be raised out of their sleep . 12. So Man laid down in his grave shall come no more hither ; but in that bed of dust shall sleep perpetually .

13. Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the grave , that thou wouldest keep me secret , untill thy wrath be past ; that thou wouldest appoint me a set time , and remember me ! 13. I wish I were buried alive , rather then suffer such things ; or that I could take sanctuary somewhere till this Storm be over ; or at least Thou wouldst set me a certain time when Thou wilt deliver me .

14. If a man die , shall he live again ? all the days of my appointed time will I wait , till my change come . 14. Then ( though there be no hope of living here again , after I am dead ) Thou shalt see I will patiently wait all the days of that appointed time , till that happy Change come .

15. Thou shalt call , and I will answer thee : thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands . 15. Do Thou speak the word , and it shall be done : shew Thou hast some love to thy own workmanship .

16. For now thou numbrest my steps , dost thou not watch over my sin ? 16. Though now Thou seemest to number every step I have trod in all my life , and dost not spare to punish every Fault ;

17. My transgression is sealed up in a bag , and thou sowest up mine iniquity . 17. Having taken as great care the memory of them should not be lost , as if they had been sealed up in a bag ; and added one Punishment to another :

18. And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought : and the rock is removed out of his place . 18. Yet notwithstanding the highest Mountains may fall like a leaf , and the Rock be removed from its place ;

19. The waters wear the stones : thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth , and thou destroyest the hope of man . 19. The Waters , though soft , wear away the hard Stones , and the very Dust or Sand sometimes overflows the fruitfull Fields : Why therefore ( since such strange and unexpected things come to pass ) may there not be some hope for miserable Man ?

20. Thou prevailest for ever against him , and he passeth : thou changest his countenance , and sendest him away . 20. Who is not able to stand before Thee ; but must yield and be gone for ever when Thou requirest : Thou spoilest his beauty , and sendest him away into another World .

21. His sons come to honour , and he knoweth it not ; and they are brought low , but he perceiveth it not of them . 21. And then whether his Children , whom he leaves behind , be rich , or whether they be poor , it is indifferent to him : for he knows not what passes here .

22. But his flesh upon him shall have pain , and his soul within him shall mourn . 22. But while he is in flesh he cannot but be in pain for them ; and his Soul is inwardly grieved to see their misery .

CHAP. XV. ARGUMENT .

In this Chapter Eliphaz renews the Dispute with more eagerness and fierceness then before ; being very angry that Job slighted them so much , and thought himself so wise , ( as he interpreted it , ) that he disdained their Exhortations , and would not follow the Counsel they had given him , of Confessing his Sins , and praying to God for Forgiveness : ( V. 8. VIII . 4 , 5 , 6. ) But ( except this one Argument , that he need not be ashamed to confess his Guilt , when he considered how prone all men are to sin ) there is nothing new in his Discourse : but he merely urges what he had asserted at first , from his own and the wisest mens observations , That they are not the Good , but the Wicked , whom God punishes with such Calamities as now were faln upon Job . And with great ornaments of speech he most admirably describes the Vengeance which God is wont to take upon impious Tyrants : having his Eye , I suppose , upon Nimrod , or some such mighty Oppressour .

1. THEN answered Eliphaz the Temanite , and said , 1. THEN Eliphaz , incensed with these Reproaches , rose up again , and said ,

2. Should a wise man utter vain knowledge , and fill his belly with the east-wind ? 2. Dost thou pretend to be wise , who answerest us with such empty Discourses ; and whose heart is swoln with such pernicious Opinions , and vents them with so much vehemence ?

3. Should he reason with unprofitable talk ? or with speeches wherewith he can doe no good ? 3. Is this thy Wisedom , which teaches thee to wrangle to no purpose ; and to pour out words , for which one is never the better ?

4. Yea , thou castest off fear , and restrainest prayer before God . 4. The better , did I say ? they distroy all Religion , and discourage men from pouring out their Complaint in prayer to God .

5. For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity , and thou chusest the tongue of the crafty . 5. Thou rather teachest them to dispute with Him ; whereby thou hast proclaimed thine Iniquity , while with fallacious words thou seekest how to dissemble it .

6. Thine own mouth condemneth thee , and not I : yea , thine own lips testify against thee . 6. I need produce no farther testimony against thee ; for thy own mouth hath done the buisiness , and condemned thee of Impiety .

7. Art thou the first man that was born ? or wast thou made before the hills ? 7. Thou art but a Man , why dost thou talk as if thou wert God ; or at least wert made before the World ?

8. Hast thou heard the secret of God ? and dost thou restrain wisedom to thy self ? 8. Wast thou admitted into God's secret Counsels , and thereby ingrossedst all Wisedom to thy self ?

9. What knowest thou that we know not ? what understandest thou which is not in us ? 9. Wherein ( to retort thy own words upon thee ) doth thy Knowledge exceed ours ? Let us hear what Secret thou hast learnt , which we do not understand .

10. With us are both the gray-headed , and very aged men , much elder then thy father . 10. If by age and long experience men acquire Wisedom ; there are some of us who are much elder then thy Father .

11. Are the consolations of God small with thee ? is there any secret thing with thee ? 11. Why dost thou slight then those Divine Consolations which we have given thee ? Hast thou some secret ones , which no-body else knows of ?

12. Why doth thine heart carry thee away ? and what do thine eyes wink at , 12. What makes thee have such an high opinion of thy self , and in this manner contemn us ?

13. That thou turnest thy spirit against God , and lettest such words go out of thy mouth ? 13. Nay , oppose thy self to God , and take the boldness to argue with Him ?

14. What is man , that he should be clean ? and he which is born of a woman , that he should be righteous ? 14. Thou wilt maintain thy Innocence , thou sayest ; but thou forget test sure what thou art , and whence thou comest : else thou wouldst not stand upon thy Justification , nor complain that thou art wronged .

15. Behold , he putteth no trust in his saints ; yea , the heavens are not clean in his sight . 15. Remember what I told thee before , ( IV. 18. ) that the Angels are not immutably good ; the Heavenly inhabitants , I say , are not without their spots .

16. How much more abominable and filthy is man , which drinketh iniquity like water ? 16. What a loathsom and filthy creature then is Man , who is as prone to sin , as he is to drink when he is dry ?

17. I will shew thee , hear me ; and that which I have seen , I will declare , 17. Do not stop thine ears whilst I shew thee thine errour ; and I will say nothing but what mine own eyes have seen ,

18. Which wise men have told from their fathers , and have not bid it ; 18. And which wise men have observed , and their Fathers before them , who have reported it to their Children :

19. Vnto whom alone the earth was given , and no stranger passed among them . 19. And they no mean persons neither , but such as were alone thought worthy to be intrusted with the Government of whole Countries ; which no forrein power could enter ( as they have done thine ) while they ruled .

20. The wicked man travelleth with pain all his days , and the number of years is hidden to the oppressour . 20. The wicked Tyrant ( this is their and my observation ) is never free from inward Torment ; all his life long he is in dread of some greater Oppressour then himself .

21. A dreadfull sound is in his ears ; in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him . 21. His Guilt so pursues him , that it makes him fear some mischief or other is still falling on him ; and in the most peaceable time he doth not think himself in safety .

22. He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness , and he is waited for of the sword . 22. When he lies down , he is afraid he shall be kill'd before the morning ; and fansies nothing but naked swords round about him .

23. He wandreth abroad for bread , saying , Where is it ? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand . 23. He shall wander to get a Morsel of bread where he can find it ; and when he hath it , he shall imagine it will prove his poison .

24. Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid ; they shall prevail against him , as a king ready to the battel . 24. The Distress and Anguish wherein he sees himself shall affright him ; they shall press upon him , and overpower him , as a King doth his Enemies whom he hath surrounded with his forces .

25. For he stretcheth out his hand against God , and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty . 25. Which will be a just punishment of his audacious Impiety ; because he defied God , and resolutely set himself in opposition to the Almighty :

26. He runneth upon him , even on his neck , upon the thick bosses of his bucklers . 26. Who will suddenly lay fast hold on him and kill him , though he be never so well armed :

27. Because he covereth his face with his fatness , and maketh collops of fat on his flanks . 27. Because he minds nothing but his belly ; and , casting away all fear of God , nourishes up himself in Luxury , Pride , and Haughtiness ;

28. And he dwelleth in desolate cities , and in houses which no man inhabiteth , which are ready to become heaps . 28. Possessing Cities which he hath laid desolate ; and Houses out of which he hath driven the owners , and which are running to ruine .

29. He shall not be rich , neither shall his substance continue , neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth . 29. But the Riches he hath gotten by such Violence and Oppression shall come to Nothing : He may design great things , but shall leave them imperfect .

30. He shall not depart out of darkness , the flame shall dry up his branches , and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away . 30. When his Troubles begin , they shall not end , till they have destroyed both him and his Children : One word of God's mouth ( so mad a thing it is to set himself against Heaven ) will utterly consume him .

31. Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity : for vanity shall be his recompence . 31. Let such Examples teach him that is seduced into evil ways , not to trust to such uncertain Greatness ; for vexatious Disappointments shall be all that he will get by it .

32. It shall be accomplished before his time , and his branch shall not be green . 32. He shall meet with them , when he little thinks of it ; and see his Children wither away as well as himself .

33. He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine , and shall cast off his flower as the olive . 33. They shall die before their time ; as the unripe Grape , or the Blossom of the vine or olive , are struck with hail , or bitten off by the frost .

34. For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate , and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery . 34. The most numerous Families of such ungodly men shall have none in them left : the Divine Vengeance shall destroy the House which was built with ill-gotten goods .

35. They conceive mischief , and bring forth vanity , and their belly prepareth deceit . 35. And they justly deserve to be thus punished , because all they design and doe is nothing but the Oppression and Ruine of their Subjects : against whom , when one Design miscarries , they conceive new arts to undo them .

CHAP. XVI . ARGUMENT .

Job reproves the vanity and obstinacy of Eliphaz , in repeating the same things over again , and still persisting in his Inhumanity , though he saw his Case so pitiable . Which he again describes , to make him sensible how unworthily he was treated by him and the rest of his Friends : who , in effect , joyned with his Enemies ; who took this opportunity to rail at him . Whereas there was no Crime of his appeared to justifie their Accusations , and to make good Eliphaz his Argument : which signified nothing , unless he meant to say , that Job was like that wicked Tyrant of whom he had discoursed . Which was so far from any shew of truth , that he protests he never hurt any-body , and was alway a sincere lover of God , &c. v. 17 , 18. The truth of which God knew ; to whose Bar he appeals from their unjust Sentence .

1. THEN Job answered , and said , 1. HERE Job interrupted him , and said ,

2. I have heard many such things : miserable comforters are ye all . 2. Thou dost but repeat what hath been often said already : Such Comforters as you , are as troublesome as my Sufferings .

3. Shall vain words have an end ? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest ? 3. May not one endlesly pour out such empty Discourses ? ( as I may with more reason call thine , then thou didst mine XV. 3. ) I wonder at thy confidence , that , having so little to say , thou shouldst take upon thee to answer .

4. I also could speak as ye do : if your soul were in my soul's stead , I could heap up words against you , and shake mine head at you . 4. I could insult as well as you ; and , if we could change conditions , let you see how easy it would be to oppress you with such words as these , and in a grave fashion to mock at your Calamities .

5. But I would strengthen you with my mouth , and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief . 5. But I abhor the thought of such a guilt : I would not fail to fortify you , in that case , with the best Arguments I could invent ; and carefully abstain from the least word that should augment your Grief .

6. Though I speak , my grief is not asswaged : and though I forbear , what am I eased ? 6. Though , as for my self , I find my Misery admits of no Consolation : For whether I defend my Innocence , or silently suffer you to condemn me , it makes no difference .

7. But now he hath made me weary : thou hast made desolate all my company . 7. God hath long since quite tired me with one Trouble upon another . Thou hast not ceased , O God , till Thou hast left me neither Goods , nor Children , no nor a Friend to comfort me .

8. And thou hast filled me with wrinkles , which is a witness against me : and my leanness rising up in me , beareth witness to my face . 8. The furrows in my face ( which is not old ) shew the greatness of my Affliction : which is extreamly augmented by him , who rises up with false Accusations to take away mine Honour , as this Consumption will do my Life .

9. He teareth me in his wrath , who hateth me : he gnasheth upon me with his teeth ; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me . 9. He rends my Good name in pieces with a passion equal to his hatred : my Enemy is inraged against me , and cruelly sets himself to spy out the least occasion to calumniate me .

10. They have gaped upon me with their mouth , they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully , they have gathered themselves together against me . 10. There is no small number of such as these , who look like so many wild beasts coming to devour me : having already most shamefully abused me , and joyned themselves together , to give full satisfaction to their wrath wherewith they are fill'd against me .

11. God hath delivered me to the ungodly , and turned me over into the hands of the wicked . 11. So God will have it ; who hath abandoned the protection of me , and delivered me bound into the hands of the ungodly , to use me at their pleasure .

12. I was at ease , but he hath broken me asunder : he hath also taken me by my neck , and shaken me to pieces , and set me up for his mark . 12. How happy was I heretofore ! and now I am crushed in pieces : From an eminent condition he hath thrown me down into the most despicable ; and there I am exposed ( as a Butt to the Arrow ) to all manner of Indignities and Miseries .

13. His archers compass me round about , he cleaveth my reins asunder , and doth not spare ; he poureth out my gall upon the ground . 13. He is not content to take away all my Goods , and destroy my Family ; but , to the reproach of my Friends , ( which strike like so many darts to my very heart , ) He hath added Ulcers in every part of my Body , with inward pains which rack me without intermission ; and , in one word , hath so mortally wounded me , as if my bowels were already shed upon the ground .

14. He breaketh me with breach upon breach , he runneth upon me like a giant . 14. Before one Wound be closed , He makes another ; and in so violent a manner , that I can make no more resistence then a Dwarf can do against a Giant .

15. I have sowed sackeloth upon my skin , and defiled my horn in the dust . 15. The Sackcloth which I put on at the first , now cleaves so fast to me , as if I had sewed it to my skin : and all my Authority and Honour is changed into Contempt .

16. My face is foul with weeping , and on my eye-lids is the shadow of death : 16. My Face is dirty , and mine Eyes , in a manner , quite put out , by the very Tears which have faln from thence .

17. Not for any injustice in mine hands ; also my prayer is pure . 17. And yet I must still say , I never offered such a violence as this to any man ; and was alway ( so false is Eliphaz his Accusation XV. 4. ) a sincere Worshipper of God .

18. O earth , cover not thou my bloud , and let my cry have no place . 18. If this be not true , let my bloud be left to the Dogs to lick , when I am dead ; and let neither God nor man regard my Complaint while I am alive .

19. Also now behold , my witness is in heaven , and my record is on high . 19. But what need these imprecations ? The great God who rules over all is my Witness ; and can testify how just I have been toward my Neighbours , and how pious toward Himself .

20. My friends scorn me : but mine eye poureth out tears unto God . 20. From your judgment therefore ( who , in stead of comforting my Innocence , scornfully set your selves to defame me ) I appeal to His ; and beseech Him with perpetual tears to vindicate me .

21. O that one might plead for a man with God , as a man pleadeth for his neighbour ! 21. I am so assured of the goodness of my Cause , ( as well as of his Justice , ) that I wish for nothing more , then to have it speedily heard and tried by Him , in the same manner that pleas are held before earthly Judges .

22. When a few years are come , then I shall go the way whence I shall not return . 22. For my Life cannot last long ; and I know that when I am gone , I cannot return hither again , for Him to doe me justice .

CHAP. XVII . ARGUMENT .

Here Job desires he may be tried presently before God's Tribunal , his Life being just upon the point to expire , as he had said in the end of the former Chapter ; and continues to urge again in this , because his Friends were very unfit Judges in his case , and had passed such a Sentence upon him , as upright men would never approve of . Whereby they had given him a new Vexation , to hear them talk so idly , and put him in hope of recovering his Happiness , if he would follow their Admonitions ; when they saw him just dropping into the Grave , which was the onely thing , he saith , that he could hope for .

1. MY breath is corrupt , my days are extinct , the graves are ready for me . 1. MY vital spirits are spent , they give but a glimmering and dying light ; whereby I can see nothing but Graves on every side prepared for me .

2. Are there not mockers with me ? ? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation ? 2. How can I support my spirits , when my Friends , who should comfort me , mock at all I say for my self ? This so bitterly exasperates me , that I cannot take a wink of sleep , nor think of any thing else .

3. Lay down now , put me in a surety with thee ; who is he that will strike hands with me ? 3. Once more therefore I beseech Thee , O God , to assure me that Thou wilt judge my Cause Thy self : Let some-body undertake for Thee : who is it that on thy behalf will ingage to doe me right ?

4. For thou hast hid their heart from understanding : therefore shalt thou not exalt them . 4. Not these Friends of mine ; for they comprehend nothing of the way of thy Judgments : therefore Thou shalt not conferr this honour on them , who talk so absurdly .

5. He that speaketh flattery to his friends , even the eyes of his children shall fail . 5. I must speak the truth of them , ( though it displease them , ) and not sooth them up in their errours : for he that flatters his Friends , when he should reprove them , may look long enough before either he or his Children find one that will deal sincerely with them .

6. He hath made me also a by-word of the people , and aforetime I was as a tabret . 6. This very person who spake last hath made me a proverb in every-bodie's mouth ; and it is the vulgar pastime to talk of my Calamities .

7. Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow , and all my members are as a shadow . 7. No wonder then that excessive Sorrow hath darkned mine eyes ; and that all the flesh of my body is so consumed , that I am but the Shadow of a man .

8. Vpright men shall be astonied at this , and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite . 8. Upright men hereafter will be astonished at the cruel sentence which my Friends pass upon me ; and the innocent will resolutely oppose the wicked , when he judges the worse of Piety , because of my Afflictions .

9. The righteous also shall hold on his way , and he that hath clean hands shal be stronger and stronger . 9. The righteous will not be moved by such arguments to change his purpose of well-doing : much less will he doe any evil action , but grow rather the better by Adversity , and adde Perseverance to his Piety .

10. But as for you all , do you return , and come now : for I cannot find one wise man among you . 10. And truly I wish that all you , who have charged me so heavily , would consider things better , and hearken to what I have said : for I must tell you again , there is not a man of you that judges truly of my Case .

11. My days are past , my purposes are broken off , even the thoughts of my heart . 11. Repent of your harsh Censures before I die , as I must speedily , my Joys being quite gone , and all the hopefull Designs , which had possessed my heart , being utterly subverted .

12. They change the night into day : the light is short because of darkness . 12. In stead whereof other thoughts are come to torment me ; which will not let me sleep in the night , nor enjoy any pleasure in the day .

13. If I wait , the grave is mine house : I have made my bed in the darkness . 13. If I hope for any thing now , ( as you would have me , ) it is for a Grave : That 's the onely House I can promise my self ; there I am going to rest in a bed where I shall not be disturbed .

14. I have said to corruption , Thou art my father : to the worm , Thou art my mother , and my sister . 14. I have already made so near an alliance with Death , that my Father and Mother and nearest Kindred are nothing so near me as Worms and Rottenness .

15. And where is now my hope ? as for my hope , who shall see it ? 15. How vain then are all the hopes you would have me feed my self withall ? ( XI . 15 , 16 , &c. ) Who shall see , when I am sure I shall not , the Happiness you would have me look for here ?

16. They shall go down to the bars of the pit , when our rest together is in the dust . 16. All these Hopes you speak of shall sink down into the bottom of the grave ; when you my Friends , as well as I , shall take up your lodging in the dust .

CHAP. XVIII . ARGUMENT .

In this Chapter Bildad again takes up the Dispute , and pretends to reply to what Job had said . But I do not see any thing new , saving the description he makes ( as Eliphaz had done before him ) of the Ruine which shall inevitably fall , according to the fixed rules of Providence , ( so he fansied ) upon the Wicked and his family ; notwithstanding all the assistence that his Friends and Allies can lend him for his Preservation . And this he seems to imply was the fate of Job ; whom he doth not so much as exhort to Repentance , ( as he had done in his former Discourse Chap. VIII . ) being very angry with him , that he had no higher esteem of their Wisedom .

1. THEN answered Bildad the Shuhite , and said , 1. THEN Bildad the Shuhite , seeing Job continue in his first opinion , rose up , and said ,

2. How long will it be , ere you make an end of words ? mark , and afterwards we will speak . 2. How long shall we continue this Dispute ? Let us make an end of it , unless he will attend better to our Reasons ; then we will go on to argue with him .

3. Wherefore are we counted as beasts , and reputed vile in your sight ? 3. To what purpose is it to talk with one who tells us we understand nothing , ( XVII . 4 , 10. ) but looks upon us as a company of dull Beasts , into whom nothing of Wisedome will enter ?

4. He teareth himself in his anger : shall the earth be forsaken for thee ? and shall the rock be removed out of his place ? 4. Such is his Passion ; which will not let him see how he himself , like a wild Beast , tears his own Soul in pieces with impatient Anger . What art thou , that God for thy sake should cease to govern the world by his known Laws , which are fixt and immutable ?

5. Yea , the light of the wicked shall be put out , and the spark of his fire shall not shine . 5. Say what thou wilt , it is an everlasting Truth , that the Wicked shall not continue in the Splendour wherein we sometime see him : but though he seem to sit as by a great fire , ( warm in his wealth and honour and power , ) there shall not remain so much as a spark to comfort him .

6. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle , and his candle shall be put out with him . 6. The glory of his Family shall be turned into contempt , and all their joy shall end in sorrow .

7. The steps of his strength shall be streightned , and his own counsel shall cast him down . 7. The attempts which his power makes to preserve his Greatness , shall but more perplex him : and his own devices shall prove his overthrow .

8. For he is cast into a net by his own feet , and he walketh upon a snare . 8. He shall intangle himself by his own wiles ; and , having contrived himself into danger , every step he takes in pursuance of his designs shall farther insnare him .

9. The grin shall take him by the heel , and the robber shall prevail against him . 9. Before he is aware he shall find it so impossible to disengage himself ; that they who thirst after his bloud , or wealth , or place , shall easily lay hold on him .

10. The snare is laid for him in the ground , and a trap for him in the way . 10. He shall not foresee his danger ; but be caught as a Bird or a Beast in a Snare or Trap , when he thinks himself secure in his proceedings .

11. Terrours shall make him afraid on every side , and shall drive him to his feet . 11. Then he shall be surrounded with a thousand Terrours ; and which way soever he runs to save himself , he shall meet with them .

12. His strength shall be hunger-bitten , and destruction shall be ready at his side . 12. He shall pine away till he hath no strength remaining : for nothing but Mischief shall attend and accompany him in every place .

13. It shall devour the strength of his skin : even the first-born of death shall devour his strength . 13. Rottenness shall eat up his bones ; I say , his very bones shall rot and be consumed .

14. His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle , and it shall bring him to the king of terrours . 14. Whatsoever he relies upon for the support of himself and Family , it shall utterly fail him ; nay , help to hasten his Death , the most dreadfull of all his Enemies .

15. It shall dwell in his tabernacle , because it is none of his : brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation . 15. That man had best take heed , who shall have a mind to dwell in his House when he hath left it ; for thunder and lightning shall destroy it .

16. His roots shall be dried up beneath , and above shall his branch be cut off . 16. And it shall never be built up again , nor shall his Family be restored ; but be like a Tree , whose roots are so dried up in the earth , that it shall never shoot forth any more branches .

17. His remembrance shall perish from the earth , and he shall have no name in the street . 17. His very Memory shall perish , as well as himself ; and his Name never be mentioned among men , unless it be to make him infamous .

18. He shall be driven from light into darkness , and chased out of the world . 18. He shall be cast out of his splendid Greatness into some obscure Grave ; and removed out of the world as some unclean thing .

19. He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people , nor any remaining in his dwellings . 19. None of his Descendents shall survive him ; nor any of his Kindred remain to keep up his Name .

20. They that come after him shall be astonied at his day , as they that went before were affrighted . 20. Future times shall reade of this severe Vengeance of God upon him with astonishment ; as they who see it shall be seized with horrour .

21. Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked , and this is the place of him that knoweth not God . 21. Certain it is , that this is a just description of the miserable condition of the Wicked : they that do not honour God shall thus be abased .

CHAP. XIX . ARGUMENT .

The purpose of this Chapter ( in which Job replies to Bildad ) is to shew , that it would be sufficient for him also merely to repeat the same things , as they had done in Ten Discourses : But the more to aggravate their want of Compassion , or rather Cruelty , toward him , he represents several new things , which made his condition more deplorable then he had hitherto said . One of which was , that he could not tell the Reason why God dealt thus with him : who notwithstanding was so gracious , that in the depth of this Misery and Anguish , He affords him a glimmering of a comfortable Hope , ( which began now to appear in his Soul , and which he had hitherto wanted , ) that God would at last take pity upon him , and shew his Friends their errour , by restoring him to his former Health and Splendour . That seems to be the literal meaning of the 25. and 26. verses , and of the two next that follow : where , among other things , he says he doubted not but his Redeemer should stand last upon the earth , ( so it is in the Hebrew , the word day not being there , ) that is , quite overcome the Devil , and deliver him from these Distresses ; like a mighty Conquerour , who keeps the field , when all his opposers are routed and fled away . But in this he was , as S. Austin calls him , eximius Prophetarum , and prophesied of the Resurrection of the Body at the last day .

1. THEN Job answered , and said , 1. THEN Job , hearing him also repeat his former discourse , ( Ch. VIII . ) wherein he reflected on him as a Wicked man , burst out again into these words .

2. How long will ye vex my soul , and break me in pieces with words ? 2. Will you never cease to torment me , and to break my very heart with your words , which grate upon me as sorely as all the Miseries I endure ?

3. These ten times have ye reproached me : you are not ashamed that you make your selves strange to me . 3. You have reproached me often enough , one would think ; and yet you are not ashamed to continue your hard-hearted Censures , as if I were a perfect Stranger , and my manner of life utterly unknown to you .

4. And be it indeed that I have erred , mine errour remaineth with my self . 4. Suppose that I have done amiss , ( which is more then you know , ) I suffer sufficiently for it ; and it doth not become you to increase my Sufferings by your Reproaches .

5. If indeed you will magnifie your selves against me , and plead against me my reproach : 5. But if you will still proceed to lift up your voice to declaim against me , and alledge my Calamities , which have made me contemptible , as an argument to condemn me ;

6. Know now that God hath overthrown me , and hath compassed me with his net . 6. Let this answer suffice you : That I am sensible it is God's doing ; who , having laid me thus low , and inviron'd me with unavoidable Miseries , calls upon you to compassionate rather then reproach me .

7. Behold , I cry out of wrong , but I am not heard : I cry aloud , but there is no judgment . 7. And my Case is the more pitiable , because I know not the Cause of all this ; nor can have any audience or redress , though I appeal to God with the loudest cries , and protest to Him that I am innocent .

8. He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass , and he hath set darkness in my paths . 8. There is no way open for my escape ; but his Plagues surround me so on every side , that I am at my wits end , and know not which way to turn my self .

9. He hath stript me of my glory , and taken the crown from my head . 9. He hath not merely stript me of my Ornaments , and taken that Dignity and Authority from me wherewith I was invested ;

10. He hath destroyed me on every side , and I am gone : and mine hope hath he removed like a tree . 10. But brought me to such utter Ruine , that , like a Tree pluck'd up by the very roots , I have not so much as Hope remaining , which is the onely comfort of the miserable .

11. He hath also kindled his wrath against me , and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies . 11. For He hath done all this with such violence , as if He were extreamly incensed against me , and look'd upon me as his Enemy .

12. His troups come together , and raise up their way against me , and encamp round about my tabernacle . 12. Whole Armies of Evils , by his order , have at the same time invaded me ; and laid such a streight siege to me , that not the smallest Comfort I had could escape their fury .

13. He hath put my brethren far from me , and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me . 13. I look'd for some relief from my Brethren ; but they were so astonisht at the number and dreadfulness of my Calamities , that they durst not approach me : and as for my Neighbours , who formerly so much courted my acquaintance , they truly kept aloof off , as if they had never known me .

14. My kinsfolk have failed , and my familiar friends have forgotten me . 14. They whom Nature inclined to it have failed to perform the duties of Humanity towards me ; and they to whom I was tied by a stronger bond then Nature have forgotten the Friendship there was between us .

15. They that dwell in mine house , and my maids count me for a stranger : I am an aliant in their sight . 15. They that have been kindly entertain'd at my house , nay , the people of my Family , have forgot the respect they were wont to give me ; and look upon me as if they had no relation to me .

16. I called my servant , and he gave me no answer : I entreated him with my mouth . 16. I called to my Slave , and he regarded not what I said ; no , not when I beseeched him as if he had been my Master .

17. My breath is strange to my wife , though I intreated for the childrens sake of mine own body . 17. Which is the less wonder , since I am become so loathsome that my Wife will not come near me ; though I have conjured her to it by the dear memory of our Children , those common pledges of our mutual love .

18. Yea , young children despised me ; I arose , and they spake against me . 18. After these examples young Children and Fools despise me : and when I rise up to invite them to me , abusive language is all the return they make to my Courtesy .

19. All my inward friends abhorred me : and they whom I loved are turned against me . 19. And , which is worst of all , the men whom I intrusted with my greatest Secrets cannot endure me ; and they who have received so many tokens of my Love are become mine Enemies .

20. My bone cleaveth to my skin , and to my flesh , and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth . 20. All these Afflictions have so wasted me , that I am little more then skin and bone : a Mouth to complain withall is all the flesh that is left me .

21. Have pity upon me , have pity upon me , O ye my friends , for the hand of God hath touched me . 21. O ye my Friends , ( if you still deserve that name , ) who are the onely persons that undertake to comfort me , have pity , have pity , I beseech you , upon a miserable wretch ; and consider what Wounds the hand of God hath given me .

22. Why do ye persecute me as God , and are not satisfied with my flesh ? 22. Will you assume the same prerogative , and think you have the same right to afflict me ? And doth it not suffice you to see my Body all consumed , but you will vex my very Soul also with your perverse reasonings ?

23. Oh that my words were now written ! oh that they were printed in a book ! 23. Oh that the Protestations and Appeals I have so often made might remain upon record , and be registred in the publick Acts and Monuments !

24. That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever ! 24. May they be graven upon a plate of lead with an iron pen ; nay , cut into a rock or marble pillar to continue to all Posterity !

25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth , and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth . 25. For my Hope , which was as dead as my self , ( XVII . 13 , 15. XIX . 10. ) begins to revive , because , though I seem for the present to be forsaken of God , yet I know that He can hereafter deliver me out of this miserable condition , since He lives for ever ; and will , I doubt not , at last appear victorious over all the Enemies which now oppress me .

26. And though after my skin , worms destroy this body , yet in my flesh shall I see God : 26. And though the Worms , which have eaten my Skin , should proceed to consume the rest of this wretched Body ; yet I feel my Soul inspired with a comfortable belief , that before I die I shall see my self restored , by the mercy of God , to a happy estate .

27. Whom I shall see for my self , and mine eyes shall behold , and not another ; though my reins be consumed within me . 27. He will not let me always lie under these Reproaches ; but I begin to assure my self , that with these very eyes I shall see Him vindicate my Innocence : not onely others , but I my self shall live to see it ; and I even faint away with vehement desire to behold that happy day .

28. But ye should say , Why persecute we him , seeing the root of the matter is found in me ? 28. Which will make you repent that you have thus persecuted me ; who have not without ground thus long disputed this matter with you , but am sure the right lies on my side , and not on yours .

29. Be ye afraid of the sword : for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword , that ye may know there is a judgment . 29. Take my advice therefore in good time , and dread the just displeasure of God against you for your perverse Reasonings , ( for his wrath punishes mens iniquity with the sword or some such sore Vengeance , ) whereby you will know to your cost , that there is a more righteous Judgment then yours .

CHAP. XX. ARGUMENT .

The abrupt beginning of this Speech of Zophar shews that he was in a passion ; which , though he pretends to bridle it , would not let him calmly consider the Protestation which Job had made of his Innocence . But he goes on in the old Common place of the certain Downfall of the Wicked , be he never so powerfull and well supported . Which he illustrates indeed after an excellent fashion , with great variety of Figures , and remarks upon Histories as old as the World . In some of which he had observed , that the Wicked after their Fall had made not able attempts to get up again ; but by the hand of God were so crushed , that they could never rise more . All the slaw in his Discourse is this , ( which was common to him with the rest , ) that he imagined God never varied from this method ; and therefore Job , without doubt , was a very bad man , though it did not appear he was , any other way , but by his Infelicity .

1. THEN answered Zophar the Naamathite , and said , 1. HERE Zophar , though he had no new thing to produce , hastily interrupted Job , and said ,

2. Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer , and for this I make haste . 2. These words of thine make my former thoughts return again ; and do so provoke me , that I am not able to forbear speaking any longer .

3. I have heard the check of my reproach , and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer . 3. While thou pretendest to correct my Errours , I have heard my self rather shamefully reproached : yet I will not suffer my Passion to reply , but the clear light of my Understanding shall answer for me .

4. Knowest thou not this of old , since man was placed upon earth , 4. It seems thou dost not yet understand , though it be a Truth as old as the World ,

5. That the triumphing of the wicked is short , and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment ? 5. That the Happiness which the Wicked , and he that counterfeits Piety , so much boast of , is of no long standing ; and will continue but for a few moments .

6. Though his excellency mount up to the heavens , and his head reach unto the clouds : 6. Though he should be advanced to the highest pitch of humane Greatness , and overtop all mankind , as much as the highest trees do the lowest shrubs ;

7. Yet he shall perish for ever , like his own dung : they which have seen him shall say , Where is he ? 7. Yet he shall fall as low as his dunghill , and , like it , be cast out for ever with contempt : They who saw him so flourishing shall be astonish'd at his Ruin , and ask with amazement , What is become of him ?

8. He shall flie away as a dream , and shall not be found : yea , he shall be chased away as a vision of the night . 8. For his Happiness hath no firmer foundation then a Dream , of which we have no remembrance in the morning ; or if we have , all the rich furniture and feasts which appear to us in our sleep , vanish in an instant as soon as we awake .

9. The eye also which saw him , shall see him no more ; neither shall his place any more behold him . 9. Just so shall he pass away , and all his Glory with him : Those eyes that were wont to gaze upon it with envy , shall lose the sight of it , and never behold it more .

10. His children shall seek to please the poor , and his hands shall restore their goods . 10. His Children shall have enough to doe to pacify the rage of the Poor , whom he hath oppressed ; and he shall be forced with shame to restore with his own hands the goods he hath extorted from them .

11. His bones are full of the sin of his youth , which shall lie down with him in the dust . 11. His very Bones are full of pain and anguish . All which Punishments of his secret Sins shall stick to him till they bring him to his Grave .

12. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth , though he hide it under his tongue : 12. Though Wickedness , like some dangerous meats , be pleasant in the acting , as they are in the chewing ; so that a man is as desirous to continue it , as a Glutton is to keep a long relish of those sweet morsels upon his palate :

13. Though he spare it , and forsake it not ; but keep it still within his mouth : 13. Though he will by no means part with it , when he is told the danger ; but still retains it , as the other doth that meat in his mouth , which he is told is no better then poison :

14. Yet his meat in his bowels is turned , it is the gall of asps within him . 14. Yet after it is committed it wrings and gripes the Conscience ; as those dainty bits , when they are swallowed , do the bowells : the pleasure is turned into pain , the sweetness into such bitterness as brings the most sudden destruction .

15. He hath swallowed down riches , and he shall vomit them up again : God shall cast them out of his belly . 15. His ill-gotten Goods , for instance , which he devoured with so much greediness and unsatiable desire , shall never thrive with him ; but he shall be forced to refund them with a torment far exceeding the pleasure wherewith he got them : God himself shall violently force them from him , and all his other Riches together with them .

16. He shall suck the poison of asps : the viper's tongue shall slay him . 16. Which shall prove as great and as deadly a Torture to him , as if , when he squeezed the poor , he had suck'd the poison of Asps , or been bitten with a Viper .

17. He shall not see the rivers , the flouds , the brooks of honey and butter . 17. This shall be his portion , in stead of the pleasures of Nature and Art ; which he flattered himself would flow in several streams to him perpetually .

18. That which he laboured for shall he restore , and shall not swallow it down : according to his substance shall the restitution be , and he shall not rejoyce therein . 18. He may endeavour again with new labour to repair his broken fortune ; but it shall be in vain : though he should get as much Riches as he had before his change , he shall have no joy in them .

19. Because he hath oppressed , and hath forsaken the poor ; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not : 19. When he hath with new Oppressions grinded the poor , and left them destitute , when he hath violently seized on a House , he shall not be able to build it .

20. Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly , he shall not save of that which he desired . 20. When he hath turned , as we say , every stone , and been as restless as a woman in travail ; all his pains shall bring forth nothing of that which he desired .

21. There shall none of his meat be left ; therefore shall no man look for his goods . 21. He shall have no more left him to eat , then he was wont to leave for others ; which shall put him out of all hope of mending his condition .

22. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in streights : every hand of the wicked shall come upon him . 22. The greater fulness you can suppose him to regain of worldly Goods , the more he shall be distressed ; for the hand of every man whom he hath afflicted shall lay hold on him to demand satisfaction .

23. When he is about to fill his belly , God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him , and shall rain it upon him , while he is eating . 23. God himself also shall disturb him in his Enjoyments , with the sorest effects of his Divine Vengeance ; which shall come pouring down from Heaven , when he thinks himself most secure .

24. He shall flee from the iron weapon , and the bow of steel shall strike him through . 24. He shall run from a lesser Danger to fall into a greater ; as if one , avoiding the weapon in a man's hand , should be shot through with a bow of steel .

25. It is drawn and cometh out of the body ; yea , the glistring sword cometh out of his gall ; terrours are upon him . 25. And though he should draw the shaft out of his body , and the wound in his bowels should be healed , he shall not escape so ; for Terrours shall perpetually accompany him .

26. All darkness shall be hid in his secret places : a fire not blown shall consume him ; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle . 26. Nothing but dreadfull Dangers shall wait for him in those places where he hoped for Safety : a Fire not kindled by man shall devour him ; and the same Pestilence or Burning-fever shall take hold of the rest of his Family .

27. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity : and the earth shall rise up against him . 27. The Heaven by Thunder , Lightning or Tempests shall declare it self his enemy ; and the Earth by Wild beasts , or Serpents , or some other way , shall make war against him .

28. The increase of his house shall depart , and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath . 28. His whole Revenue shall melt away as waters poured out , in the day when God intends to punish him .

29. This is the portion of a wicked man from God , and the heritage appointed unto him by God . 29. This is the portion which God the righteous Judge will allot to the Wicked : thus will the Almighty reward his Blasphemies , or his other proud and insolent words .

CHAP. XXI . ARGUMENT .

To bring the Dispute to a speedier issue , Job ( after a short preface , reproving their Incivility ) comes close to the buisiness : and doth not content himself merely with denying what they had said , but shews them where the fallacy in their Discourse lay ; viz. in concluding an Vniversal from some Particulars . For he maintains , from as good History and Observations as they could produce , that , though God do make some Wicked men such examples of his Vengeance , as they had said , yet He lets others , and they of the vilest sort , Atheists and Deriders of Divine Providence , live prosperously , and die peaceably , and have stately Monuments built to perpetuate their Memory . In brief , he shews there is great variety in God's proceedings about the Punishment of the Wicked ; which makes them so bold as they are in their Impiety . And seems to have respect to the History of Ishmael , who was a wild , or barbarous , man , grasping at all he could lay his hands on , and persecuting Isaac ; and yet had XII Princes descended from him , settled in their several Fortresses , as we reade XVI . Gen. 12. XVII . 20. XXV . 16. And it is possible , to the History of Eliphaz his own Country : Esau his Ancestour being very rich , ( XXXVI . Gen. 6 , 7. ) and having many Dukes , whose posterity afterward advanced themselves to the title of Kings , that sprang from him , before there was any King over the Children of Israel . XXXVI . Gen. 15 , 31.

1. BVT Job answered , and said , 1. BUT Job , who knew the falseness of this Assertion , ( in which Zophar secretly struck at him , ) That God always punishes Sinners in this manner , would not let it pass without Answer , and therefore said again unto them ;

2. Hear diligently my speech , and let this be your consolations . 2. Let me prevail with you , to attend better then you have done hitherto to my Discourse : Doe me this kindness , and it shall serve in stead of all the Consolations I promised my self from you .

3. Suffer me that I may speak ; and after that I have spoken , mock on . 3. Hear me patiently , and do not so hastily interrupt me as Zophar just now did ; ( XX. 2. ) who , after I have done , may begin , if he please , to deride me again .

4. As for me , is my complaint to man ? and if it were so , why should not my spirit be troubled ? 4. Have I not all this while made my Appeal to God ? why then do you interrupt me , and take upon you to pronounce that Sentence which I expect from Him alone ? But if my Complaint had been to you , yet , seeing there is just cause for it , can I chuse but be vext to see you will not hear me patiently ?

5. Mark me , and be astonished , and lay your hand upon your mouth . 5. Consider well my Misery , and being astonisht at the greatness of it , and of your Rudeness , be so civil now as to impose silence on your selves , while I am speaking to you .

6. Even when I remember , I am afraid , and trembling taketh bold on my flesh . 6. I am sure I my self am astonisht at the very remembrance of it : were I free from it , yet the thought of what is past makes every joynt of my body tremble .

7. Wherefore do the wicked live , become old , yea , are mighty in power ? 7. Let me therefore again desire you to answer me this question more leisurely ; If what you have said be true , how come we to see so many wicked men not onely enjoy all the Good things of this life , but grow old in their enjoyment , and want no Honour or Power to which Riches can advance them ?

8. Their seed is established in their sight with them , and their off-spring before their eyes . 8. Nay , live to see their Children settled in the World ; yea , their Childrens children grow up like young plants before their eyes ?

9. Their houses are safe from fear , neither is the rod of God upon them . 9. There is no body disturbs their Tranquillity in any of their habitations ; nor doth God inflict any Punishment on them for their sins :

10. Their bull gendreth and faileth not ; their cow calveth , and casteth not her calf . 10. But extends his care even to their Herds of Cattel ; where the Kine never fail to conceive , and in due time bring forth their Calves , and do not miscarry .

11. They send forth their little ones like a flock , and their children dance . 11. And so do their flocks of Sheep , with whom their Wives may be compared ; who bring forth their little ones as easily and as numerously : and their Children dance about their houses , like the little Lambs which skip about their fields .

12. They take the timbrel and harp , and rejoyce at the sound of the organ . 12. They lift up their voice , and sing to the timbrel and harp : they dance for joy at the sound of the pipe .

13. They spend their days in wealth , and in a woment go down to the grave . 13. In a word , they prolong their days to a great old age , in all manner of pleasure ; and then do not lie long languishing on a bed of Sickness or Pain , but go easily and suddenly to their grave .

14. Therefore they say unto God , Depart from us ; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways . 14. And yet these are the men that never think of God ; or , if they do , presently bid those thoughts be gone ; for they desire to have nothing to doe with Him or with his Laws .

15. What is the Almighty , that we should serve him ? and what profit should we have if we pray unto him ? 15. They know no such Being , they say , as the Almighty ; nor do they owe Him any service : and if they should worship and serve Him , they do not believe they shall be a whit the better for it .

16. Lo , their good is not in their hand : the counsel of the wicked is far from me . 16. Do not imagine that I am of their opinion ; I know very well that they cannot make themselves rich and prosperous without God ; and therefore far be it from me to joyn with them in their Impiety .

17. How oft is the candle of the wicked put out ? and hwo oft cometh their destruction upon them ? God distributeth sorrows in his anger . 17. But yet , I say , how oft is it that we see the Joy of these Wicked men extinguished ? Sometimes indeed God takes a speedy Vengeance on them ; but it is not his usual course to destroy them , and to give them such Plagues and Torments ( as you speak of ) for their portion .

18. They are as stubble before the wind , and as chaff that the storm carrieth away . 18. We do not see them so frequently , as you say , driven away like Stubble before the wind , and all their Estates scattered like the Chaff which is blown away with a storm .

19. God layeth up his iniquity for his children : he rewardeth him , and he shall know it . 19. And when doth God punish the Iniquity of the wicked in his Children , ( as you pretend he always doth XX. 10. ) and that while he lives and beholds it himself ?

20. His eyes shall see his destruction , and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty . 20. It is not such a common thing as you make it , for him to see his own Ruine , and to feel the effects of the dreadfull wrath of the Almighty .

21. For what pleasure hath he in his house after him , when the number of his moneths is cut off in the midst ? 21. As for what befalls his Children when he is dead , he concerns not himself : it is nothing to him though they be cut off in their most flourishing estate .

22. Shall any teach God knowledge ? seeing be judgeth those that are high . 22. Shall we be so bold as to instruct God how to govern the World ? and tell Him He is not just , unless He punish the Wicked when we expect it ? He judges the highest Beings , and therefore knows sure how to govern us .

23. One dieth in his full strength , being wholly at ease and quiet . 23. Who must not think to tie Him to our Rules . For one man dies in the highest and firmest worldly Prosperity , meeting with nothing all his days to disturb his Quiet and Tranquillity :

24. His breasts are full of milk , and his bones are moistened with marrow . 24. Health as well as Riches accompany him to his grave ; his Ribs are fat , and his Bones full of marrow , even in his old age :

25. And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul , and never eateth with pleasure . 25. When another man ( who perhaps is better then he ) dies in great Pain and Anguish ; after a miserable Life , in which he never enjoyed any Pleasure .

26. They shall lie down alike in the dust , and the worms shall cover them . 26. They shall both alike have the Dust for their bed , and Worms for their covering ; and no distinction , that we can see , be made between them .

27. Behold , I know your thoughts , and the divices which ye wrongfully imagin against me . 27. I am sensible that in all this I very much contradict your thoughts ; which are as well known to me as to your selves : I see by what Arguments you are studying to oppress me .

28. For ye say , Where is the house of the prince ? and where are the dwelling-places of the wicked ? 28. I hear you say within your selves , What is become of the House of Job , who lived like a Prince ? what difference is there between him , and those wicked men whose Dwelling-places are destroyed ?

29. Have ye not asked them that go by the way ? and do ye not know their tokens ? 29. But let me answer you ; or rather go and ask the first passengers you meet with , ( for it is a thing vulgarly known , and they are not interessed in our Disputes , ) let them tell you their observations about God's Providence :

30. That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction ; they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath ? 30. Which all agree in this , that the Wicked is spared very often in a common Calamity ; though it be very general as well as terrible , yet many of them escape it .

31. Who shall declare his way to his face ? and who shall repay him what he hath done ? 31. Which makes the Wicked so bold , that none dare reprove him : much less is he in danger of being punished for his Offences , since God spares him , and Man dreads him .

32. Yet shall he be brought to the grave , and shall remain in the comb . 32. The Pomp of his Funeral is answerable to the Splendour wherein he lived ; and a stately Monument is raised to preserve his memory , and represent him as if he were still living .

33. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him ; and every manshall draw after him , as there are innumerable before him . 33. There he lies quietly in the earth , and none disturbs his ashes : he suffers nothing but what all men shall do after him , as innumerable have done before him .

34. How then comfort ye me in vain , seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood ? 34. See then how ill you discharge the office of Comforters , whose Answers have so little truth in them . For you maintain that Prosperity is the inseparable companion of Piety ; when every-body can tell you , that none flourish more then the Wicked , and that Calamities are common to all mankind .

CHAP. XXII . ARGUMENT .

Though Job had clearly stated the Controversy in the foregoing Chapter , yet Eliphaz would not yield ; but begins the Combate a third time , without any ground at all , but a pure mistake , as I have expressed it in the first verse . And to avoid the Reproof , which had been given him , of repeating merely the same things ; he now brings in a catalogue , though without any proof , ( so much was his anger and bitterness increased , ) of the particular Sins , both against God and against his Neighbour , of which he supposes Job to have been guilty . Else , he still boldly concludes , God would not have punished him with such severity , that there was not a greater instance of his Indignation to be found any-where ; unless it was in the Old World , and in Sodom . Yet he hath so much Moderation , that he invites him at last to Repentance , and promises him the happy fruit of it ; as he had done in his first Speech , but not in his second . Nay , he tells him , in conclusion , for his incouragement , that he should be able to doe as much for a Nation , as Ten righteous men , could they have been found there , might have done for Sodom .

1. THEN Eliphaz the Temanite answered , and said , 1. THEN Eliphaz , not being able to deny all this , and yet not minding the scope of it , ( but imagining Job had accused the Divine Providence of Injustice , in suffering the Wicked to prosper , and the Righteous to be afflicted , ) grew very angry , and said ,

2. Can a man be profitable unto God , as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself ? 2. Is God ever the better for any thing that we doe ? Because a wise man receives great benefit by his Vertue , shall we think that God is a Gainer by it too , and that He is bound to reward it ?

3. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty , that thou art righteous ? or is it gain to him , that thou makest thy ways perfect ? 3. Doth He , who needs nothing , ( being Possessour of all things , ) desire thou shouldst be righteous for His own advantage ? or will it turn to His profit , if thou livest never so unblameably ?

4. Will he reprove thee for fear of thee ? will he enter with thee into judgment ? 4. Or , on the contrary , is He afraid thou shouldst hurt Him by thy Sins , and will therefore punish them ? Is this the reason that He now afflicts thee , to prevent the damage they might doe Him ?

5. Is not thy wickedness great ? and thine iniquities infinite ? 5. Are not rather thy Sins against God and against Men so great and so numberless , that no other Cause is to be sought of thy sore and multiplied Punishments ?

6. For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought , and stripped the naked of their cloathing . 6. For ( to begin with those against Man ) thou hast been a Tyrant , and exacted Pawns of thine own Kindred for little or nothing : and hast stript even those of their Garments , who had no more but just to cover their nakedness .

7. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink ▪ and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry . 7. Thou hast been hard-hearted to the weary Traveller , when thou sawest him ready to die with thirst or with hunger .

8. But as for the mighty man , he had the earth , and the honourable man dwelt in it . 8. But as for the Great and the Powerfull , all thy estate was at his service : if he brought the title to any Land in question , he was sure to carry the cause by thy Favour to him .

9. Thou hast sent widows away empty , and the arms of the fatherless have been broken . 9. When at the same time the poor Widows and Orphans ( whose protection God hath in a special manner commended to us ) could not obtain the favour of having Justice done them ; but were crush'd and broken by thee , and had all the means of defending themselves taken from them .

10. Therefore snares are round about thee , and sudden fear troubleth thee ; 10. Thou art guilty , sure enough , of some such Sins as these , which are the cause that now thou art beset with these Calamities , and most dreadfull Plagues have on a sudden confounded thee .

11. Or darkness that thou canst not see , and abundance of waters cover thee . 11. Oh thy Blindness ! dost thou not yet see how God hath proportioned thy Punishment to thy Crimes ? hath the depth of the Afflictions wherein thou art plung'd quite taken away all sense from thee ?

12. Is not God in the height of heaven ? and behold the height of the stars , how high they are . 12. Is not God above the Heavens ? behold , He is the Head and Governour of the Stars , although they be so high ; and therefore how shouldst thou think to escape his Justice ?

13. And thou sayest , How doth God know ? can be judge through the dark cloud ? 13. But perhaps thou fansiest ( such is thy Impiety against Him , as well as Cruelty to thy Neighbour ) that , because He is so high , He minds not what is done here below : or that He cannot discern the difference of things so very remote , through such a mist as is between us .

14. Thick clouds are a covering to him , that he seeth not ; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven . 14. He is wrapt , thou imaginest , in such thick Clouds , that they obscure us from his sight : or He is confined to the Heavens , and so buisied in their affairs , that He hath no leisure to attend to ours .

15. Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have troden ? 15. But didst thou never observe , or hast thou forgotten , the course of the old Atheistical World , who ran licentiously into all manner of Wickedness ?

16. Which were cut down out of time , whose foundation was overflown with a floud . 16. To whom God therefore put a stop , by destroying them before their time , and carrying them quite away with the Floud , when they thought themselves firmly settled in the earth ;

17. Which said unto God , Depart from us : and what can the Almighty doe for them ? 17. And were saying , ( as thou wouldst have us believe the wicked now do , and yet prosper , XXI . 14. ) We have nothing to doe with God , nor He with us . Dost thou remember what God then did to them , for their horrid Ingratitude to him ,

18. Yet he filled their houses with good things : but the counsel of the wicked is far from me . 18. Who had filled their houses with all manner of good things ? O vile wretches ! whose wicked thoughts I abhor as much as thou thy self , ( XXI . 16. )

19. The righteous see it , and are glad : and the innocent laugh them to scorn . 19. Whose overthrow Noah and his Family beholding , rejoyced in God's righteous Judgment : That innocent man derided their Incredulity .

20. Whereas our substance is not cut down , but the remnant of them the fire consumeth . 20. Whereas we , who believe God's Care and Providence , are untouch'd in our Estates ; when the reliques of those impious men are devoured by Fire from Heaven .

21. Acquaint now thy self with him , and be at peace : thereby good shall come unto thee . 21. Let me advise thee therefore , ( whom God hath not yet quite consumed , ) to joyn thy self to the society of the Righteous , and to become like Noah : then be secure , and doubt not but by that means all Happiness shall return to thee .

22. Receive , I pray thee , the law from his mouth , and lay up his words in thine heart . 22. Do not refuse the Instruction which such men give thee from God ; but heartily embrace it , and faithfully preserve it to be the rule of thy Life .

23. If thou return to the Almighty , thou shalt be built up ; thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles . 23. Thou shalt soon feel the comfortable fruits of it : for if thou return to the Almighty , who hath laid thee thus low , He will return to thee , and raise thee up as high as ever : He will pardon thine Iniquity , and remove the Punishment of it far from thee and thine .

24. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust , and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks . 24. Thou shalt recover all thy Losses with usury ; and no more value gold then the dirt , on which it shall lie ; nor the purest gold more then the pebbles in the brook .

25. Yea , the Almighty shall be thy defence , and thou shalt have plenty of silver . 25. Thou shalt be at no pains to secure thy vast Heaps of gold and silver ; because thy Almighty Restorer , who gave them to thee , will defend them better then the strongest fortress , and be Himself thy Treasure .

26. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty , and shalt lift up thy face unto God . 26. For then thou shalt be so far from doubting of his Care over thee , that thou shalt delight to think how He loves thee : thou shalt not be dejected any more , but confidently and chearfully expect his Blessing on thee .

27. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him , and he shall hear thee , and thou shalt pay thy vows . 27. Thou shalt ask nothing of Him , but thou shalt obtain it ; and have abundant cause to be continually giving thanks to Him , for his bounteous Goodness in fulfilling thy desires .

28. Thou shalt also decree a thing , and it shall be established unto thee : and the light shall shine upon thy ways . 28. Thou shalt accomplish whatsoever thou designest , and all thy undertakings shall be prosperous .

29. When men are cast down , then thou shalt say , There is lifting up : and he shall save the humble person . 29. Thou shalt pray to God also to lift up others , who are in a low condition ; and He shall grant thy petitions , by delivering him that is depressed .

30. He shall deliver the island of the innocent : and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands . 30. Yea , a whole Country shall owe its safety to thy Innocence : it shall be delivered by thy pious Prayers and blameless Actions .

CHAP. XXIII . ARGUMENT .

To the foregoing Discourse of Eliphaz Job thought at first to make no Answer , but onely by complaints of their Injustice , and fresh Appeals to God : by whom he desires , more carnestly than ever , to be tried ; being assured that He would acquit him . And though for the present God was not pleased to give him audience , ( of which he complains with too much passion ; ) yet he maintains that hope , which began to appear in his Soul , ( in his last Discourse with Bildad Ch. XIX . ) that God would at last clear him from all the Aspersions which were cast upon him .

1. THEN Job answered , and said , 1. THEN Job , hearing his Person thus defamed , and his Discourse perverted , renewed his Complaints , and said ,

2. Even to day is my complaint bitter : my stroke is heavier then my groaning . 2. Still my just Defence of my self is judged to be Rebellion against God : which renders my Sufferings heavier then all my Sighs and Groans can express :

3. Oh that I knew where I might find him I that I might come even to his seat ! 3. And makes me once more appeal to God , and wish I could be admitted into his presence , ( so free I am from the conscience of any Guilt , ) and approach even to his Judgment-seat .

4. I would order my cause before him , and fill my mouth with arguments . 4. I would set before Him the Justice of my Cause ; and fill my mouth with Confutations of your false Accusations .

5. I would know the words which he would answer me , and understand what he would say unto me . 5. I would press to know his Judgment of me , and diligently attend to the Sentence which He would pass upon me .

6. Will he plead against me with his great power ? No , but he would put strength in me . 6. Do you think He would make no other use of his absolute Power then to oppress me ? I cannot believe it ; He would rather imploy it to support me ;

7. There the righteous might dispute with him ; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge . 7. Till at his Bar I had proved my self a Righteous person , and been perfectly acquitted by him my righteous Judge .

8. Behold , I go forward , but he is not there ; & backward , but I cannot perceive him : 8. But all these , alas ! are vain Wishes ; for which way soever I turn my self , whether to the East or to the West , I cannot see Him appear to doe me right .

9. On the left hand , where he doth work , but I cannot behold him : he hideth himself on the right hand , that I cannot see him . 9. He works and moves invisibly in all other quarters of the world ; but I can discover nothing He does to clear my Innocence .

10. But he knoweth the way that I take : when he hath tried me , I shall come forth as gold . 10. My onely comfort is , that , though I cannot know all his Ways , yet He , being every-where , knows the whole course of my Life : and when He hath proved me by these Afflictions , as gold is by the fire , I doubt not I shall be cleared from these Imputations which you lay upon me .

11. My foot hath held his steps , his way have I kept , and not declined . 11. I am sure I have ever followed his guidance , and so stedfastly observed his Commandments , that no temptation hath made me swerve from them .

12. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips , I have esteemed the words of his mouth more then my necessary food . 12. I have prevented the Advice you give me , ( XXII . 22. ) having never done otherwise then He bid me , and laid up his words more carefully then my necessary provision for this life .

13. But he is in one mind , and who can turn him ? and what his soul desireth , even that he doeth . 13. But for the present this doth not at all move Him to relieve me : He continues his purpose , ( whatever it be , ) and none can alter it , no more then they can hinder the fulfilling of it .

14. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me : and many such things are with him . 14. For what He hath resolved to inflict upon me , that I find He will accomplish : and many such things as these He doeth , of which He will not give us the reason .

15. Therefore am I troubled at his presence : when I consider , I am afraid of him . 15. This terrifies me , when I reflect upon it , notwithstanding my Innocence : I tremble at the thoughts of his absolute Power and unsearchable Wisedom , which may think fit still to continue these Afflictions ;

16. For God maketh my heart soft , and the Almighty troubleth me : 16. Which by the weight of them have broken my spirit , and made me so timorous , that I cannot but dread the danger I am in of suffering more from his Almighty hand .

17. Because I was not cut off before the darkness , neither hath he covered the darkness from my face . 17. For still He keeps me alive under all these Evils which I endure ; and will not let me have the favour to die by that hand which strikes me so severely .

CHAP. XXIV . ARGUMENT .

Vpon farther consideration Job thought good again to confute their rash Assertion , about the Plagues which always befall the Wicked , by an Induction of particulars that prove the contrary . Among which , the wild Arabs , he tells them , are a notorious instance , whose profession is Rapine , and yet they thrive and prosper in it ; v. 5 , &c. And so do the more civiliz'd Oppressours , of whom he says something before , and again v. 11 , 12. Where he seems to reflect upon hard Landlords , and griping Merchants and Traffiquers in cities . To whom he adds Murtherers , Adulterers , Pirates , with several other wicked Villains , ( in the conclusion of the Chapter , ) who notwithstanding die like other men , and are not called to an account , for their enormous Crimes , in this present World .

1. WHY , seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty , do they that know him , not see his days ? 1. BUT , to answer a little what you have so often asserted ; If Punishments from the Almighty be so apparent and visible upon the Wicked , why do not they who are truly Pious see these publick and open Judgments ?

2. Some remove the land-marks ; they violently take away flocks , and feed thereof . 2. Especially when the Wickedness of some of them is so notorious , that they violate all known Rights ; seizing on the Lands of their Neighbours , taking away their Cattel , and ( not content with that ) owning it when they have done , by putting them openly into their pastures ?

3. They drive way the ass of the fatherless , they take the widow's ox for a pledge . 3. If a poor Fatherless child have an Ass left him to carry his burthens , they drive it away on some pretence or other ; and have no more mercy then to take of the Widow , for the security of her debt , the onely Oxe she hath wherewith to plough her ground .

4. They turn the needy out of the way : the poor of the earth hide themselves together . 4. They offer Abuses to helpless people upon the high-way : so that the meaner sort dare not appear , for fear of their Insolence or their Violence .

5. Behold , as wild asses in the desart goe they forth to their work , rising betimes for a prey : the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children . 5. And you shall see others of them who ( making Pillage their trade ) leave the Cities and Towns , and go to skulk in Forests and desart places ; where becoming wild and savage , they live on Rapine and Spoil ; in which they are so diligent , that those Wildernesses ( where they neither plough nor sow ) maintain their families .

6. They reap every one his corn in the field : and they gather the vintage of the wicked . 6. For they make Inrodes , out of those Woods , into the neighbouring Fields and Vineyards ; and thence wickedly carry away the Corn and the Grapes , never regarding who is the owner of them .

7. They cause the naked to lodge without cloathing , that they have no covering in the cold . 7. They spare not the poor Reapers and Vintagers ; but , stripping them to their very skin , leave them never a rag to defend them from the cold , when they go to rest after their wearisome labours .

8. They are wet with the showrs of the mountains , and embrace the rock for want of a shelter . 8. They are exposed ( poor wretches ! ) to the injury of the weather , as they lie asleep at the foot of mountains : they have nowhither to run , but into Caves and Holes of rocks ; where they endeavour to shrowd themselves , when they see a Tempest coming .

9. They pluck the fatherless from the breast , and take a pledge of the poor . 9. Nay , the Persons of men are not safe from the violence of these Outlaws : but they snatch away young Children from their Mothers breasts ; and carry away the Poor ( pretending they owe them something ) to make them their Slaves .

10. They cause him to go naked without cloathing , and they take away the sheaf from the hungry : 10. Whom when they have stoln , they will not allow so much as Cloaths to cover their nakedness ; nor let him that is ready to starve eat of the Sheaf which he hath gleaned .

11. Which make oyl within their walls , and tread their wine-presses , and suffer thirst . 11. They cause these miserable creatures to press out their oyl and their wine in their Cellars ; but let them not tast a drop , though they be ready to die with thirst .

12. Men groan from out of the city , and the soul of the wounded crieth out : yet God layeth not folly to them . 12. Whole Cities groan under the Oppression of some or other of these wicked men , and cry out like those that are dying of their wounds : and yet God , who knows all this , doth not make them examples of his Displeasure , nor can we tell when He will punish them for their Injustice and Cruelty .

13. They are of those that rebell against the light : they know not the ways thereof , nor abide in the paths thereof . 13. The world would be very empty , if He should destroy all such persons ; for besides these open , there are more secret Sinners , who look upon the light as their Enemy : They dare not be seen in the day-time ; or if they be espied , they presently seek to hide themselves , that they may not be discovered .

14. The murtherer rising with the light , killeth the poor and needy , and in the night is as a thief . 14. The Murtherer , for instance , rises before the Sun , to kill those whose poverty calls them up to early labour ; and then lurking all day in the close thickets and woods , he turns Robber , and rifles rich mens houses in the night .

15. The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight , saying , No eye shall see me ; and disguiseth his face . 15. The Adulterer also , whose eye hath let an unlawfull love into his heart , waits for the dusk of the evening , to favour his leud desire : Then he hopes nobody he meets withall will know him ; but lest they should , he wraps his face in his cloak to prevent discovery .

16. In the dark they dig through houses , which they had marked for themselves in the day-time : they know not the light . 16. And , when all are at rest , he will dig through the walls of houses , if there be no other way to come at the Adulteress : The assignment was made between them in the day-time , and the place then mark'd out , at which he may most easily enter ; but it is the night which brings them together , to act the works of darkness .

17. For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death : if one know them , they are in the terrours of the shadow of death . 17. These are their delight ; and if they chance to sleep too long together , and the morning surprise them , they are ready to die with fear : if any one know them , they are in the very agonies of death .

18. He is swift as the waters , their portion is cursed in the earth : he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards . 18. To this wicked crue you may adde the Pirate , who robs upon the Sea , and runs from one little creek to another in swift ships : which bring him in so much riches , that he despises the imployment of those who till the earth and plant vineyards , as poor and unprofitable .

19. Drought and heat consume the snow-waters : so doth the grave those which have sinned . 19. And yet all these , after they have spent their life in such horrid Villanies , do not die of lingring and tormenting Diseases ; but go down to the grave as easily as Snow-water sinks into the dry ground when it is melted by the Sun .

20. The womb shall forget him , the worm shall feed sweetly on him , he shall be no more remembred , and wickedness shall be broken as a tree . 20. God sets no such mark of his Displeasure upon him , but that his Mother may soon forget him : The hand of Justice doth not hang him on a gibbet for the birds to feed on ; but he is carried to his grave like other men , to be the sweet food of worms . There he lies quietly , and neither he nor his Wickedness are any more remembred then a Tree which is broken all to shivers .

21. He evil intreateth the barren that beareth not : and doeth not good to the widow . 21. This is true even of him who , to hide his Villany , kills the Child in the womb of her whom he hath deflowred ; and when he hath abused a poor Widow , makes her no satisfaction .

22. He draweth also the mighty with his power : he riseth up , and no man is sure of life . 22. The greatest persons are not able to stand before him : When he rises up to assassinate , there is no man , be he never so strong , is sure of his life .

23. Though it be given him to be in safety , whereon he resteth ; yet his eyes are upon their ways . 23. Though he give you his hand , and promise you security so solemnly , that you think you may rely upon him ; yet he watches all occasions , and lies in wait secretly , to doe you mischief .

24. They are exalted for a little while , but are gone , and brought low ; they are taken out of the way , as all other , and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn . 24. Thus these Impious men flourish and are lifted up above all other ; and then they depart the world without any Punishment : They are laid down and shut up in their Graves like all other men ; nay , they die as easily ( without those tedious pains which some endure ) as the top of an Ear of corn is cropt with your hand .

25. And if it be not so now , who will make me a liar , and make my speech nothing worth ? 25. All this I know to be so true , that I challenge all the World to disprove me : I am sure it is not in any man's power to shew that my Discourse is frivolous .

CHAP. XXV . ARGUMENT .

The foregoing Discourse of Job , in the XXIV . Chapter , was so undeniable , that Bildad begins to break off the Dispute . For he says not a word to it , but onely advises him to speak more reverently of the Majesty of God , then , he imagined , he had done in his appeal to him Chap. XXIII .

1. THEN answered Bildad the Shuhite , and said , 1. THEN Bildad , ( whose turn it was to speak , ) being unable to refute what Job had said , onely desired him in a few words , to beware how he reflected upon the Justice of God , or imagined himself to be just if He examined him . The words were these .

2. Dominion and fear are with him , he maketh peace in his high-places . 2. Take heed what thou sayest of God , the Sovereign of the World , who ought to be worshipped by thee with the most awfull reverence ; as He is in the Heavenly places , where they never rebell against his orders .

3. Is there any number of his armies ? and upon whom doth not his light arise ? 3. Hath He not innumerable troups of Angels and other Creatures , all ready to execute his pleasure ? And where is the man that is out of the verge of his all-overspreading Providence ?

4. How then can man be justified with God ? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman ? 4. Why then doth such a pitifull wretch as he talk of his Righteousness , before this glorious Majesty ? He forgets sure the condition of his Birth , who pretends to Purity in his sight .

5. Behold even to the moon , and it shineth not ; yea , the stars are not pure in his sight . 5. Let a man lift up his eyes as high as the Moon , nay , look as far as the Sun and the Stars of Heaven , he shall find that they have their Spots ; nay , in His presence , have no lustre at all .

6. How much less man that is a worm , and the son of man which is a worm ? 6. What can be expected then from miserable Man or his posterity ; who , being full of Corruption whilst they live , can be nothing but Rottenness when they are dead ?

CHAP. XXVI . ARGUMENT .

Job hearing Bildad wander so far from the buisiness , derides his grave affectation of Wisedom ; and tells him that , though he talk'd as if he thought himself fit to be a Coadjutour to God Almighty , yet , as his Discourse was impertinent , so it was but mean and flat , in comparison with what he was able to speak himself , concerning the Omnipotent Wisedom of God : which he sets forth in a far more lively manner .

1. BVT Job answered , and said , 1. TO this Job replied almost as briefly ; saying ,

2. How hastthou helped him that is without power ? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength ? 2. O wonderfull Advocate ! How excellently hast thou defended Him who hath no need of thy help ? Dost thou think to doe the Almighty any service by such Discourses ?

3. How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisedom ? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is ? 3. What admirable Advice wouldst thou give Him in his Government of the world , if He would admit thee to be his Counsellour , who imaginest , no doubt , thou aboundest with Wisedom , and hast hit the very mark ?

4. To whom hast thou uttered words ? and whose spirit came from thee ? 4. Dost thou think me ignorant of such things as these ? or canst thou pretend to any extraordinary inspiration concerning them ?

5. Dead things are formed from under the waters , and the inhabitants thereof . 5. I know , as well as thou canst inform me , the Power of God ; which appears not onely in the Heavens , ( to which thou biddest me look , ) but even in the lowest parts of the Earth : where vast giant-like Creatures are formed under the water , whose inhabitants are innumerable .

6. Hell is naked before him , and destruction hath no covering . 6. Nor is his Knowledge , I am sensible , less then his Power ; but penetrates into the greatest depths : the very dead , who are quite removed out of our sight , being perfectly visible unto him .

7. He stretcheth out the north over the empty place , and hangeth the earth upon nothing . 7. Who by his wonderfull Power and Wisedom stretches out the whole World from the one Pole to the other : which He alone sustains ; as He doth this globe of Earth hanging in the Air , without any thing to support it .

8. He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds , and the cloud is not rent under them . 8. It is He who binds up the fluid Waters , as it were in bags , and keeps them a long time hanging in the Clouds : through which they do not burst all at once , but distill by drops to moisten the earth in due season .

9. He holdeth back the face of his throne , and spreadeth his cloud upon it . 9. These Clouds He spreads before the glorious face of Heaven , to restrain the beams of the Sun from scorching the earth .

10. He hath compassed the waters with bounds , untill the day and night come to an end . 10. He hath inclosed the waters of the Sea in shores ; and so exactly compassed them about , that as long as the world lasts they shall not be able ( be they never so furious ) to exceed those bounds , but shall break all their rage against them into froth .

11. The pillars of heaven tremble , and are astonished at his reproof . 11. And yet the highest Mountains , which look as if they were the pillars and supporters of the Heavens , quake and tremble , when He thunders and lightens upon them .

12. He divideth the sea with his power , and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud . 12. By his Power He raises a Tempest , which makes great furrows in the Sea , and divideth , as it were , one part of it from another : and ( such is his Wisedom ) He knows how to appease it again , and depress its proud waves into the deadest calm .

13. By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens ; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent . 13. Finally , by his wise contrivance the Heavens were adorned , and made thus beautifull , as we behold them : His Power made the Milky way , ( and other celestial Signs , ) whose windings are so admirable .

14. Lo these are parts of his ways , but how little a portion is heard of him ? but the thunder of his power who can understand ? 14. And yet these are but very small parcells of his Works : For , alas ! it is very little that such as we can comprehend of Him ; but the utmost force of his Power is past all understanding .

CHAP. XXVII . ARGUMENT .

As Bildad began to decline the Dispute , so Zophar quite gives it over : either looking upon Job as incurably obstinate , or ( as we might more charitably conceive , were it not for what we reade XXXII . 1. ) being convinced he had more reason on his side . Whose silence so raised the spirit of Job , that he now triumphs over his Opponents : as the word MASCHAL , which we render PARABLE , may denote . For it signifies among the Hebrews , an elegant ingenious kind of speech ; excelling , and , as it were , dominearing over , all other , in its pithiness , or neatness , or some other rare quality . Such is the following Discourse of Job , which begins ( in this Chapter ) with a vehement Protestation , that he would never desert his Plea ; nor yield to their Doctrine , that a remarkable Vengeance always attends upon Wickedness in this world : though he grants , and largely here asserts , that sometimes there doth .

1. MOreover Job continued his parable , and said , 1. AFTER Job had made some pause , and Zophar ( whose turn it was now to speak ) had nothing at all to reply , He proceeded with greater eloquence then ever to assert his Innocence ; saying ,

2. As God liveth , who hath taken away my judgment , and the Almighty , who hath vexed my soul ; 2. I protest by the Eternal God , who , for the present , will not judge my Cause ; by the Omnipotent Lord of the world , who hath loaded me with so many Afflictions , that they have taken away all the pleasure of Life from me :

3. All the while my breath is in me , and the spirit of God is in my nostrils , 3. I protest , I say , that as long as I have breath in my body , and He shall enable me to speak a word ,

4. My lips shall not speak wickedness , nor my tongue utter deceit . 4. My tongue shall be the faithfull interpreter of mine heart , and I will never speak otherways then I think .

5. God forbid that I should justifie you : till I die , I will not remove my integrity from me . 5. Therefore never hope I will yield to your Opinion , which I know to be false : no , I abhor the thought of it , and will sooner die then confess the Guilt which you charge me withall .

6. My righteousness I hold fast , and will not let it go : my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live . 6. You shall never extort that from me , but I will resolutely maintain my Righteousness , and not be persuaded by any reasons to desert its defence : my Conscience doth not hitherto accuse me , and it shall never upbraid me hereafter , for betraying mine Innocence .

7. Let mine enemy be as the wicked ; and he that riseth up against me , as the unrighteous . 7. And let me tell you , he that sets himself against me , and would have me thought wicked , shall be found so himself in the end : I say again , he shall prove himself unrighteous sooner then me ;

8. For what is the hope of the hypocrite , though he hath gained , when God taketh away his soul ? 8. Who know very well , it is madness for a man to counterfeit Piety , when he hath none : for though he may get Riches by that pretence while he lives , yet what hope hath he when he dies ?

9. Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him ? 9. Nay before that , when any Calamity comes upon him , will God give any regard to the cries of one who regarded Him so little ?

10. Will he delight himself in the Almighty ? will he always call upon God ? 10. Or will he himself have the confidence to go to God , and expect any comfort from Him ? will he not rather despond in such a case , and cease to call upon Him ?

11. I will teach you by the hand of God : that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal . 11. Do not disdain to learn of me , and I will make you understand what God doeth with the Wicked ; and discover to you some of the secrets of his Almighty Providence .

12. Behold , all ye your selves have seen it , why then are ye thus altogether vain ? 12. Behold , there is not one of you but hath by his own experience found what I am about to say to be certainly true ; and yet , such is your vanity , you will defend an ungrounded opinion .

13. This is the portion of a wicked man with God , and the heritage of oppressours , which they shall receive of the Almighty . 13. I grant that a Wicked man ( but not all Wicked men , as you maintain ) doth sometimes receive such Punishment from God as he deserves : which might make other tyrannical Oppressours fear to meet with the same Vengeance .

14. If his children be multiplied , it is for the sword : and his off-spring shall not be satisfied with bread . 14. We have seen , for instance , his numerous posterity fall by the sword of Justice or War ; or by the fury of a popular Tumult : and they who escaped were reserved to perish with cruel Hunger ;

15. Those that remain of him shall be buried in death : and his widows shall not weep . 15. Or else with such pestilential Diseases , that none would adventure to bury them , nor did their widows survive to lament them .

16. Though he heap up silver as the dust , and prepare raiment as the clay ; 16. So that if he have treasured up such heaps of Riches , that he values silver no more then dust , nor costly apparel and furniture then the mire of the street ;

17. He may prepare it , but the just shall put it on , and the innocent shall divide the silver . 17. He shall have onely the trouble of gathering them together , but none of his shall enjoy them : God shall translate all these Treasures to another family , who shall doe more good with them .

18. He buildeth his house as a moth , and as a booth that the keeper maketh . 18. He builds a goodly Fabrick , out of which he is as easily shaken as a moth out of a garment : and it shall not be more durable then the booth , which is made for him that keeps the fruits of a garden .

19. The rich man shal lie down , but he shall not be gathered : he openeth his eyes , and he is not . 19. And when he dieth , he shall have no Monument made for him : nay , while he lives it so falls out , that he looks about him , and sees that every-body hath deserted him .

20. Terrours take hold on him as waters , a tempest stealeth him away in the night . 20. Innumerable Terrours then break in upon him and surprise him , like an Inundation of waters ; the Divine Vengeance , like a violent Tempest , unexpectedly hurries him away .

21. The east-wind carrieth him away , and he departeth : and , as a storm , hurleth him out of his place . 21. Some pestilent Vapour blasts him irrecoverably ; and as certainly kills him , as a Whirlwind hurls things out of their place .

22. For God shall cast upon him , and not spare : he would fain flee out of his hand . 22. Or God shall send some other Mischiefs so fast upon him , ( without any pity to him , who had none for others , ) that all the attempts shall be in vain , which he makes to escape the Vengeance .

23. Men shall clap their hands at him , and shall hiss him out of his place . 23. At which the beholders shall rejoyce , and applaud God's righteous Judgment : ( which I confess He sometimes executes : ) They shall hiss at his Name when he is dead , in that very place where he hath been so much magnified .

CHAP. XXVIII . ARGUMENT .

The Connexion of this Chapter with the foregoing , I hope I have truly expressed in the first verse . And that being found , it is not difficult to see at what it drives ; viz. to stop the buisy Enquirie of mankind , who are very wise , he shews , in other things , but have not wit enough to comprehend the reasons why God doth not inflict those Punishments upon all Wicked men , which fall upon some . It is not needfull to set down here , how this Argument is managed , ( with such admirable elegance of words , and such weightiness of matter , as make it deserve the name of Maschal , Parable , or Proverb , ) because it will sufficiently appear in the Paraphrase .

1. SVRELY , there is a vein for the silver , and a place for gold , where they fine it . 1. YOU would have me give a Reason perhaps why God punishes some Wicked men , and not all : But the wit and industry of mankind , which have discovered Mines of silver and gold , must not think to find out this Secret , which God hath reserved to himself .

2. Iron is taken out of the earth , and brass is molten out of the stone . 2. They invent means to extract Iron and Brass , out of the Earth and out of Stone .

3. He setteth an end to darkness , and searcheth out all perfection : the stones of darkness , and the shadow of death . 3. There is no Mine so dismally dark , but there some man or other sets things in order for his work ; he searches to the very bottom of it , and finds out those Stones which lie in the most abstruse and hidden parts of the Earth .

4. The floud breaketh out from the inhabitants ; even the waters forgotten of the foot : they are dried up , they are gone away from men . 4. A Floud breaks out from some neighbouring place , and disturbs the Miners : ( for the waters seem as if they would stagnate there and never stir a foot : ) but by the hard labour of man they are drained , and leave the place dry again .

5. As for the earth , out of it cometh bread : and under it is turned up as it were fire . 5. Out of the surface of the Earth he gets Herbs and Corn , for his food and sustenance ; and underneath it he finds Lime and Brimstone and such like fiery stuff , for other uses .

6. The stones of it are the place of sapphires : and it hath dust of gold . 6. He goes into Countries whose stones are the place where Sapphires are lodged ; and whose dust to him is as good as gold .

7. There is a path which no fowl knoweth , and which the vulture's eye hath not seen : 7. He treads in paths which no Bird of prey knoweth ; which the most quick-sighted among them hath never seen :

8. The lions whelps have not troden it , nor the fierce lion passed by it . 8. Where the wildest Beasts , who search for solitary places , never made their den , or so much as approached ; no not the ravenous Lions , whose hunger leads them every-where to seek satisfaction .

9. He putteth forth his hand upon the rock ; he overturneth the mountains by the roots . 9. He digs through the hardest Rocks by his obstinate labour ; and undermines Mountains , that he may find the Treasure hid in their bowels .

10. He cutteth out rivers among the rocks , and his eye seeth every precious thing . 10. And if he meet with Waters which hinder his work , he cuts a Chanell through the Rock to convey them away ; and never rests till he hath discovered every thing that may requite his indefatigable pains .

11. He bindeth the flouds from overflowing , and the thing that is hid , bringeth he forth to light . 11. Nay , more then this , he stops the course of Rivers , and leaves not a drop remaining ; that he may bring to light all that is hidden in the bottom of them .

12. But where shall wisedom be found ? and where is the place of understanding ? 12. But though he be so successfull in these Searches , he must not think to comprehend the Reasons of wise providence . He may study as long as he pleases , and weary himself with buisy inquiries ; but never be able with all his labour to dive into the bottom of this Secret , why God doth not punish all the Wicked , who so insolently contemn him .

13. Man knoweth not the price thereof ; neither is it found in the land of the living . 13. Alas ! this Wisedom is not to be purchased with all that wretched Man hath to give for it : it is not a thing that any part of this world affords .

14. The depth saith , It is not in me : and the sea saith , It is not with me . 14. The Miners , poor Souls ! dig they never so deep , are never like to come within the reach of it : nor is it to be fetch'd by the Mariner from any of those Countries to which he sails .

15. It cannot be gotten for gold , neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof . 15. All the Gold and Silver which men have heaped up by such long toil and labour , are too inconsiderable a price to be offered for it .

16. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir , with the precious onyx or the sapphire . 16. Though it be the purest Gold which comes from Ophir , together with all the precious Stones wherewith that rich Country abounds , they are of so little value ,

17. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it : and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold . 17. That if you should adde the Gold and the Crystall which are brought from other places , with all the Vessels made by the art of man of the most refined and massy gold , they could doe nothing to obtain it .

18. No mention shall be made of coral , or of pearls : for the price of wisedom is above rubies . 18. The precious Stones which are fetch'd out of the mountains of the East are not worthy to be named with it : Men may dive into the Sea and fetch up Pearls , but this Wisedom lies a great deal deeper .

19. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it , neither shall it be valued with pure gold . 19. The Arabian Topaz , which is so much esteemed for its wonderfull lustre , doth not come near it ; nor are all the golden Ornaments , which they wear in those parts , proportionable to it .

20. Whence then cometh wisedom ? and where is the place of understanding ? 20. By what means then shall we get this Wisedom of which we are so desirous ? who can shew us where it lies , that we may go and search for it ?

21. Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living , and kept close from the fowls of the air . 21. We may ask this question as often as we please , but none can resolve us : for it is concealed from all men living ; the most soaring wits were never able to disclose it .

22. Destruction and death say , We have heard the fame thereof with our ears . 22. Death is the best Informer , and the Grave the onely place where we may learn something of it . But this is all that they can tell us , ( which is as far short of a full account , as a rumour is from a certain knowledge , ) that they will shortly make all men equal ; and then it will be of no great moment , whether we have been happy or miserable .

23. God understandeth the way thereof , and he knoweth the place thereof . 23. None but God understands the way and method of his own Providence : He alone knows the place of that Wisedom we enquire after ; which is no-where else , but in his own Mind .

24. For he looketh to the ends of the earth , and seeth under the whole heaven : 24. For who should govern the World but He , whose Understanding is infinite ; and sees the motions of all Creatures , from one end of it to the other ?

25. To make the weight for the winds ; and he weigheth the waters by measure . 25. Which He hath set in such exact order , and given to them such just measures , that the Wind cannot blow , nor the Waters flow , but in those proportions which He hath prescribed .

26. When he made a decree for the rain , and a way for the lightning of the thunder : 26. To the like laws He hath bound the Rain , and appointed the course which the Thundering cloud shall take .

27. Then did he see it , and declare it , he prepared it , yea , and searched it out . 27. And when He ordered all these things , He was pleased in the wisedom which He saw in his works ; He made it visible and apparent ; He fixed it therefore , and made these Laws perpetual : because , after all the search that could be made , He found no fault in it .

28. And unto man he said , Behold , the fear of the Lord , that is wisedom , and to depart from evil is understanding . 28. And making Man at the same time , He imprinted this sense upon his heart ; that he ought to be an humble Adorer , not a Censurer , of his secret Wisedome , whereby He governs the World . For the highest Wisedom and skill that man can attain , is to be possessed with such a Religious Fear of the great Lord of all , as not to dare to doe any thing which he knows will displease Him .

CHAP. XXIX . ARGUMENT .

To such Discourses as these , Job presumes his Friends would have given greater attention , then it seems they did , had not the Vileness of his present condition made his Speeches also contemptible . And therefore he puts them in mind , with what reverence all his Orations were formerly received , by great and small : wishing God would restore to him those happy days ; and inserting , all along , some remarkable instances of his Integrity ( especially as a Judge ) in the height of his Princely Prosperity . When he had an uncontrollable Power to doe as he pleased , and yet never abused it ; but imployed it constantly for the defence and comfort of the meanest people in his Province .

1. MOreover Job continued his parable , and said , 1. HERE Job made another pause , to see if his Friends would return any Answer : But they continuing silent , he proceeded in his eloquent Vindication of himself ; saying ,

2. Oh that I were as in months past , as in the days when God preserved me : 2. Oh that God would re-establish me in that happy Condition , wherein , sometime agoe , I was a principal part of his Care ! You would then give a greater regard to my words , then you do now in my Misfortune :

3. When his candle shined upon my head , and when by his light I walked through darkness : 3. Which hath left me Nothing but onely Wishes , that He would restore me those pleasant days , when I saw nothing but continued tokens of his Favour ; by which I passed untouch'd through all the Inconvenices and Troubles of this Life .

4. As I was in the days of my youth , when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle : 4. Oh the flourishing season of that prosperous estate ! would it were possible to recall the Felicity of those days , when the Divine Providence treated me so kindly , that all my Answers were held for Oracles :

5. When the Almighty was yet with me , when my children were about me : 5. When the Almighty Goodness had not ceased to be gracious to me ; but I saw my self surrounded with my Children and Servants , waiting to know my pleasure .

6. When I washed my steps with butter , and the rock poured me out rivers of oyl : 6. When my Lands were so fertile and were blessed with such plenty , as if the rivers had flowed with butter and oyl :

7. When I went out to the gate , through the city , when I prepared my seat in the street ! 7. When I went in state to the Court of judgment , and sate on the Bench , in the open place , where the people are wont to have their causes heard :

8. The young men saw me , and hid themselves : and the aged arose , and stood up . 8. And the Youth seeing me appear , were seised with such fear , that they durst not look me in the face ; and the Aged no sooner perceived me , but they rose up from their seats , and , in token of reverence , stood in my presence .

9. The princes refrained talking , and laid their hand on their mouth . 9. Immediately ensued a general Silence ; the Princes themselves breaking off their discourses , and not taking the liberty to speak a word .

10. The nobles held their peace , and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth . 10. The Nobles and great Commanders could not have heard me with greater attention and stilness , if they had quite lost their voices , or their tongues had been tied to the roof of their mouths .

11. When the ear heard me , then it blessed me ; and when the eye saw me , it gave witness to me : 11. And ( so far was I from being a Tyrant , as you have accused me , XXII . 5 , 6. ) there was no ear heard the Sentence I gave , but praised my Integrity ; no eye saw me after I had spoken , but you might have beheld therein the Respect and Honour which they all bare me .

12. Because I delivered the poor that cried , and the fatherless , and him that had none to help him . 12. Because I never failed to ease the Poor when he complained of his Oppressions ; the Fatherless , and such as had none to take their parts , ever found me their Defender .

13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me : and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy . 13. I had his prayer for my Prosperity , whose life and estate I preserved , when he was in danger of utter undoing : and I made the sorrowfull Widow such a joyfull woman , that she openly proclaimed my praise .

14. I put on righteousness , and it cloathed me : my judgment was as a robe and a diadem . 14. For in the morning I put on a resolution to doe justly , together with my cloaths ; and I never swerved from it all the day after : But look'd upon the righteous Sentence which I pronounced , as a greater ornament then the purple Robe on my Shoulder , and the Diadem upon my head .

15. I was eyes to the blind , and feet was I to the lame . 15. I instructed him who did not well understand his own buisiness ; and assisted him who wanted means to carry on his cause .

16. I was a father to the poor : and the cause which I knew not , I searched out . 16. For the Poor I had such a paternal affection , that it made me his Advocate as well as his Judge : and I never left studying his cause , ( when there was an obscurity in it , ) till I had cleared the buisiness , and done him right .

17. And I brake the jaws of the wicked , and pluckt the spoil out of his teeth . 17. By which means I disabled the Unjust to oppress them ; and forced them to restore that which they had violently extorted from them .

18. Then I said , I shall die in my nest , and I shall multiply my days as the sand . 18. And having done so many Vertuous actions , and being in such high Authority , I was apt to promise my self that , after an exceeding long and happy Life , I should die quietly in mine own house , among my Children and Friends .

19. My root was spread out by the waters , and the dew lay all night upon my branch . 19. For , being like a Tree whose root spreadeth out it self by the waters , and whose boughs are perpetually moistned by the sweet dew of Heaven , I thought I should never wither .

20. My glory was fresh in me , and my bow was renewed in my hand . 20. My Esteem and Reputation increased every day , and grew greater ; and so did my Power to defend the Authority and Dignity I had obtained .

21. Vnto me men gave ear , and waited , and kept silence at my counsel . 21. Though there was no need I should so imploy it ; for when I spake , all men gave me the greatest attention , and my words were a Law to them :

22. After my words they spake not again , and my speech dropped upon them . 22. Which when I had uttered , no man contradicted , or so much as corrected ; but it sweetly instilled it self and sunk into their hearts .

23. And they waited for me as for the rain , and they opened their mouth wide , as for the latter rain . 23. For they expected my Opinion with the same eager desire that the Husbandman doth the Showrs , after he hath sown his seed ; they gaped for it as the thirsty Earth doth for the latter Rain , to plump the corn .

24. If I laughed on them , they believed it not , and the light of my countenance they cast not down . 24. The Reverence they bare me was so great , that when I laid aside my Gravity , and jeasted with them , they would not believe it ; but still took all I said to be serious : and whatsoever pleasantness I used with them , it did not diminish my Authority among them .

25. I chose out their way , and sate chief , and dwelt as a king in the army , as one that comforteth 〈◊〉 the mourners . 25. But if I went to visit them , they still preserved their Respect to me , and gave me the Preeminence . And as my Condescension to them did not make them less honour me , so their Submission to me did not make me less familiar with them : for when I sate as a King guarded with many troups of followers , I comforted the meanest , and would not suffer them to be dejected .

CHAP. XXX . ARGUMENT .

From the foregoing account of his ancient Splendour , he takes occasion to annex a no-lesselegant description of the Vileness of his present condition . Hoping that the consideration of such a prodigious Change ( which he represents in several particulars , and not without some touches still upon his Integrity ) might at last move his hard-hearted Friends to some compassion towards him : especially , when they saw how near he was to his Grave , notwithstanding all his Prayers to God for relief .

1. BVT now they that are younger then I , have me in derision , whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock . 1. BVT now they that are younger then I , have me in derision , whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock . 1. BUT now , alas ! there is so sad an alteration , that the Youths , who durst not look me in the face , have the confidence to mock and jear me ; even those Youths , whose Fathers were so mean , that I disdained to imploy them in the vilest service .

2. Yea , whereto might the strength of their hands profit me , in whom old age was perished ? 2. Yea , whereto might the strength of their hands profit me , in whom old age was perished ? 2. Men whom if I had had a mind to imploy , were fit for Nothing ; being so lazy , listless , and unable to doe any buisiness , that it was in vain to call them to it .

3. For want and famine they were solitary : fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste : 3. Beggerly fellows , who , being ready to starve , were ashamed to be seen ; and sneak'd into desart places to hide their poverty : it is but yesterday that they were most wretchedly miserable ;

4. Who cut up mallows by the bushes , and juniper-roots for their meat . 4. Satisfying their hunger with those unsavoury Herbs , which they cut up in the salt marishes ; and having no other bread but the roots of Juniper-trees .

5. They were driven forth from among men , ( they cried after them , as after a thief ) 5. They were driven from the society of men ; and if ever they appeared , an out-cry was raised against them , as there is against a Thief when he is discovered .

6. To dwell in the clifts of the valleys , in caves of the earth , and in the rocks . 6. They had no other habitation , but the Clefts which the brooks sometimes make in the vallies ; or the Caves which they found in other parts of the earth , or in the rocks .

7. Among the bushes they brayed , under the nettles they were gathered together . 7. Their Sighs might be heard , like the braying of Asses , among the thorn-bushes ; they lurked together under nettles or thistles :

8. They were children of fools , yea , children of base men : they were viler then the earth . 8. Being leud Villains , the Children of obscure Parents ; viler then the Earth upon which they trod .

9. And now am I their song , yea , I am their by word . 9. And now I am become their Pastime : They have made Songs of my Calamity ; and it is the common entertainment to discourse of my Misery .

10. They abhor me , they flee far from me , and spare not to spit in my face . 10. They express an abhorrence of me ; and , as vile as they are , will not come near me ; or if they do , it is onely to shew their extream Contempt of me .

11. Because he hath loosed my cord , and afflicted me , they have also let loose the bridle before me . 11. God , they see , hath scattered all my Estate , and by sore Afflictions laid me very low ; which hath made them forget all Respect to me , and take an unrestrained licence in their insolent behaviour towards me .

12. Vpon my right hand rise the youth , they push away my feet , and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction . 12. They set up the very Boys to accuse me ; they push me down , and then trample on me : I am become the beaten path , as I may call my self , of their pernicious Reproaches .

13. They mar my path , they set forward my calamity , they have no helper . 13. They so disturb my thoughts , that I know not what course to take in this miserable condition : which they heighten by their Calumnies ; and are so fruitfull in them , that they need none to help to invent them .

14. They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters : in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me . 14. They assault me with such a fury as Souldiers do their Enemies , when they have made a wide breach in the wall of a besieged City , and pour in all their forces to destroy them .

15. Terrours are turned upon me : they pursue my soul as the wind : and my welfare passeth away as a cloud . 15. This dismall Change hath fearfully astonished me , to see all my Wishes and Hopes dispersed like the wind , and all the Happiness I possessed passed away as swiftly as a cloud .

16. And now my soul is poured out upon me ; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me . 16. I can doe nothing now but melt into tears ; my very Soul is ready to faint away with grief ; when I think how those joyfull days are gone , and what Distresses have seized on me , and come to take their place .

17. My bones are pierced in me in the night-season : and my sinews take no rest . 17. In the night ( when Sleep is wont to bury our Grief ) I feel such sharp pains , as penetrate through my very bones ; my bloud boils so violently in my veins , that I can take no rest .

18. By the great force of my disease , is my garment changed : it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat . 18. It requires a great deal of strength , when I would shift my cloaths , to pull them off : my outward garment , by the filthy Matter of my sores , being glewed as fast to me , as the collar of my shirt .

19. He hath cast me into the mire , and I am become like dust and ashes . 19. I look as if I had been thrown into the dirt : there is little difference between me , and dust and ashes .

20. I cry unto thee , and thou dost not hear me : I stand up , and thou regardest me not . 20. And , which is saddest of all , I call upon Thee , O God , but cannot prevail with Thee to relieve me : I continue praying and waiting for thy help , and Thou sufficiently understandest my miserable case ;

21. Thou art become cruel to me : with thy strong hand thou opposest thy self against me . 21. But thy former Kindness to me is turned into such Severity , that it looks like Cruelty : Thou hast given me such deadly blows , as if thou hatedst me .

22. Thou liftest me up to the wind : thou causest me to ride upon it , and dissolvest my substance . 22. Thou didst lift me up on high , and madest me , as it were , to ride upon the clouds : but hast thrown me down with so much the sorer Fall , which hath broken me all in pieces .

23. For I know that thou wilt bring me to death , and to the house appointed for all living . 23. So that I can think of nothing but dying , and going to my Grave ; the common Sanctuary of all mankind .

24. Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave , though they cry in his destruction . 24. Whither thy afflicting hand will not pursue me : for though men cry when they are sent thither , yet when they are there , all their Sufferings and Complaints are ended .

25. Did not I weep for him that was in trouble ? was not my soul grieved for the poor ? 25. Strange , that I should be thus punish'd without any mercy ! was I wont to be so unmercifull to others ? No , I never look'd upon men under any hardship without tears ; and was so sensibly touched with the Miseries of the Poor , that I ever relieved them .

26. When I looked for good , then evil came unto me : and when I waited for light , there came darkness . 26. Which gave me good hope that I should be very happy : but in stead thereof , the saddest Afflictions and Troubles are befaln me .

27. My bowels boiled , and rested not : the days of affliction prevented me . 27. Which have so suddenly surprised me , that they have put me into the greatest commotion and disorder : my bowels boil without the least intermission .

28. I went mourning without the sun : I stood up , and I cried in the congregation . 28. My Affliction is so constant without any glimpse of Joy , that I am a perpetual Mourner ; and am not able to lie still , nor to refrain from Shrieks and Cries in the greatest Assemblies .

29. I am a brother to dragons , and a companion to owls . 29. I can doe nothing but lament my self , as if I were one of those mournfull creatures , which make such dolefull noises in desart places .

30. My skin is black upon me , and my bones are burnt with heat . 30. The boiling heat in my body hath so parched me , that my Skin looks black ; and the Marrow in my bones and all my vitall moisture is dried up .

31. My harp also is turned to mourning , and my organ into the voice of them that weep . 31. And , to say no more , all Mirth is banished my House , the musicall instruments are laid aside , and nothing but Mourning and Weeping come in their room .

CHAP. XXXI . ARGUMENT .

It was possible his Friends might make quite another use then Job intended of the relation he had made of his miserable Condition , in the Chapter foregoing : and therefore , lest it should harden them in their old Errour , and they should take what he had said to be an argument of his Guilt ; He gives in this Chapter a large and particular account of his Integrity , which in general he had so often asserted ; laying his very soul , and the most secret Inclinations of it open before them ; together with the Actions of his whole life , in his private capacity , ( for of his publick he had spoken before Chap. XXIX . ) both in respect of his Neighbours , of all sorts , and in respect of God . To whom he again most solemnly appeals , in the conclusion of his Discourse , that he did not boast of more Vertues then he had ; but would most gladly be tried before Him , by some impartial Judge . I need not here enumerate his Vertues , because they are plainly and distinctly expressed in the Paraphrase ; and I do not pretend to give the intire contents , but the design onely , of each Chapter .

1. I Made a covenant with mine eyes ; why then should I think upon a maid ? 1. BUT do not , I beseech you , any longer look upon these Sufferings as an argument that I am not innocent ; for I protest to you , I have been very resolute and carefull to avoid even the occasions of Lasciviousness : And therefore how should I ever so much as deliberate to corrupt a Virgin ?

2. For what portion of God is there from above ? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high ? 2. For I know there is a God in Heaven , an Almighty Being , who rules over all : and what could I expect from Him , as the reward of such Impurity ?

3. Is not destruction to the wicked ? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity ? 3. Doth it not lead to destruction ? nay , do not strange and horrible Punishments fall upon the workers of that Iniquity ?

4. Doth not he see my ways , and count all my steps ? 4. Is it possible to commit it so secretly , that it shall not be known by Him , who observes every motion , and tells every step I take ?

5. If I have walked with vanity , or if my foot hath hasted to deceit ; 5. If I have broke my Promises , or have been forward to deceive and cheat my Neighbour ;

6. Let me be weighed in an even balance , that God may know mine integrity ? 6. I refuse not to be tried : but rather desire my actions may be scrupulously weighed and examined ; for God , I am sure , will approve of my upright dealing .

7. If my step hath turned out of the way , and mine heart walked after mine eyes , and if any blot hath cleaved to my hands : 7. If I have turned aside from the rules of Justice for fear or favour ; if I have coveted the Goods of other men , or my hands have taken any Bribes ,

8. Then let me sow , and let another eat ; yea , let my off-spring be rooted out . 8. Let me be served in my kind , and let other men eat the Corn which I have sowed , and pluck up the Trees ( roots and all ) which I have planted .

9. If mine heart have been deceived by a woman , or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door : 9. If my heart hath been seduced to filthy desires after another man's Wife ; if I have watched for his absence , or some fair opportunity , to enter into his house , and defile his bed ;

10. Then let my wife grind unto another , and let others bow down upon her . 10. Then let others take away my Wife from me , and make her the vilest Slave , whom they may use at their pleasure .

11. For this is an heinous crime , yea , it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges . 11. I ever thought this a Crime of the highest nature , an Iniquity to be corrected by the severity of the publick Justice .

12. For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction , and would root out all mine increase . 12. For it is a Fire , which , if it be not extinguished , consumes men and their estates , yea destroys whole Families and Kingdoms : and so incenses the Divine Displeasure , that , should it escape the Magistrates punishment , I could never hope that any thing of mine ( were I guilty of it ) should thrive , but all come to utter ruine .

13. If I did despise the cause of my man-servant , or of my maid-servant , when they contended with me : 13. So far was I from doing such foul Injuries to my Neighbours , that I never extended my Power to the oppression of my Slaves : but was content to wave the priviledge the Law gave me , of using them as I pleased ; and to allow them a fair hearing , when they had any difference with me .

14. What then shall I do when God riseth up ? and when he visiteth , what shall I answer him ? 14. For I thought with my self , that though men could not punish me for my rigour towards them , yet I should never be able to excuse it to God , when He came to judge me ; nor tell what to answer , when He called me to an account for my ill usage of them .

15. Did not he that made me in the womb , make him ? and did not one fashion us in the womb ? 15. I often also called to mind , that there was not such a difference in our Estates , as there was an equality in our Births : and that we having one common Creatour , my Slave was as nearly related to God as my self .

16. If I have withheld the poor from their desire , or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail : 16. Nor have the Poor any reason to complain of me : for if I ever denied to satisfy their desire , or let the Widow in vain expect my relief ;

17. Or have eaten my morsel my self alone , and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof : 17. Or have sitten down at my Table alone , without the company of Fatherless children ;

18. ( For from my youth he was brought up with me , as with a father , and I have guided her from my mother's womb ) 18. ( For whom I have always had a natural compassion from my very youth ; I brought it into the world with me , and it hath been my companion ever since ; )

19. If I have seen any perish for want of cloathing , or any poor without covering : 19. If I have suffered any to perish for want of Cloathing , or let the Poor go naked without a covering ;

20. If his loins have not blessed me , and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sleep ; 20. If his loins did not admonish him to bless me , as oft as he girded on his garment , and he were not kept warm with the cloth made of my wool ;

21. If I have lift up my hand against the fatherless , when I saw my help in the gate : 21. If I ever have beaten the Fatherless , because I knew I should be too strong for him in the Court , in case he complained there of the Injustice ;

22. Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder-blade , and mine arm be broken from the bone . 22. Then let that guilty Arm fall off from my shoulder , or be broken in two in the midst .

23. For destruction from God was a terrour to me , and by reason of his highness I could not endure . 23. For I never thought I could escape the Divine Vengeance ; the dread of which affrighted me , when men could not , from all such insolence : for I knew I could not support my self against his Majesty .

24. If I have made gold my hope , or have said to the fine gold , Thou art my confidence : 24. Whose Favour I do not desire , if I have put my trust in Riches , and thought my self safe and secure because I was furnished with the noblest Treasures :

25. If I rejoyced because my wealth was great , and because mine hand had gotten much : 25. Or if I was vainly elated and puffed up with the large Possessions left me by my Ancestours , or with the great increase I had made to them by my own industry .

26. If I beheld the sun when it shined , or the moon walking in brightness : 26. If when I beheld the Sun arise , or the Moon appear in her full lustre ,

27. And my heart hath been secretly enticed , or my mouth hath kissed my hand : 27. I ever entertained an opinion in my mind that they were Gods , or kissed my hand in token of worship and reverence to them ;

28. This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge : for I should have denied the God that is above . 28. This also were a fearfull Crime , which God's Vice-gerents should punish : because it were to put those Stars in the place of Him who is above all Heavens .

29. If I rejoyced at the destruction of him that hated me , or lift up my self when evil found him : 29. Whom I do not wish to be my Friend , if I ever was glad at the ruine of mine Enemy ; or insulted over him , when any mischief befell him :

30. ( Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin , by wishing a curse to his soul ) 30. ( No , I was not so much as guilty of making any Imprecations against him , nor was provoked by his malice to wish him dead : )

31. If the men of my tabernacle said not , Oh that we had of his flesh ! we cannot be satisfied . 31. Though the people of my Family were so inraged at him , that , if I would have yielded to their passion , they were ready to eat him up with an insatiable Anger .

32. The stranger did not lodge in the street : but I opened my doors to the traveller . 32. Much less was I guilty of Unkindness to Strangers , whom I never suffered to lodge in the streets : for the door of my house stood open , that any Traveller might turn in there , if he pleased .

33. If I covered my transgressions , as Adam : by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom . 33. If I have studied to seem better then I am , and have not now made a free Confession ; but , like our First Parent , have concealed or excused my Faults , and out of self-love have hidden mine Iniquity ;

34. Did I fear a great multitude , or did the contempt of families terrifie me : that I kept silence , and went not out of the door ? 34. Because I dread what the people will say of me , or am terrified by the Contempt , into which the knowledge of my Guilt may bring me with the neighbouring families : then I am content my mouth should be stopt , and that I never stir out of my door any more .

35. Oh that one would hear me ! behold , my desire is , that the Almighty would answer me , and that mine adversary had written a book . 35. Oh that the truth of all this might be examined by some equal Judge ! Behold , I continue still to desire of God this favour : And let him that can accuse me , bring in his Libell in writing against me .

36. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder , and bind it as a crown to me . 36. Surely I would not endeavour to obscure it , but openly expose it to be read by all ; nay , wear it as a singular Ornament , which would turn to my honour , when the world saw it disproved .

37. I would declare unto him the number of my steps , as a prince would I go near unto him . 37. I my self would assist him to draw up his Charge , by declaring to him freely every Action of my life : I would approach him as undauntedly as a Prince , who is assured of the goodness of his cause .

38. If my land cry against me , or that the furrows likewise thereof complain : 38. For if so much as a bit of my Land was unjustly gotten , or I have defrauded those who ploughed it of their wages ;

39. If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money , or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life : 39. If I have taken the fruits of it from my Tenants , and paid nothing for them ; or let them such hard bargains , that it broke their heart :

40. Let thistles grow in stead of wheat , and cockle in stead of barley . The words of Job are ended . 40. Then let Corn never grow there any more ; but let it be overrun with Thistles , and the most stinking Weeds .

Here Job ended his Defence .

CHAP. XXXII . ARGUMENT .

It appears , by the 15. verse of this Chapter , that there were several other persons present , besides those that are named , when this Dispute was held between Job and his three Friends . Among whom there was a young man named Elihu ; who was either a Syrian , ( in which language this Book was first written , and translated by Moses into Hebrew , says the Authour of the Commentaries under Origen's name , ) descended from the second Son of Nahor , Abraham's Brother , XXII . Gen. 21. or an Idumaean , of the same Country with Eliphaz the Temanite , XXV . Jer. 23. I have made him a Syrian in my Paraphrase , because he is said to be of the kindred of Ram : by whom we are to understand either Aram , or , as the Hebrews think , Abraham ; by whom such Wisedom and Piety might be promoted in his Brother's Family , as is apparent in Elihu . Who , though much inferiour to the rest in years , ( for which reason he had beld his peace thus long , ) yet was much superiour to them in Knowledge . Which he discovers in the judicious Censures he here passes , not onely upon the three Friends , but upon Job himself : whom he hath nothing to charge withall , relating to any Crime committed before this Affliction befell him ; but thinks he had not managed the Dispute about it with so much Calmness and Submission to God as became his Piety . In this he differs from those that spake before him : For I do not find that he blames him for any Miscarriages , but those onely which he observed in the heat of his Disputation ; and he spends his time , rather in justifying God , then in carping at Job , as the other had done .

1. SO these three men ceased to answer Job , because he was righteous in his own eyes . 1. AND his three Friends also left off disputing with him ; because they saw him immovably fixed in the opinion of his Innocence .

2. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite , of the kindred of Ram : against Job was his wrath kindled , because he justified himself rather then God . 2. Which very much displeased a young man , who had stood by all this time , and heard what both sides said for themselves . His name was Elihu , descended from a Brother of Abraham : who was exceeding angry with Job , because he spent more time in justifying himself , then in justifying God ;

3. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled , because they had found no answer , and yet had condemned Job . 3. And with his three Friends also , because they were not able to maintain their Charge against Job , and yet had condemned him to be a wicked Hypocrite .

4. Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken , because they were elder then he . 4. Yet he moderated his passion so discreetly , that he said not a word , till he had waited , as well as Job , to see whether they would resume the Debate : because it was not fit he thought , for him to meddle , as long as his Elders had any thing to say .

5. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men , then his wrath was kindled . 5. But when he saw that none of the three offered to reply , but sate as men that knew not what to say , he was not able to hold his peace any longer :

6. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite , answered , and said , I am young , and ye are very old , wherefore I was afraid , and durst not shew you mine opinion . 6. But in this manner addressed himself unto them ; saying , I have considered all this while mine own Youth and your aged Experience ; which hath deterred me so much , that I have hitherto been afraid to interpose my Opinion .

7. I said , Days should speak , and multitude of years should teach wisedom . 7. I thought with my self , that it was becoming one of my small standing , to hear rather then to speak ; and to learn Wisedom in such grave company as yours , rather then pretend to teach it .

8. But there is a spirit in man : and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding . 8. But I see I was mistaken : Man is a very wretched thing , though he live never so long , if God do not illuminate him . It is the Divine Inspiration which gives Understanding .

9. Great men are not always wise : neither do the aged understand judgment . 9. They are not always the wisest , who are in Authority , and the Teachers of others : nor do old men always so well imploy their years , as to understand the difference of things .

10. Therefore I said , Hearken to me , I also will shew mine opinion . 10. Therefore let me intreat you to lend your ears a little to me : I also will tell you what I think about this matter .

11. Behold , I waited for your words ; I gave ear to your reasons , whilest you searched out what to say . 11. Do not think me too forward ; for I have with great patience heard all your Discourses , and observed your Arguments ; and let you proceed till you have searched as far as you could into the buisiness :

12. Yea , I attended unto you : and behold , there was none of you that convinced Job , or that answered his words : 12. And having duly considered and comprehended every word , I must needs pronounce that there is none of you hath confuted Job ; nor said any thing to the purpose , in answer to his Defence of himself .

13. Lest ye should say , we have found out wisedom : God thrusteth him down , not man . 13. For it is not sufficient for you to say , he is Obstinate ; and therefore it is wisely done of us to leave him to God : He shall confound him , by continuing his Affliction ; not We , by our Arguments .

14. Now he hath not directed his words against me : neither will I answer him with your speeches . 14. Which truly are so weak , that I shall make no use of them : But as Job hath directed none of his words against me , so I shall trouble him with none of your Replies .

15. They were amazed , they answered no more : they left off speaking . 15. See , I beseech you , all you that hear us , how these Disputants are amazed ; how silent they are , as if their speech had forsaken them .

16. When I had waited , ( for they spake not , but stood still , and answered no more ) 16. You are my Witnesses , that I have waited for satisfaction : but after long expectation they bring forth nothing ; they are at a stand , and furnished with no further Answer .

17. I said , I will answer also my part , I also will shew mine opinion . 17. Which made me resolve within my self , that I would have a share in this Dispute ; and shew , as I have often told you , what my Opinion is concerning it .

18. For I am full of matter , the spirit within me constraineth me . 18. And indeed it is high time ; for I am so full , by long thinking of what I have to say , that I am in pain till I have uttered my mind .

19. Behold , my belly is as wine which hath no vent , it is ready to burst like new bottles . 19. My thoughts work within me , like new Wine in a Vessel : and we are both alike in danger to burst , unless there be a vent .

20. I will speak , that I may be refreshed : I will open my lips and answer . 20. I must speak therefore , if it be but to ease my self : I will open my lips , as they do such Vessels , and make an Answer , because I cannot with safety hold my peace any longer .

21. Let me not , I pray you , accept any man's person , neither let me give flattering titles unto man . 21. And , I beseech you , let me speak with all freedom ; with regard onely to the Cause , and not to the Person : and do not expect that I should complement , and give to man any glorious titles .

22. For I know not to give flattering titles , in so doing my maker will soon take me away . 22. For I do not understand that art of soothing men into a great opinion of themselves : or if I did , I should not venture to use it ; lest He that made me should presently stop my mouth , for not dealing plainly .

CHAP. XXXIII . ARGUMENT .

Here Elihu addresses his Speech to Job alone , ( for he rejected all that the three Friends had said , as sufficiently confuted by Job in his Dispute with them , ) and tells him , first , that he was the man who would now plead with him in God's behalf , ( as he had oft desired , ) and that he was no unequal match for him . And then begins to reprehend those passages which he thought were blameable in Job's Speeches ; particularly his insisting so much upon his Integrity : which , though true , should not have been mentioned without due acknowledgment , that the Sovereign of the World had done him no wrong in thus afflicting him ; and that it was not fit for him to question the Wisedom and Justice of God's Providence , because he did not understand it . For the care of God over Man and his kindness to him , he shews , is so apparent , upon so many scores , that it ought not to be denied because of the unaccountable Afflictions that may befall us ; which we ought rather to think are one of the ways whereby He doth Man good .

1. WHerefore , Job , I pray thee , hear my speeches , and hearken to all my words . 1. AND truly I think I need not use any farther Preface , to perswade thee , O Job , to hear my Discourse , and to give an attentive ear to all I have to say .

2. Behold , now have I opened my mouth , my tongue hath spoken in my mouth . 2. Behold , now I begin ; my words are upon my tongue , if thou art ready to receive them .

3. My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart : and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly . 3. And I assure thee they shall be the unfeigned language of mine heart , which it shall not be hard for thee to understand : for the instruction they give thee shall be clearly and perspicuously delivered .

4. The spirit of God hath made me , and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life . 4. And first of all consider , that I am no other Creature then what thou art ; a Man whom the power of God hath formed , and then inspired with Life .

5. If thou canst answer me , set thy words in order before me , stand up . 5. Thou needest not therefore decline the Encounter ; but if thou art able to answer , set thy forces in order against me , and stand up to oppose me .

6. Behold , I am according to thy wish in God's stead : I also am formed out of the clay . 6. Thou hast formerly desired ( IX . 33. XIII . 3. ) that some-body would appear in God's stead , to reason the Case with thee : Behold , thou hast thy wish ; I am the Man that appears for Him ; who am made of the same matter with thy self .

7. Behold , my terrour shall not make thee afraid , neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee . 7. Look upon me , the Combate is not unequall , ( as thou complainedst when thou lookedst upon God , IX . 34. XIII . 21. ) thou seest no dreadfull Majesty in me to affright thee , nor any Power to oppress thee .

8. Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing , and I have heard the voice of thy words , saying , 8. I do not accuse thee neither , as they three Friends have done , of Crimes uncertain or unknown ; but of what I my self , with mine own ears , have heard thee utter .

9. I am clean without transgression , I am innocent ; neither is there iniquity in me . 9. For surely thou hast said more then once , ( X. 7. XIII . 23. XVI . 17 , &c. XXXI . ) I am pure and without any Fault , in my heart and in my actions , both towards God and towards man .

10. Behold , he findeth occasions against me , he counteth me for his enemy . 10. Behold , He , who I thought would have vindicated my Innocence , seeks for occasions to fall out with me ; and for slight matters declares himself mine Enemy .

11. He putteth my feet in the stocks , he marketh all my paths . 11. Whom He keeps so fast in prison , that I cannot stir ; and watches so narrowly , that I can find no way to escape .

12. Behold , in this thou art not just : I will answer thee , that God is greater then man . 12. This is thy complaining language , and mark what I say to thee : Though I cannot accuse thee , as thy Friends have done , of other Sins , yet in this thou dost offend ; and I must reprehend thee for it , by remembring thee that there is no comparison between God and Man .

13. Why dost thou strive against him ? for he giveth not account of any of his matters . 13. And therefore why dost thou presume to dispute with Him , and call Him to an account for his actions , who will not reveal to us all the Secrets of his Providence ?

14. For God speaketh once , yea , twice , yet man perceiveth it not . 14. Not that God envies knowledge to us , for He teaches man more ways then one ; and a great deal more then he takes care to learn .

15. In a dream , in a vision of the night , when deep sleep falleth upon men , in slumbrings upon the bed : 15. One way is by a Dream , ( which you may call a Night-vision , ) when men fall into a deep sleep , or lie on their beds between sleeping and waking :

16. Then he openeth the ears of men , and sealeth their instruction , 16. Then ( when their minds are free from the buisiness and cares of the day ) He secretly whispers Instruction in their ears , and imprints it upon their minds .

17. That he may withdraw man from his purpose , and hide pride from man . 17. Not to make them understand indeed all the secret reasons of his Providence ; but to turn man from his evil way , and to dispose him with all humility to submit himself to his Heavenly Instructer :

18. He keepeth back his soul from the pit , and his life from perishing by the sword . 18. Who by this means mercifully preserves him ( if he obey his Admonition ) from running on to his own destruction ; and rescues him from the violent death , which the sword of Justice or of an Enemy would have inflicted on him .

19. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed , and the multitude of his bones with strong pain : 19. Another way ( and more common then this by Dreams ) is the painfull Diseases wherewith he chastises man , and lays him low on his bed ; though his constitution of body be never so firm and strong .

20. So that his life abhorreth bread , and his soul dainty meat . 20. In which languishing case he loaths his food ; yea , nauseates that very meat which formerly was his greatest delight .

21. His flesh is consumed away , that it cannot be seen , and his bones that were not seen , stick out . 21. Which makes so great a change in him , that his Flesh , which formerly appeared plump and fair , cannot be seen ; and his Bones stick out , which formerly did not appear .

22. Yea , his soul draweth near unto the grave , and his life to the destroyers . 22. There is but a step between him and his grave ; the pangs of death being ready to seize on him .

23. If there be a messenger with him , and interpreter , one among ● thousand , to shew unto man his uprightness : 23. If then ( which is a third way whereby God teaches men ) there come a Divine Messenger unto him ; a rare person , that can expound the mind of God , and perswade the sick man to repent and amend his life ;

24. Then he is gracious unto him , and saith , Deliver him from going down to the pit , I have found a ransom . 24. He shall beseech God to be gracious to him , saying , Spare him , good Lord , and rescue him from going down to the grave ; let it satisfie thee that thou hast corrected him , and that I have found him a Penitent .

25. His flesh shall be fresher then a childs : he shall return to the days of his youth . 25. Presently the sick man shall begin to recover , and become a new man in his Body , as well as in his Mind : His Flesh shall look as fresh as when he was a child ; and he shall be restored to the Vigour and Strength of his youthfull age .

26. He shall pray unto God , and he will be favourable unto him , and he shall see his face with joy : for he will render unto man his righteousness . 26. His Prayer also shall be acceptable to God , and prevail for the Blessings he asks : He shall go into the House of God , and with the most joyfull voice give thanks unto Him , and praise his Goodness ; who will then acquit him , and restore this poor man to his Favour .

27. He looketh upon men , and if any say , I have sinned , and perverted that which was right , and it profited me not ; 27. And he , ( as becomes a true Penitent ) casting his eyes upon his Neighbours , shall openly confess and say , I have offended God , and He hath justly chastised me ; I have done wickedly , and He hath punished me according to my desert :

28. He will deliver his soul from going into the pit , and his life shall see the light . 28. But hath redeemed me from that Death into which I was going ; and not onely made me live , but given me hope that I shall enjoy prosperous days .

29. Lo , all these things worketh God oftentimes with man , 29. Behold in all this the wonderfull goodness of God ; who by so many means very often admonishes Man :

30. To bring back his soul from the pit , to be enlightned with the light of the living . 30. To reduce him from those evil courses , which had just brought him to his Grave ; and to raise him up again to live in all true Happiness and Pleasure .

31. Mark well , O Job , hearken unto me , hold thy peace , and I will speak . 31. Mark this well , O Job , for it may very much concern thee : consider what I have said ; and if thou pleasest to hear me patiently , I will still instruct thee more fully .

32. If thou hast any thing to say , answer me : speak , for I desire to justifie thee . 32. Or if thou hast any thing to object to what I have said , I am willing to hear it : Speak before I go any farther ; for I heartily desire thou mayst clear thy self , and appear a Righteous person .

33. If not , hearken unto me : hold thy peace , and I shall teach thee wisedom . 33. If thou hast no exception against my Discourse , then continue thy attentions , and silently listen to me ; and I will teach thee more Wisedom .

CHAP. XXXIV . ARGUMENT .

Here Job shews himself a far more humble and teachable person then his three Friends : for , though Elihu had invited him to make what exceptions he pleased to his Discourse in the former Chapter , he would not open his mouth ; because he plainly saw that Elihu had hit upon the thing wherein he was defective . And so this young man proceeds to carry the Charge a little higher , and tells him , with more sharpness then before , that there were some words in his Discourses which sounded in his ears , as if he accused God's Justice and Goodness . For what else did he mean when he complained that God did not doe him right ; and that he destroyed alike both good and bad ? Which rash Assertions he overthrows from the consideration of the Sovereign Dominion , Power , Righteousness and Wisedom of God : and represents to him what behaviour and discourse would have better become him , then that which he had used .

1. FVrthermore Elihu answered , and said , 1. TO this last motion Job consented ; and replying never a word , Elihu proceeded in his Discourse , and said ,

2. Hear my words , O ye wise , men , and give ear unto me , ye that have knowledge . 2. I do not desire to be Judge alone in this Cause , but I appeal to them that are wise ; and beseech all those ( among you that hear me ) who are intelligent , to mark and consider what I now deliver .

3. For the ear trieth words , as the mouth tasteth meat . 3. You can discern whether it be true or false ; for the Mind is as proper a Judg of Discourse , as the Palate is of Meat .

4. Let us choose to us judgment : let us know among our selves what is good . 4. Let us agree to examine the buisiness , that we may be able to pronounce a righteous judgment : let us debate among our selves , and resolve , whether Job have a good Cause or no.

5. For Job hath said , I am righteous : and God hath taken away my judgment . 5. For he hath said , I am innocent ; and God ( who knows I do not deserve to suffer in this manner , XXVII . 2 , 6. ) will not doe me right :

6. Should I lie against my right ? my wound is incurable without transgression . 6. I scorn to defend my self with lies ; but I must still maintain , that this deadly Wound is given me for no Crime of mine .

7. What man is like Job , who drinketh up scorning like water ? 7. Did you ever know such a man as Job , who , in stead of adoring the Almighty , ( as becomes his Wisedom and Piety , ) takes the liberty to pour out abundance of contemptuous language concerning his Judgments ?

8. Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity , and walketh with wicked men . 8. He associates himself with Evil-doers ; and talks after the same rate that the Wicked are wont to do .

9. For he hath said , It profiteth a man nothing , that he shall delight himself with God . 9. For he seems to me to be of this opinion , that though a man study to please God , he shall get nothing by it . IX . 22.

10. Therefore hearken unto me , ye men of understanding : far be it from God , that he should do wickedness , and from the Almighty , that he should commit iniquity . 10. What think you of this , ye men of wisedom ? Do you not abhor such a thought as much as I , that He who is Almighty should wrong any man , and He who is All-sufficient should swerve from the rule of Righteousness ?

11. For the work of a man shall he render unto him , and cause every man to find according to his ways . 11. He will never be charged with such Weakness , but always deals with men according as they deserve : For he that doeth well never fails to find a Reward , and he that doeth ill , meets with a just Punishment .

12. Yea , surely God will not do wickedly , neither will the Almighty pervert judgment . 12. Surely , I need not fear to affirm this with the greatest confidence , that the Supreme Judge of the World will never condemn an Innocent person ; nor will He that possesses all things be corrupted to pronounce an unrighteous Sentence .

13. Who hath given him a charge over the earth ? or who hath disposed the whole world ? 13. For He did not receive the Government of the world from any above himself ; nor is there any higher Being , whose Authority He may be thought to dread , and for fear of whom He may be tempted to doe unjustly .

14. If he set his heart upon man , if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath ; 14. No , He made and He sustains all creatures ; so that if he should contain his Goodness within Himself , and recall that Spirit and Life which He hath infused into them ;

15. All flesh shall perish together , and man shall turn again unto dust . 15. Nothing could subsist one moment : but all Mankind would expire together , and return unto their dust .

16. If now thou hast understanding , hear this : hearken to the voice of my words . 16. If thou art wise , mind what I say ; and consider also what follows .

17. Shall even he that hateth right govern ? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just ? 17. Can he be an enemy to Justice Himself , who binds us so fast to the practice of it ? and wilt thou condemn His Actions , who is most powerfull , as well as just ; and therefore need not serve himself by any wrongfull dealing ?

18. Is it fit to say to a king , Thou art wicked , and to princes , Ye are ungodly ? 18. There is no King on Earth but looks upon it as a great and unsufferable reproach to be called a Tyrant : nor will inferiour Rulers endure you should say , that they have no regard to Equity .

19. How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes , nor regardeth the rich more then the poor ? for they all are the work of his hands . 19. Shall we impute then any such thing to Him , before whom a Prince or a Rich man is no more then the meanest and poorest persons ? who shall have the same Justice from Him with the greatest , because they are all alike the work of his Hands .

20. In a moment shall they die , and the people shall be troubled at midnight , and pass away : and the mighty shall be taken away without hand . 20. How should He stand in awe of the Power of Kings , or be bribed with the Gifts of the rich , who can strike them all dead in a moment ? Whole Nations tremble before Him , and in their deepest security are destroyed . He needs not the help of any force on earth to put down a mighty Tyrant ; but invisible powers carry him away .

21. For his eyes are upon the ways of man , and he seeth all his goings . 21. For there is no one passage of man's Life , but He is acquainted with it : and therefore cannot be suspected through Ignorance of their actions ( no more then through fear of their persons ) to overlook their Crimes , or to doe them any Injustice .

22. There is no darkness , nor shadow of death , where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves . 22. They may seek to hide their Wickedness , when they have committed it ; and may make Excuses and subtle Pretences : But they cannot cast a mist before His eyes , who sees into the thickest Darkness , and the deepest Secrets .

23. For he will not lay upon man more then right ; that he should enter into judgment with God . 23. And therefore , as He will never charge man with that of which he is not guilty ; so , when He calls him to an account , He will not delay , nor put off his Judgment , to hear what man can say for himself .

24. He shall break in pieces mighty men without number , and set others in their stead . 24. For He needs not be informed how matters stand ; and therefore breaks in pieces Mighty men , without inquiry or examination of witnesses against them ; and confers their Dignity upon others .

25. Therefore he knoweth their works , and he overturneth them in the night so that they are destroyed . 25. And by this means shews that He knows their works ; when He so suddenly overturns them , that they are crushed in pieces .

26. He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others : 26. He punishes them as men that in his eyes are apparently wicked ; and therefore makes them publick Examples for the terrour of their neighbours .

27. Because they turned back from him , and would not consider any of his ways . 27. Because they would not follow his Counsels , nor regard any of his Commands :

28. So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him , and he heareth the cry of the afflicted . 28. But went on in their Oppression of the Poor , till they cried to Heaven for Vengeance upon them : and the Cry of such afflicted people God never fails to answer .

29. When he giveth quietness , who then can make trouble ? and when he hideth his face , who then can behold him ? whether it be done against a nation , or against a man onely : 29. And if He will grant such poor wretches rest and ease , who can disturb them ? or if He be angry with their Oppressour , who can shew him favour ? ( which is as true of whole Nations , as of one single person . )

30. That the hypocrite reign not , lest the people be ensnared . 30. He will not let the wicked Tyrant reign alway , though he pretend Piety and the publick Good never so much ; lest the people should be ensnared into sin by his Example .

31. Surely it is meet to be said unto God , I have born chastisement , I will not offend any more . 31. Wherefore it is best for an afflicted person not to complain , but to suspect himself , ( though he be never so good ; ) and presently to say to God , I confess this Suffering is just ; I will not offend by pleading my Innocence .

32. That which I see not , teach thou me ; If I have done iniquity , I will do no more . 32. If I have overlook'd any thing that I should have observed , do thou shew it me : if I have committed any Fault , I will take care to doe so no more .

33. Should it be according to thy mind ? he will recompense it , whether thou refuse , or whether thou chuse , and not I : therefore speak what thou knowest . 33. Hast thou addressed thy self to God in this manner ? Answer that question ; for God will recompense it , if thou dost despise such good Counsel : which perhaps thou wilt chuse to doe , but so would not I. Speak therefore what thy opinion is .

34. Let men of understanding tell me , and let a wise man hearken unto me . 34. Or let any understanding person tell us what is their opinion ; for such , as I said before , would I have to judge between us .

35. Job hath spoken without knowledge , and his words were without wisedom . 35. Job seems to me to be very much mistaken ; and his Discourses to be inconsiderate and without reason .

36. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end , because of his answers for wicked men . 36. And therefore I am so far from wishing he may be presently released from his Afflictions , that I take it to be more desirable , he should be still tried and proved by them ; till he recant the Answers in which he hath complained of Divine Providence , after the manner of wicked men .

37. For he addeth rebellion unto his sin , he clappeth his hands amongst us , and multiplieth his words against God , 37. For otherwise he will adde greater Offences to those lesser he hath already committed : he will defend what he hath inconsiderately spoken ; nay triumph , as if he had gotten the better of us ; and , in stead of making the Confession to which I have exhorted him , continue to multiply his Complaints against God .

CHAP. XXXV . ARGUMENT .

Job still keeps silence , notwithstanding that Elihu had made the harshest construction of his words ; because he was sensible he meant him well , and had now , in the conclusion of his Discourse , given him very wholsom Counsell ; and , allowing his Integrity , had onely charg'd him with some unhappy Expressions , which had faln from him when he was in great anguish of spirit . Which , I suppose , was the reason he doth not contradict him , though he continue , here in this Chapter , to fasten the very same harsh sense upon his words , v. 2 , 3. Which he refutes from the consideration of the infinite disproportion there is between Man and God : who is never the worse indeed for any Evil , nor at all the better for any Good that we doe : and yet hath such a Love to Mankind , that it is certain He would not have them miserable , but takes care for their relief when they are oppressed , if they address themselves , as they ought , to Him .

1. ELIHV spake moreover , and said , 1. TO this Job making no Answer , Elihu pressed him again , and said ;

2. Thinkest thou this to be right , that thou saidst , My righteousness is more then Gods ? 2. Let me appeal to thy own Conscience . Dost thou think this to be right , that thou said'st , God is not so righteous as I am ?

3. For thou saidst , What advantage will it be unto thee , and , What profit shall I have , if I be cleansed from my sin ? 3. What else could be thy meaning , when thou utteredst such words as these , What doth God care whether I be innocent or no ? or what benefit shall I have by it , if I be ?

4. I will answer thee , and thy companions with thee . 4. I will answer thee , and such as thou art , in a few words .

5. Look unto the heavens , and see and behold the clouds which are higher then thou . 5. Cast up thine eyes to the Heavens , look upon the Clouds and the Sky ; and consider that , as high as they are , they are not so much above thee , as God is above them .

6. If thou sinnest , what doest thou against him ? or if thy transgressions be multiplied , what doest thou unto him ? 6. And therefore it is true , that He is never the worse for the Sins which thou hast committed ; nor will be the worse , though thou shouldst proceed to commit more and greater :

7. If thou be righteous , what givest thou him ? or what receiveth he of thine hand ? 7. And that He is never the better for thy being Righteous ; which can conferr nothing upon Him which He hath not already , nor adde any thing to his Greatness .

8. Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art , and thy righteousness may profit the son of man . 8. But thou shouldst not conclude from thence , that it is all one whether a man be good or bad : For thy Wickedness will prove hurtfull to thy self and to the rest of mankind ; and thy Righteousness will doe thee and them great service .

9. By reason of the multitude of oppressions , they make the oppressed to cry : they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty . 9. The cries of the Oppressed tell us what mischief Injustice doeth , and how miserable it makes them : The tyranny of the mighty forces them to cry aloud to God for Vengeance ; who , though He be not hurt himself by it , is touched with a sense of their Affliction .

10. But none saith , Where is God my maker , who giveth songs in the night ? 10. The greatest mischief is , that not one of these miserable Wretches inquires seriously after God , who gave him his being ; and is able therefore , not onely to relieve him , but to comfort , yea to fill him with Joy , in the midst of the saddest Affliction .

11. Who teacheth us more then the beasts of the earth , and maketh us wiser then the fowls of heaven . 11. Having indued us with Reason and Wisedom to consider , that He , who takes care of the Beasts and the Birds , will not neglect us ; if we do not merely cry and groan under our Oppressions , ( as those brute Creatures do , ) but with hearty Repentance , and a thankfull sense of his Benefits , and humble Confidence in his Goodness , piously address our selves unto Him .

12. There they cry , ( but none giveth answer ) because of the pride of evil men . 12. This is the reason that God doth not deliver them ; because they lie crying indeed under their Affliction : but it is not a sense of Him , but onely the haughty Violence of their Oppressours , which extorts it from them .

13. Surely God will not hear vanity , neither will the Almighty regard it . 13. For we must not think that God ( though He be inclined to relieve the Afflicted ) will give ear to men so void of Piety : He will not regard those , who have so little regard to Him ; even for this reason , because He stands in need of no-body .

14. Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him , yet judgmeni is before him , therefore trust thou in him . 14. Therefore , although thou complainest that thou dost not see Him appear for thy deliverance ; ( XXIII . 8. ) yet do not conclude from thence that He is unrighteous : but go and condemn thy self before Him , and then patiently wait for his Mercy .

15. But now because it is not so , he hath visited in his anger , yet he knoweth it not in great extremity : 15. But now , because there is nothing of this in thee , God hath thus severely afflicted thee ; and not at all regarded the exceeding great Prosperity wherein thou hast hitherto lived .

16. Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain : he multiplieth words without knowledg . 16. And Job may spare his Complaints hereafter , for they are to no purpose : he heapeth up words without reason .

CHAP. XXXVI . ARGUMENT .

Having reprehended some of the unwarrantable Expressions in Job's Discourses , ( which he himself would not justify , ) Elihu comes closer to the buisiness , and speaks to the very Cause it self . Shewing from the Nature of God , and the Methods of his Providence , that if Job had , in stead of Disputing , submitted himself humbly to God's Corrections , He would have delivered him : ( it being as easy for Him to lift up , as to cast down : ) And that his not discerning the Reason of his Corrections , ( which Job had made a great cause of his Grief , XIX . 7. ) ought not to have hindred his humble Submission ; because we are not able to comprehend any of the Works of God , which we see every day , and acknowledge to be most excellently contrived .

1. ELIHV also proceeded , and said , 1. JOB still keeping silence , Elihu proceeded in his Discourse , and said ;

2. Suffer me a little , and I will shew thee , that I have yet to speak on God's behalf . 2. Be not weary , and I will open my mind more fully ; for thou hast not yet heard all that God hath to say for himself by my mouth ;

3. I will fetch my knowledg from afar , and I will ascribe righteousness to my maker . 3. Which shall now , from the most sublime Contemplations , assert the Righteousness of my Maker .

4. For truly my words shall not be false : he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee . 4. For assure thy self I will not seek to baffle thee with sophistical Arguments : He that discourses with thee is none of those subtle Disputers , but loves sincere and solid Reason .

5. Behold , God is mighty , and despiseth not any : he is mighty in strength and wisedom . 5. Know then that God is most mighty , but despiseth not the meanest : The excellence of His Power , and the greatness of His Mind , will not suffer Him to wrong any-body .

6. He preserveth not the life of the wicked : but giveth right to the poor . 6. When men are extreamly wicked , and fit to be punished , He will let them live no longer ; but the Poor at last shall recover their right , and be delivered out of their Affliction .

7. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous : but with kings are they on the throne , yea , he doth establish them for ever , and they are exalted . 7. For whatsoever Affliction the Righteous suffer , God never ceases to take a special care of them ; and sometimes raises them to the highest Offices that Kings can confer upon them : in which they are settled as long as they live , and exalted above the power of their Enemies that would pull them down .

8. And if they be bound in fetters , and be holden in cords of affliction : 8. Or if they should fall into any Trouble , which lies as heavy on them , and holds them as fast , as if they were bound with chains and with cords ;

9. Then he sheweth them their work , and their transgressions that they have exceeded . 9. It is onely to make them reflect upon their Lives , and to shew them their Sins ; because they grow strong , and begin to prevail over them .

10. He openeth also their ear to discipline , and commandeth that they return from iniquity . 10. He disposeth them hereby to listen to Instruction , and admonishes them to forsake their Sins , and return to their Duty .

11. If they obey and serve him , they shall spend their days in prosperity , and their years in pleasures . 11. And if they profit so much by their Affliction , as to obey this Counsel , and devoutly serve Him , they shall regain their former Splendour ; and pass the rest of their life in Prosperity and Pleasure .

12. But if they obey not , they shall perish by the sword , and they shall die without knowledge . 12. But if they be disobedient , they shall be utterly cut off , and die in their Folly .

13. But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath : they cry not when he bindeth them . 13. And they that are false-hearted do but heap up Wrath to themselves by their counterfeit Piety : which surprises them so suddenly , that it gives them no time so much as to cry to God , when his Punishments seize on them .

14. They die in youth , and their life is among the unclean . 14. They die before their time in the flower of their age ; and perish like the impure Sodomites , with an hasty and unexpected Destruction .

15. He delivereth the poor in his affliction , and openeth their ears in oppression . 15. Whereas He delivers the poor humble man in his Affliction ; and makes his Oppression the means of giving him wholesom Counsell :

16. Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place where there is no straitness , and that which should be set on thy table , should be full of fatness . 16. Even so would He have rescued thee ( if thou hadst humbly submitted to his Correction ) out of these miserable Streights to which thou art reduced : and not onely inlarged thee , but set thee so far from all danger of falling again into them , that Peace and Plenty should have been thy portion .

17. But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked : judgment and justice take hold on thee . 17. But thou hast maintained the cause of the Wicked : and such as a man's Cause is , such will the Judgment of God be upon him .

18. Because there is wrath , beware lest he take thee away with his stroke : then a great ransom cannot deliver thee . 18. And because God is angry with thee , take heed lest thou farther incense Him to punish thee so heavily , that upon no terms He will deliver thee .

19. Will he esteem thy riches ? no not gold , nor all the forces of strength . 19. Dost thou think He will have any regard to thy Riches ? No , not if thou hadst all the Treasure and all the Force which all the power on earth can muster up .

20. Desire not the night , when people are cut off in their place . 20. Do not dream that they can doe thee any service ; nor entertain thy self with vain hopes , as thou art musing on thy bed in the night : when God sometimes destroys whole Nations on a sudden .

21. Take heed , regard not iniquity : for this hast thou chosen rather then affliction . 21. But let thy Sufferings teach thee Caution , and make thee afraid to go on to provoke offended Justice : for thou hast done it too much already , in chusing rather to accuse Divine Providence , then to submit patiently to his Chastisements .

22. Behold , God exalteth by his power : who teacheth like him ? 22. Consider the vast extent of God's Power , which lifts men up as well as casts them down . What Lord is there so absolute as He ? or who shall teach Him how to govern his Dominions ?

23. Who hath enjoyned him his way ? or who can say , Thou hast wrought iniquity ? 23. What Visiter is there over Him , to examine and take an account of His Actions ? or who may presume to say , This or that is not well done ?

24. Remember that thou magnify his work , which men behold . 24. See that thou leave off this carping at his Providence ; and remember to extoll and magnify it , as well as the wonderfull fabrick of the World , which men behold with admiration and praise .

25. Every man may see it , man may behold it afar off . 25. All mankind contemplate it with astonishment : there are none so dull , but in the farthermost parts of the earth they behold , if they open their eyes , the Majesty of God ;

26. Behold , God is great , and we know him not , neither can the number of his years be searched out . 26. And must confess that He is great in Wisedom and Power , and cannot be comprehended by our shallow Understandings ; which are presently confounded , when they enter into the Search of His Eternall Being .

27. For he maketh small the drops of water : they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof : 27. For it is He who dissolves the Clouds into water , and doth not pour it down all at once ; but by small drops sweetly restores to the earth the vapour which was exhaled from thence .

28. Which the clouds do drop , and distill upon man abundantly . 28. For He hath made the Clouds to be fluid bodies ; which distill their showrs in so many places , that there are multitudes of spectatours and admirers of this wonderfull contrivance .

29. Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds , or the noise of his tabernacle ? 29. And can any one understand how He spreads those Clouds , and makes them hang in the air , when they are full of water ? or give an account of the dreadfull Sounds , which are heard from thence , and which tell us that He dwells in those celestial places ?

30. Behold , he spreadeth his light upon it , and covereth the bottom of the sea . 30. Observe also how He spreads the beams of the Sun upon the Sea , and covers it all over with light ; which raises new Vapours and Clouds in the room of those which are exhausted .

31. For by them judgeth he the people , he giveth meat in abundance . 31. Which He uses for quite contrary ends ; both to punish mankind by Storms and Tempests and Flouds , and to make a plentifull provision for them by fruitfull Showrs .

32. With clouds he covereth the light ; and commandeth it not to shine , by the cloud that cometh betwixt . 32. By those Clouds also He sometimes quite hideth the Sun from us , that it cannot ripen the Fruits ; and sometimes onely intercepts its beams a while , that it may not burn them up by immoderate heat .

33. The noise thereof sheweth concerning it , the cattel also concerning the vapour . 33. The very Cattel perceive the Cloud as soon as it rises , and declare what God intends to doe with it ; whether to turn it into Storms and Tempests , or into fruitfull Rain and Showrs .

CHAP. XXXVII . ARGUMENT .

Elihu continues his Speech , which he had begun before , concerning the incomprehensible Works of God : and limits himself chiefly , as he had in the foregoing Chapter , to the Wonders God doeth in the Clouds . To which , at last , he subjoyns the amazing extent , brightness and firmness of the Sky ; in which the Sun shines with a lustre , which we are not able to behold . And thence concludes , that the Splendour of the Divine Majesty is infinitely more dazling , and that we must not pretend to give an account of his Counsels .

1. AT this also my heart trembleth , and is moved out of his place . 1. THESE are a few of the Works of God ; and though there be innumerable more , yet this one single effect of his Power strikes terrour into me , and makes my heart tremble , as if it would leap out of my body , and leave me dead .

2. Hear attentively the noise of his voice , and the sound that goeth out of his mouth . 2. Hearken , I beseech you , seriously to the horrible Noise , which comes out of some of those clouds ; and it will astonish you also . The smallest Murmurs of it are so dreadfull , that it may be fitly stiled the Voice of God , calling men to stand in awe of Him .

3. He directeth it under the whole heaven , and his lightning unto the ends of the earth . 3. It is heard far and near , for he darts it through the whole region of the air ; accompanied with his Flashes of Lightning , which shoot to the ends of the earth .

4. After it a voice roareth : he thundreth with the voice of his excellency , and he will not stay them when his voice is heard . 4. After them follow the claps of Thunder , more terrible then the roarings of a Lion : which grow louder and louder , till they conclude in violent Rain , or Hail , or Tempest .

5. God thundreth marvellously with his voice ; great things doeth he , which we cannot comprehend . 5. And He who thunders thus with His most wonderfull Voice , doeth other great things , which the wit of man cannot comprehend .

6. For he saith to the snow , Be thou on the earth ; likewise to the small rain , and to the great rain of his strength . 6. For in those clouds , which I have so often mentioned , He makes the Snow , and commands it to cover the earth : and on a sudden they turn into Rain , which sometimes falls in gentle Showrs , and sometimes in impetuous Spouts of water .

7. He sealeth up the hand of every man ; that all men may know his work . 7. Which stop the labour of all those whose buifiness is in the fields ; and makes the Husbandmen know that He disposes of it as He pleases .

8. Then the beasts go into dens , and remain in their places . 8. The very Beasts also are driven , at that season , into their Lurking-places , and are forced to stay in their Dens .

9. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind : and cold out of the north . 9. From one quarter of the Heavens blow turbulent Winds ; and from the opposite quarter , those cold Blasts which clear and purify the air again .

10. By the breath of God , frost is given : and the breadth of the waters is straitned . 10. By the like sharp blasts God sends the Frost ; and binds up the Waters so fast that they cannot flow .

11. Also by waterings he wearieth the thick cloud : be scattereth his bright cloud . 11. In serene evenings also He presses the cloud , into drops of Dew upon the earth : or the dewy cloud receiving the Sun-beams , by a dispersed and various light , makes the beautifull Rainbow in the Heavens .

12. And it is turned round about by his counsels : that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth . 12. For it is turned about and whirl'd severall ways , according to the orders of His wise Counsell ; and so are all the rest that I have mentioned , which execute his Commands upon the face of the whole earth .

13. He causeth it to come , whether for correction , or for his land , or for mercy . 13. Being sent either to bring a Dearth , and to scourge our sins with Plagues and Pestilential Diseases ; or to produce the wonted Crop of the earth , for the necessary sustenance of man and beast ; or to reward our Obedience with extraordinary Plenty and very Healthfull seasons .

14. Hearken unto me , O Job : stand still , and consider the wondrous works of God . 14. Listen diligently to these things , O Job , do not dispute any more with God , but silently consider these his wonderfull Works .

15. Dost thou know when God disposed them , and caused the light of his cloud to shine ? 15. Canst thou tell beforehand what Orders God will give about them ? art thou able to tell so much as when a Rainbow will appear in the clouds ?

16. Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds , the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge ? 16. What canst thou tell us then of the hanging of the Clouds in the air , as in an equal balance ; and such like stupendous Works of his most absolute Wisedom ?

17. How thy garments are warm , when he quieteth the earth by the south - wind ? 17. Whence comes the violent Heat which wesometimes feel ? or how do Calms come out of the same quarter , from whence come Whirlwinds ? v. 9.

18. Hast thou with him spread out the skie , which is strong , and as a molten looking-glass ? 18. Lift up thy thoughts still higher , and tell us , didst thou joyn with Him , when He stretched out the Sky ; in which , as in a mirrour , we behold the admirable Power and Wisedom of Him , who , though it be so wide and vast , made it as firm , as it is clear and bright ?

19. Teach us what we shall say unto him ; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness . 19. Teach us ( if thou art so well skill'd ) what we shall say to Him of His Power and Wisedom ; for we must confess our Ignorance is so great , that our thoughts are confounded when we attempt it .

20. Shall it be told him that I speak ? if a man speak , surely he shall be swallowed up . 20. Is any thing that I have said of Him worth His hearing ? Whoever he be that goes about to describe Him , shall lose himself , and be dazled with the brightness of his Glory .

21. And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds : but the wind passeth , and cleanseth them . 21. For , alas ! men are not able to look upon the brightness of the Sun , when it shines in the Heavens , after a wind hath swept and cleansed them ,

22. Fair weather cometh out of the north : with God is terrible majesty . 22. And brought pure and serene weather out of the Northern parts : How then shall they look upon God , whose Majesty is most dreadfull ; and therefore not to be pried into with Curiosity , but worshipped and praised with the humblest Reverence ?

23. Touching the Almighty , we cannot find him out : he is excellent in power , and in judgment , and in plenty of justice : he will not afflict . 23. For when we have done all we can , we must acknowledge that the Almighty cannot be comprehended by our Understanding : His Power is so excellent , His Judgment so exact , His Justice so abundant , that He ought not to be questioned by us for what He doeth ; but if He be , He will not give an account of His Actions .

24. Men do therefore fear him : he respecteth not any that are wise of heart . 24. Which should make all men stand in awe of Him , and lowly adore , rather then boldly dispute with Him : For He despiseth all those who are so wise in their own conceit .

CHAP. XXXVIII . ARGUMENT .

What Elihu had said concerning the Divine Majesty , in the 22. verse of the foregoing , God declares to be true , by a sensible demonstration , as I have expressed it in the first Verse of this Chapter . In which God himself appears as a Judge ( according to Job's repeated desires ) to decide this great Controversy . And taking up the Argument begun by Elihu , ( who came nearest to the truth , ) and prosecuting it in unimitable words , ( excelling his and all other mens in the loftiness of the style , as much as Thunder doth a Whisper , ) He convinces Job of his Ignorance and Weakness ; by shewing him how little he understood of the most obvious things in this World . Intending from thence , at last , to infer , that he who found himself puzzled , when he went about to give an account of the meanest of God's visible Works , should not presume to penetrate into his secret Counsels ; nor question his Goodness , no more then he could his Wisedom and Power , though he knew not why he was afflicted . One instance had been sufficient to bring Job to a Non-plus ; but He heaps up abundance , to humble him the more , when he saw how much cause there was for it : whether he considered the Earth , or the Heavens ; the Sea , or the Sun ; things contained in the bosome of the Sea , or in the bowels of the Earth ; especially all the Meteors ( as we call them ) which are formed in the Clouds , and the Constellations in the higher Regions ; together with the Beasts upon the earth , and the Birds which sly in the air ; one of each of which he mentions in the end of this Chapter .

1. THEN the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind , and said , 1. NO sooner had Elihu spoken these words , but there was a sensible token of the Presence of that most dreadfull Majesty of God , ( XXXVII . 22. ) among them . For there arose an unusual Cloud , ( after the manner of God's appearing in those days , ) and a Voice came out of it , as loud as a Tempest ; which called to Job , saying ,

2. Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge ? 2. Who is this that disparages my Counsels , with his ignorant Discourses about them ?

3. Gird up now thy loins like a man ; for I will demand of thee , and answer thou me . 3. If thou hast the courage to argue the case with Me , ( as thou hast often desired , ) make thy self ready for the Debate , and answer me the questions I shall ask thee .

4. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth ? declare if thou hast understanding . 4. Where wast thou , when I founded the earth ? speak Man , and relate how I went about that work , if thou art so skilfull as thou pretendest .

5. Who hath laid the measures thereof , if thou knowest ? or who hath stretched the line upon it ? 5. How came it to have these Dimensions ? ( For thou , sure , who presumest to censure my Providence , canst not be ignorant of such matters . ) After what manner was the line and the rule applied , to give it these exact Proportions ?

6. Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened ? or who laid the corner-stone thereof ? 6. Canst thou tell how it was fixt , and settled upon its Center ; or what it is that holds all the Parts of it so firmly together ?

7. When the morning stars sang together , and all the sons of God shouted for joy . 7. Where wast thou when the bright Stars first appeared to proclaim my Praise with one consent ? and all the Angelicall Powers expressed their joy , but did not assist , at the birth of the World ?

8. Or who shut up the sea with doors , when it brake forth as if it had issued out of the womb ? 8. What Midwise had the Sea , to bring it forth , when it burst out of the confused Abyss , like an Infant out of the womb ?

9. When I made the cloud the garment thereof , and thick darkness a swadling-band for it , 9. And I covered it with Clouds as with a garment ; and wrapt its boisterous waves in a thick Mist , with as much ease , as a Nurse swaddles a new-born Child ?

10. And brake up for it my decreed place , and set bars and doors , 10. And laid it in that Bed , which I had appointed to be broken up for it in the earth ? where though it be tossed to and fro , as an Infant in a Cradle , yet it keeps within its Shores , which cannot be overturned .

11. And said , Hitherto shalt thou come , but no farther : and here shall thy proud waves be stayed . 11. For I have fixed its Bounds , and resolved , Thus far shalt thou flow , but no farther : These Sands and these Clifts shall stop thy swelling waves , be they lifted up never so tempestuously .

12. Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days ? and caused the day-spring to know his place . 12. Raise up thy thoughts still higher , and tell me , dost thou remember since the morning Light was made ? or was it thou who ordered the Sun , in what part of the Heaven it should every day arise ?

13. That it might take hold of the ends of the earth , that the wicked might be shaken out of it ? 13. And spred its Beams to the ends of the earth ; that the Wicked , who delight in works of darkness , may be detected , and dragg'd to their deserved Punishment ?

14. It is turned as clay to the seal , and they stand as a garment . 14. For they are daunted at its approach , and change colour as oft as the Clay doth its form under different seals : they are no more consistent with themselves then a changeable Garment :

15. And from the wicked their light is withholden , and the high arm shall be broken . 15. And at last lose the use of that Light , which innocent persons injoy with so much pleasure : their insolent Power , which in the Night was so audacious , being broken in pieces in the Morning .

16. Hast thou entred into the springs of the sea ? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth ? 16. O thou who adventurest to enter into the Abyss of my Judgments , didst thou ever penetrate into the spring of the Sea ? or hast thou perfectly discovered all that lies at the bottom of that great Deep ?

17. Have the gates of death been opened unto thee ? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death ? 17. Hath the Earth opened all her dark caverns to thee ? or hast thou gone down to the very Center of it ?

18. Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth ? declare , if thou knowest it all . 18. Nay , dost thou so much as understand all that grows upon the Surface of the earth ? Shew thy skill , if it be so comprehensive .

19. Where is the way where light dwelleth ? and as for darkness , where is the place thereof , 19. Tell me , which is the way that leads to the place where Light takes up its dwelling when the Sun goes down ? or what becomes of the Darkness when the Sun rises again ?

20. That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof , and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof ? 20. Art thou able to go , and bring either of them hither ? or to carry them back again away from hence , and prescribe them their limits at thy pleasure ?

21. Knowest thou it , because thou wast then born ? or because the number of thy days is great ? 21. Art thou acquainted with these things , because thou wast then born when I made them ? How comest thou to discourse so confidently of my Government of mankind , who couldst neithertell that thou shouldst be born , nor art able now to say when thou shalt die ?

22. Hast thou entred into the treasure of the snow ? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail , 22. And when wast thou in the Clouds , to see how the Snow or the Hail is made in such abundance ?

23. Which I have reserved against the time of trouble , against the day of battel and war ? 23. That I need no other weapon then those , if I please to use them , for the destruction of mine Enemies ?

24. By what way is the light parted , which scattereth the east-wind upon the earth ? 24. Art thou able to give an account how the Light diffuses it self , all over in an instant ? or what makes the East-wind blow so violently upon the earth ?

25. Who hath divided a water-course for the overflowing of waters ? or a way for the lightning of thunder , 25. Didst thou make a chanel in Heaven for the conveyance of overflowing Showrs ? or open the way for the breaking out of Lightning and Thunder ?

26. To cause it to rain on the earth where no man is ; on the wilderness wherein there is no man ? 26. Is it by thy direction that these Showrs go , and fall upon the desart places ; where there are no Inhabitants to imploy their art to provide them with water ?

27. To satisfie the desolate and waste ground , and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth ? 27. And that they satisfie the dry and barren parts of the earth , where all the labour of man is unprofitable , without such plentifull Rains to make them fruitfull ?

28. Hath the rain a father ? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew ? 28. What 's more common then the Rain and the Dew ? but who is able to produce one drop of either ?

29. Out of whose womb came the ice ? and the hoary frost of heaven , who hath gendred it ? 29. In whose womb was the Ice formed ? or who can make so small a thing as the hoary Frost ?

30. The waters are hid as with a stone , and the face of the deep is frozen . 30. Whence comes the Cold that turns the waters into Stone , and fetters the raging waves of the Sea ?

31. Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades , or loose the hands of Orion ? 31. Canst thou forbid the sweet Flowers to come forth , when the Seven-stars arise in the Spring ? or open the Earth for the Husbandman's labour , when the Winter season , at the rising of Orion , ties up their hands ?

32. Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season , or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons ? 32. Is it by thy power that the rest of the Stars , great and small , appear in the Southern and the Northern Signs , in their proper season ?

33. Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven ? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth ? 33. Dost thou understand the Orders and the Laws , which I have established among the Heavenly Bodies ? or couldst thou tell what to doe , if it were referred to thee here on earth , to settle the Government of them ?

34. Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds , that abundance of waters may cover thee ? 34. Let me see an instance of thy Power and Skill ; lift up thy voice to the Clouds , and command them to pour out abundance of waters , upon the place where thou now art .

35. Canst thou send lightnings , that they may go , and say unto thee , Here we are ? 35. Or call to the Lightnings , and bid them go whither thou hast a mind to send them : and let me hear them answer , Behold , we are ready to obey thee .

36. Who hath put wisedom in the inward parts ? or who hath given understanding to the heart ? 36. Didst thou give thy self understanding ? How comes it then to be so small , that thou canst not tell how a Thought is made ?

37. Who can number the clouds in wisedom ? or who can stay the bottles of heaven , 37. Nor with all the Wisedom thou hast , so much as count the number of the Clouds ? whose Showrs thou art as unable to stop , as to make them run :

38. When the dust groweth into hardness , and the clods cleave fast together ? 38. Though they have faln so long , that the earth is abundantly satisfied , and fit for the plough , or for the seed .

39. Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion ? or fill the appetite of the young lions , 39. Or dost thou pretend to have great power upon Earth , though none in Heaven ? wilt thou undertake then to provide food for a Lion and all his whelps ?

40. When they couch in their dens , and abide in the covert to lie in wait ? 40. And that in a Desart ; where they lie lurking in their dens , and greedily watch for a prey , in close and shady places ?

41. Who provideth for the raven his food ? when his young ones cry unto God , they wander for lack of meat . 41. Or , which is less , wilt thou take upon thee to feed the young Ravens ? who , expelled by the old ones out of their nest , complain to Me of their Cruelty , but know not where to get a bit of meat ?

CHAP. XXXIX . ARGUMENT .

This Chapter continues the Discourse begun in the latter end of the foregoing , concerning God's Providence about Beasts and Birds . And to the Two before mentioned , he adds Seven more . First , the wild Goat or Hinde , whose hard labour among the rocks God is wont to help and promote ( as the Psalmist observes XXIX . 9. and other Authours agree ) by a clap of Thunder ; the terrour of which puts her into such an agony , that she presently excludes her young one , which sticks in the birth . Then he mentions the wild Ass ; and after that a tall Creature in those Countries called Reem : which we render an Unicorn ; but Bochartus hath proved to be a two-horned Goat in Arabia of great strength , with an erected head and ears . Of the rest I need say nothing here , they are so well known .

1. KNowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth ? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve ? 1. VAIN Man , who wouldst so fain pry into my Secrets ! didst thou ever climb the rocks to see the wild Goats bring forth ? or hast thou assisted at the hard labour of the Hindes , and helpt to ease them of their burthen ?

2. Canst thou number the months that they fulfill ? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth ? 2. Dost thou know the moment of their conception ? or keepest an account when they will be delivered ?

3. They bow themselves , they bring forth their young ones , they cast out their sorrows . 3. Hast thou seen how they bow themselves ? with what pain they bring forth , and with how much difficulty they are freed from their sorrow ?

4. Their young ones are in good liking , they grow up with corn : they go forth and return not unto them . 4. And yet their young ones are lusty and strong ; they grow up in the open fields ; they leave their mothers , and return to them no more .

5. Who hath sent out the wild ass free ? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass ? 5. Was it thou that gave the wild Ass his liberty , and made him so free from the Servitude , in which you keep other creatures ?

6. Whose house I have made the wilderness , and the barren land his dwellings . 6. Who but I made that difference between him and them ; and laying no burthen on him , assigned him the Wilderness and barren Countries for his habitation ?

7. He scorneth the multitude of the city , neither regardeth he the crying of the driver . 7. Where he laughs at those that live in the tumult and bustle of Cities ; and hears none of the cries of him that drives other Asses to their labour :

8. The range of the mountains is his pasture , and he searches after every green thing . 8. Nor is confined in small Inclosures , but hath whole Mountains to range in for his pasture ; where he finds sufficient food to appease his hunger .

9. Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee , or abide by thy crib ? 9. Go to the Unicorn , ( thou who wouldst have all things conformable to thy will , ) and see if thou canst perswade him to serve thee : will he be content to be tied to thy crib all night ?

10. Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow ? or will he harrow the valleys after thee ? 10. Or submit his proud neck to thy yoke all day ? canst thou make him go to plough ? or will he draw the harrow over thy land ?

11. Wilt thou trust him , because his strength is great ? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him ? 11. Wilt thou rely upon him ( because his strength is great ) to doe all the rest of thy work in the field ?

12. Wilt thou believe him that he will bring home thy seed , and gather it into thy barn ? 12. Or leave thy harvest out of doors , till thou hast prevail'd with him to bring it home , and lay it in thy barn ?

13. Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks ? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich ? 13. Have other Birds any reason to complain that they are not so goodly as the Estrich ? whose wing is triumphant , if it be compared with the wing and the feather of the Stork .

14. Which leaveth her eggs in the earth , and warmeth them in the dust ; 14. But her inward qualities are not so beautifull as her plumes : For she doth not seek for solitary places wherein to lay her Eggs ; but drops them any-where upon the ground , and negligently leaves them to be corrupted by the heat of the Sand and of the Sun .

15. And forgetteth that the foot may crush them , or that the wild beast may break them . 15. She doth not secure them from the foot of travellers or of wild beasts ; who frequently tread upon them , and crush them in pieces :

16. She is hardened against her young ones , as though they were not hers : her labour is in vain without fear ; 16. But is hardened against the fruit of her own womb , as if it were not hers ; and so she loses all her labour , because she hath no fear it may be lost .

17. Because God hath deprived her of wisedom , neither hath he imparted to her understanding . 17. For God hath not given her that wisedom which he hath bestowed upon other Creatures ; but made her of a stupid and careless nature :

18. What time she lifteth up her self on high , she scorneth the horse and his rider . 18. Though He hath imparted so much as is necessary for her preservation : For when she raises her self , and lifts up her wings , she runs so fast , that she despises a man on horseback , who cannot overtake her .

19. Hast thou given the horse strength ? hast thou cloathed his neck with thunder ? 19. And now I speak of the Horse , let me ask thee again , Who was it that made him so much superiour to other creatures in strength and in courage ? Didst thou give him his valiant Spirit ; or clothe his neck with such a stately Main ?

20. Canst thou make him afraid as a grashopper ? the glory of his nostrils is terrible . 20. Or put that Vigour and Mettle into him , which makes him leap and bound in the air like a grashopper ? There is a majesty in his Looks ; and when he snoars vehemently it is terrible .

21. He paweth in the valley , and rejoyceth in his strength : he goeth on to meet the armed men . 21. He stamps impatiently on the ground , and breaks it up with his feet : he glories in his strength , and goes out boldly to meet the arms that oppose him .

22. He mocketh at fear , and is not affrighted ; neither turneth he back from the sword . 22. He derides all the dreadfull instruments of War , and cannot be dismayed by them : he runs upon naked Swords ;

23. The quiver rattleth against him , the glittering spear and the shield . 23. And is not daunted at the noise of Arrows which come whizzing by his ears , nor at the sharp points of Spears and Launces which are thrust at his breast .

24. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage : neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet . 24. He makes the earth quake and tremble , as he gallops over it , and rids abundance of ground in a moment : neither can he stand still , when he hears the sound of the Trumpet :

25. He saith among the trumpets , Ha , ha ; and he smelleth the battel afar off , the thunder of the captains , and the shouting . 25. But the louder it is , the more he neighs and dances for joy . He perceiveth the Battel before it begins , by the thundring voice of the Captains , and the shouting of the Souldiers .

26. Doth the hawk flie by thy wisedom , and stretch her wings toward the south ? 26. Behold , also , how the Hawk mounts up aloft . Didst thou give her those swift wings ? or teach her , when the winter comes , to fly into the southern parts ; that she may still enjoy the warmth of the Sun ?

27. Doth the eagle mount up at thy command , and make her nest on high ? 27. But what Bird sores so high as the Eagle ? Is she beholden to thee for that strength which carries her into the clouds ? or was it by thy direction , that she builds her Nest quite out of all mens reach ?

28. She dwelleth and abideth on the rock , upon the crag of the rock , and the strong place . 28. She dwells on the top of high Rocks ; in the steep and craggy Rock , as in an inaccessible Fortress , she settles her abode .

29. From thence she seeketh the prey , and her eyes behold afar off . 29. There she leaves her young ones safely , while she goes to provide them food ; from thence ( so sharp is her sight ) she spies her prey a vast way off .

30. Her young ones also suck up bloud : and where the slain are , there is she . 30. Which when she hath seized and torn , she brings to her nest , that they may suck its bloud : she looks down to the very earth ; and where the carkasses lie , there may she be found .

CHAP. XL. ARGUMENT .

Job modestly declining to say one word in his own defence , ( though he was graciously invited by God to speak , if he had any Plea remaining , ) is still more humbled by a plain declaration from the Divine Majesty , that Elihu had reason to reprove him for his immoderate Complaints , ( which some might look upon as an Accusation of God's Providence ; ) and for maintaining his own Righteousness so much , and God's Righteousness so little , in the Dispute he had had with his Friends . Shewing him withall , that he was not sensible enough of the infinite Distance and Inequality between him and God ; when he desired so vehemently to argue his Case with Him , that he forgot to make those Submissions to the Divine Majesty , which had better become him . This Disproportion is most lively represented and illustrated , by an admirable description of the strength of the BEHEMOTH , a word of Egyptian termination ; signifying , not the Elephant , ( which seldome lies down , and never among reeds , as this doth , v. 21. ) but a creature in that Country called by the Greek Writers Hippopotamus , i. e. River-horse . For it appears by the Second book of Esdras , Chap. VI. v. 49. that the Hebrews reckon Behemoth , not among the Land-creatures , but among those belonging to the Water , which were created on the fifth day . And there is none , that we know , of that sort , to whom the Characters here mentioned belong , but the Creature now named .

1. MOreover the LORD answered Job , and said , 1. AFTER a short silence , to see what Job would reply to this long Discourse , the Lord proceeded , and said ;

2. Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him ? he that reproveth God , let him answer it . 2. Why dost thou not speak ? Hath not the Almighty brought Arguments enow to convince thee ? Let him that will argue with God about His Providence , first make an Answer to these Questions .

3. ¶ Then Job answered the LORD , and said , 3. Then Job , whose Confusion had made him silent , answered with great humility , and said ;

4. Behold , I am vile , what shall I answer thee ? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth . 4. Behold , I am a wretched creature , and not worthy to speak unto thy Majesty : nor do I know what to answer ; and therefore I will hold my peace .

5. Once have I spoken , but I will not answer : yea , twice , but I will proceed no farther . 5. I have said too much already , in speaking only these two words to Thee : But I have done ; I will adde no more .

6. ¶ Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind , and said , 6. Then the Divine Majesty spake again , after the same manner as before , saying ,

7. Gird up thy loins now like a man : I will demand of thee , and declare thou unto me . 7. What ? hast thou ( who desiredst so much to plead with Me ) lost thy Courage ? pluck up thy spirit , man , and prepare thy self ( as I said at the first ) to answer the Questions I shall farther ask thee .

8. Wilt thou also disannull my judgment ? wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest be righteous ? 8. Is there any reason to suspect my Care of Mankind , who have shewn it so much about other Creatures ? Canst thou not defend thy self , but thou must also complain of Me ? must I be condemned , that thou maist be justified ?

9. Hast thou an arm like God ? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him ? 9. Who art thou , that talkest so much of thine own Innocence , that thou forgettest to maintain my Righteousness ? Hast thou a Power equall to mine ? or canst thou speak with a Voice like this ; or imitate the Thunder thou hearest in the clouds ?

10. Deck thy self now with majesty and excellency , and aray thy self with glory and beauty . 10. Lift up thy self then , and let me see thee appear in the highest Majesty : put on thy Robes , and shew thy self in such Royal state , that all may honour and reverence thy excellent Greatness .

11. Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath : and behold every one that is proud , and abase him . 11. Let all thine Adversaries round about thee ( as becomes a mighty Prince ) feel the fierceness of thy Wrath : frown upon all the haughty , and make them hang down their heads .

12. Look on every one that is proud , and bring him low : and tread down the wicked in their place . 12. Look , I say , upon every proud Oppressour , and make him cringe and throw himself at thy feet : tread down all the Wicked , wheresoever thou shalt find them .

13. Hide them in the dust together , and bind their faces in secret . 13. Cast them all into one grave , that the world may be no more troubled with them : cover those faces with perpetual shame and confusion , which now bear themselves so high , and overlook all others .

14. Then will I also confess unto thee , that thine own right hand can save thee . 14. When I see thee doe such things as these , then will I my self also magnify thy Power ; and acknowledge that thou needest none of my help to deliver thee .

15. ¶ Behold now behemoth , which I made with thee , he eateth grass as an oxe . 15. But consider a while ( if thou art not yet humble enough ) a Creature * * Behemoth , i. e. River-horse . which I have made in a Country not far from thee : He lives among the fishes in the great river of Egypt , but he feeds upon the earth , and eateth gra●● like an Oxe .

16. Lo now , his strength is in his loyns , and his force is in the navel of his belly . 16. Consider , I say , the greatness of his Strength , and the firmness of his Flesh : not onely in his Loyns , but even in the Navel of his belly ; where other creatures are wont to be weak and tender .

17. He moveth his tail like a cedar : the sinews of his stones are wrapt together . 17. He hath a Tail as thick and as stiff as a Cedar ; but he bends and throws it back at his pleasure : the Nerves of his thighs are so many , that they are intricate and perplexed one within another .

18. His bones are as strong pieces of brass , his bones are like bars of iron . 18. His Bones ( for so they are rather then Grissles ) are as strong as bars of brass , and as hard and firm as rods of iron .

19. He is the chief of the ways of God : he that made him , can make his sword to approach unto him . 19. He is one of the principal works of God , a very singular instance of his Power : He that made him hath fastned such crooked Teeth in his jaws , exceeding sharp , that therewith he mows the grass and the corn , as with a Sythe .

20. Surely the mountains bring him forth food , where all the beasts of the field play . 20. For he goes ( in the night ) to graze upon the hills ; in the company of the rest of the beasts 〈◊〉 the field , who sport themselves in those rich pastures :

21. He lieth under the shady trees , in the covert of the reed , and fens . 21. But ( in the day ) he lies down in shady and close places ; under the covert of the reeds , and in the fenny mud .

22. The shady trees cover him with their shadow : the willows of the brook compass him about . 22. The bushy trees , which are there very numerous , afford him a shelter : he is incompassed with the willows and the osiers , which grow in abundance on the banks of Nile .

23. Behold , he drinketh up a river , and hasteth not : he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth . 23. Nay , ( behold a wonder ) he dives to the very bottom of the river , and there takes his repose without fear : He will be secure , though Jordan also should break out , and be poured upon his mouth .

24. He taketh it with his eyes : his nose pierceth through snares . 24. Who dare come in his sight , and attempt to take him by open force ? where is he that will undertake to fasten hooks in his Nose ?

CHAP. XLI . ARGUMENT .

In this Chapter another Creature of vast bigness and strength is described , called in the Arabian language LEVIATHAN . By which we are not , in this place , to understand the Whale ; because that Fish is not armed with such Scales as Leviathan is here said to have , v. 15. nor is impenetrable , as every-body knows ; and , to say no more , never creeps upon the Earth , which is part of the description of this Leviathan , v. 33. Whereby we are therefore to understand the Crocodile , ( to whom every part of this description exactly belongs , ) a Creature as big again as a Man of the greatest stature , and in some places vastly greater : there having been Crocodiles seen of twenty , nay forty foot long ; and in some places of an hundred . To this fierce and untameable Creature God sends Job , that he might learn more Humility , then to contend with his Majesty ; when he saw how unable he was to stand before one of his Creatures . That use He himself teaches Job to make of this description , v. 10 , 11 , 12.

1. CANST thou draw out leviathan with an book ? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down ? 1. THERE is another Creature also in the same River , which I would have thee consider ; and behold therein the Divine Power , and humane Weakness . Canst thou catch * Crocodile . the Leviathan * as you do other fishes ? canst thou let down a line , and draw him out by the tongue with a hook ?

2. Canst thou put an hook into his nose ? or bore his jaw through with a thorn ? 2. When thou hast made a cord of the rushes of the river , canst thou put it about his nose ; or strike an iron , as sharp as a thorn , into his jaw ?

3. Will he make many supplications unto thee ? will he speak soft words unto thee ? 3. Will he importune thy favour , and with many prayers beseech thee to spare him ? will he sue for his liberty with submissive words , and speak thee fair to let him goe ?

4. Will he make a covenant with thee ? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever ? 4. Will he enter into bonds , and make a solemn covenant with thee , never to doe thee hurt ; but to be thy slave , and doe thee service for ever ?

5. Wilt thou play with him , as with a bird ? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens ? 5. Wilt thou adventure to play with him , as with a Sparrow ? or tie him by the leg , for the sport and pastime of thy Daughters ?

6. Shall the companions make a banquet of him ? shall they part him among the merchants ? 6. Shall the society of Fishermen make a feast for joy they have taken him ? and sell their share in him among the Merchants ?

7. Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons ? or his head with fish-spears ? 7. Where is the dart wherewith thou canst hope to penetrate his Skin ? or the fish-spear that is able to wound his Head ?

8. Lay thine hand upon him , remember the battel , doe no more . 8. Go , and touch him if thou darest : the battel will be soon ended , for thou shalt not doe it the second time .

9. Behold , the hope of him is in vain : shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him ? 9. Mark what I say ; he will be sorely disappointed that thinks to take him : for he will be ready to sink down with fear at the very sight of him .

10. None is so fierce that dare stir him up : who then is able to stand before me ? 10. Though he lie asleep on the shore , there is none so hardy , as to dare to awake him . Who is he then that takes upon him to contend with Me ? If one of my Creatures be so terrible , how dangerous is it to provoke my Majesty ?

11. Who hath prevented me , that I should repay him ? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine . 11. And where is the man to whom I am a Debtour ? How came I , that made the whole World , to be obliged to thee , or any one else ? Did you first begin to doe me kindnesses , that I should owe you a requital ?

12. I will not conceal his parts , nor his power , nor his comely proportion . 12. What Insolence is this , to dispute with Me , when thou art not able to stand before this single work of my hands ? none of whose lims or joints I will conceal ; nor forbear to speak of his strength , and of the comely disposition of all his parts .

13. Who can discover the face of his garment ? or who can come to him with his double bridle ? 13. And first take a view of his scaly Skin , wherewith he is covered : who hath ever stript him of that upper garment ? or who dare come within his doubled Snout ?

14. Who can open the doors of his face ? his teeth are terrible round about . 14. Who will venture to open his wide Jaws , and so much as look into his Mouth ? in which his long rows of Teeth are very dreadfull .

15. His scales are his pride , shut up together as with a close seal . 15. The Scales of his back are like the plates of a shield , which I have provided for his defence : every one of them is closely compacted , and strictly sealed to the next .

16. One is so near to another , that no air can come between them . 16. They are knit so close , that the air , which presses into all things else , cannot come between them .

17. They are joyned one to another , they stick together , that they cannot be sundred . 17. They cleave one to another , they hold so fast together , that no art or violence can make a separation .

18. By his neezings a light doth shine , and his eyes are like the eye-lids of the morning . 18. When he sneezeth , as he lies gaping in the Sun , the Spirits break forth with such a force , that they seem to sparkle : and when he riseth up out of the river , his Eyes appear before the rest of his body , as the morning light before the Sun .

19. Out of his mouth go burning lamps , and sparks of fire leap out . 19. The Steam also which then comes out of his mouth is as vehement as if it were full of burning torches ; or there were a fire in him , that sends forth sparks .

20. Out of his nostrils goeth smoak , as out of a seething pot or caldron . 20. Out of his Nostrils goes a Smoak like the reek of a seething pot , or a boiling caldron .

21. His breath kindleth coals , and a flame goeth out of his mouth . 21. His Breath is so hot , though he come out of the water , that it is sufficient to kindle coals ; and may be called a flame , which issues out of his mouth .

22. In his neck remaineth strength , and sorrow is turned into joy before him . 22. His Neck is exceeding strong , as if it were the very seat of strength : sadness and terrour marches before him , and seizes on all those that meet him .

23. The flakes of his flesh are , joyned together : they are firm in themselves , they cannot be moved . 23. The Muscles of his flesh are glewed together ; every one of them is compact and solid ; they are not easily moved .

24. His heart is as firm as a stone ; yea , as hard as a piece of the nether milstone . 24. He is as far from Fear , as he is from Pity : for his heart is as firm as a stone ; as hard as an anvil , or a piece of the nether milstone .

25. When he raiseth up himself , the mighty are afraid : by reason of breakings they purify themselves . 25. But the stoutest hearts tremble when he lifts up himself above the water : they are seized with such a fright , that they are at their wits end , and know not which way to turn themselves .

26. The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold ; the spear , the dart , nor the habergeon . 26. Though they assault him with the sword , it will doe them no service ; for the hardness of his Skin will break it in pieces : the Spear , also the Dart and the Javelin are altogether as feeble , and cannot enter into him .

27. He esteemeth iron as straw , and brass as rotten wood . 27. All the other Weapons of iron ( which the wit of man can devise ) he values no more then a straw ; and those of brass , no more then rotten wood .

28. The arrow cannot make him flee : sling-stones are turned with him into stubble . 28. The Arrow shot out of the strongest bow cannot make him flee : and those Stones , which are thrown out of a Sling with so much force , move him no more then a little chaff .

29. Darts are counted as stubble : he laugheth at the shaking of a spear . 29. Lay at him with heavy Clubs , and he regards them no more then if they were stubble : shake the Launce at him , and he contemns its most violent thrusts .

30. Sharp stones are under him : he spreadeth sharp-pointed things upon the mire . 30. For in stead of him , it meets onely with the rough Shells wherewith he is armed : which are so hard , that he beats back the sharpest Weapon , and throws it into the mire .

31. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot : he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment . 31. When he tumbles about in the bottom of the River , he raises bubbles on the top ; and the water of the Lake is so troubled , with the slimy mud which he stirreth up , that it looks like a Pot of ointment .

32. He maketh a path to shine after him : one would think the deep to be hoary . 32. When he swims , he makes furrows in the face of the Deep ; and leaves a path behind him so covered with froth and foam , that it looks as if it were grown old , and were full of gray hairs .

33. Vpon earth there is not his like , who is made without fear . 33. His fellow is not to be found upon the earth ; where he creeps indeed in the dust , but is so made that he cannot be trodden under foot and bruised .

34. He beholdeth all high things : he is a king over all the children of pride . 34. No , though he lie so low , yet he despises the tallest Beasts ; and reigns over the Oxen and Camels , and all those creatures whose long legs raise them to the loftiest height : whom he masters and rends in pieces at his pleasure .

CHAP. XLII . ARGUMENT .

This Chapter concludes the Book , with an account how Job compleated the Submission which he had begun before to make to God . Whose Pardon he sorrowfully begs ; confessing and repenting of his Fault ; resigning himself intirely to be instructed by Him : but resolving never hereafter to complain , nor to move any questions about his Providence . This Repentance God accepts ; and for his sake grants a Pardon also to his Friends , whom he condemns as more faulty then Job . Who after this receives extraordinary marks of God's Favour ; and hath such an ample Recompence made him for his Losses , as may incourage all posterity to persevere in well doing and patient suffering ; believing stedfastly that nothing can be done or permitted by God without much reason , ( whose Wisedom shines so gloriously in all his Works , ) and humbly expecting a comfortable issue out of all our Troubles .

1. THEN Job answered the LORD , and said , 1. THESE words so lively represented the Power , and Wisedom of God in his Works , that Job , seeing his errour more clearly then ever , submitted himself unto the Great Lord of all , and said ;

2. I know that thou canst do every thing , and that no thought can be withholden from thee . 2. I am abundantly satisfied that thy Power is as large as thy Will ; and that nothing can hinder Thee from effecting every thing which Thou designest : but as Thou hadst reason to cast me down , so Thou canst restore me and lift me up again .

3. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge ? therefore have I uttered that I understood not ; things too wonderfull for me , which I knew not . 3. I am sensible also of the Justice of the Reproof which Thou hast given me ( XXXVIII . 2. ) and do confess I very much forgot my self , when I adventured to talk so ignorantly of thy wise Administrations . It was that which made me so rash as to discourse of things far above my reach ; wonderfull things , which I ought humbly to admire , not arrogantly censure .

4. Hear , I beseech thee , and I will speak : I will demand of thee , and declare thou unto me . 4. Be not angry with me , I beseech Thee , but graciously hear me speaking in thy own words . I do not pretend to give an account of thy wonderfull Works and of thy Providence ; and therefore ask me no more Questions , ( XXXVIII . 3. ) but let me learn of Thee , and do Thou instruct my Ignorance .

5. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear : but now mine eye seeth thee . 5. Something I did know before , of thy Greatness , and Mightiness , and Wisedom ; but nothing so clearly as I do now , by this revelation and visible appearance of thy dreadfull Majesty .

6. Wherefore I abhor my self , and repent in dust and ashes . 6. Which touches me with a sensible displeasure against my self , for my undecent Complaints , and vehement Expostulations , and eager Desires to die or to be delivered : I condemn them all , ( together with whatsoever I have spoken too boldly about thy Government , ) and in the most sorrowfull manner repent , that I have justified my self so much , and Thee so little .

7. ¶ And it was so , that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job , the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite , My wrath is kindled against thee , and against thy two friends : for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right , as my servant Job hath . 7. Which ingenuous Confession pleased the Lord so much , that He did not chide Job any farther : but turning his voice to Eliphaz , ( his principal Accuser , ) He said , I am angry with thee and with thy two Friends : For you have made a perverse construction of the Afflictions I sent upon Job ; whom , notwithstanding all his Errours , I acknowledge to be my Servant , and to have spoken better of Me then you have done .

8. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams , and go to my servant Job , and offer up for your selves a burnt-offering ; and my servant Job shall pray for you , for him will I accept : lest I deal with you after your folly , in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right , like my servant Job . 8. And therefore take no less then seven Bullocks , and as many Rams , and carry them to my Servant Job ; whom I appoint to be your Priest , to offer for you a Burnt-offering , in token of my absolute Dominion over all Creatures . And that faithfull Servant of mine shall pray for you , and obtain your Pardon : for I have a great love to him , and will be favourable to you for his sake . Do not fail to go about this , lest I inflict some grievous punishment upon you ; because , as I said , you have made an ill representation of my Providence , and repeated those things confidently , which my Servant Job shewed you to be false .

9. So Eliphaz the Temanite , and Bildad the Shuhite , and Zophar the Naamathite went , and did according as the LORD commanded them : the LORD also accepted Job . 9. So Eliphaz and his two Companions submitted themselves also unto God , and went , as He commanded them , and desired Job to intercede for them . And the Lord heard his Prayer , and was reconciled to them .

10. And the LORD turned the captivity of Job , when he prayed for his friends : also the LORD gave Job twice as much as be had before . 10. And at that very time when Job was performing this charitable office for his Friends , the Lord was pleased to begin to restore to him all those things which had been taken away from him : and never ceased , till He had not onely established him in his former Splendour , but made him twice as rich as he was before .

11. Then came there unto him all his brethren , and all his sisters , and all they that had been of his acquaintance before , and did eat bread with him in his house : and they bemoned him , and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him : every man also gave him a piece of money , and every one an ear-ring of gold . 11. All his Kindred likewise and his familiar Acquaintance ( whom his unusual Affliction had estranged from him , XIX . 3. ) when they heard of the wonders the Lord had done for him , came to visit him and feast with him : And after they had condoled his Misery , and testified their sorrow for all that had befaln him , they congratulated his happy Recovery ; and , in token of their joy , every one of them presented him with a piece of money , and a pendant of gold .

12. So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more then his beginning : for he had fourteen thousand sheep , and six thousand camels , and a thousand yoke of oxen , and a thousand she-asses . 12. Thus the Lord impoverished this good Man , onely to make him richer . For in stead of seven thousand Sheep , which he had before his Troubles , he found he had fourteen thousand , when they were ended ; and for three thousand Camels , which were taken from him , the Lord gave him six thousand : and multiplied his yoke of Oxen , which were but five hundred , into a thousand ; and his she-Asses , in the same proportion .

13. He had also seven sons , and three daughters . 13. His Wife also became very fruitfull , and brought him as many Children as he had lost ; seven Sons , and three Daughters .

14. And he called the name of the first , Jemima , and the name of the second , Kezia , and the name of the third , Keren-happuch . 14. And to preserve the memory of so marvellous a Deliverance , ( of which they were so many living monuments , ) he called the name of the first Jemima , that is , the Day ; because of the Felicity wherein he now shone , after a sad Night of Affliction , wherein he had lain : and the second , Kesia , ( a Spice of an excellent smell ; ) because God had healed his filthy stinking Ulcers , which made even his Wife refuse to come near him , XIX . 17 : and the last he called Kerenhappuch , i. e. Plenty restored , or , an Horn of varnish ; because God had wiped away the tears which fouled his face , ( as he complains XVI . 16. )

15. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job , and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren . 15. The Beauty also of these Women proved as bright as their Names ; for there were none so amiable in all that Country : and their Father did not ( as the manner was ) endow them with a small portion of his goods , but ( having a large estate , and a great affection to them ) he made them Coheirs with their Brethren , in the inheritance which he left them .

16. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years , and saw his sons , and his sons sons , even four generations . 16. After which glorious Restitution of Himself and his Family , his years were multiplied as well as his estate : For the Lord added almost an Age and an half ( no less then an hundred and forty years ) to those he had lived before ; so that he had the pleasure to see his Childrens Children to the fourth generation :

17. So Job died , being old and full of days . 17. And departed not out of the World till he was so fully satisfied , that he desired not to live any longer .