acting mischiefes is my only mirth verse 8 Then said the Lord Hast thou at any time Observ'd in Job my servant any crime Do but consider and thou'lt never find His equall in the world so pure in mind Eschewing evill fearing God upright In goodnesse constant with a pure delight verse 9 But see alas what this intruder sought Does Job replies he serve the Lord for nought verse 10 Hast thou not set a hedge about him round Rampar'd his house and kept his Cattle sound Blessings flow daily on the work of 's hand His stock too is encreased in the Land verse 11 But now stretch forth thy hand afflict him sore Touch all be hath diminish but his store And if he do not curse thee to thy face Upon me light worse suffring and disgrace verse 12 Behold his accusation God replies Satan this to thy malice open lies Do with them what thou wilt th' hast pow'r so far Only from him himselfe thine hand I bar His power is scarce granted when loe he Qnick from the presence of the Lord doth flee verse 13 Time was not long before his children meet In th' eldest brothers house to drinke and eate verse 14 A servant came and did with teares relate The sad beginning of his crosse-grown Fate While some said he were with the Oxen plowing The Asses feeding other servants sowing verse 15 A Troope of fell Sabaeans ' came and took The Herds away nor did their fury brook To spare the Servants lives them all they slew And I alone escap't the news to shew verse 16 While yet he spake another came and wept As sad a story fire from heaven has swept Away the Sheepe and servants Oh sad fate And I alone came off this to relate verse 17 He speaking yet another came and told How three pickt bands of arm'd Caldeans bold Fell on the Camels taking them away Yea and the Servants with the sword did slay I only scaping from among the rest The news of this misfortune to attest verse 18 His tale scarce told a fourth draws neer with cries Sad news fit only for o'rflowing eyes Thy sons and daughters as they lately were At their lov'd eldest brothers making cheere verse 19 A strong side-wind did from the desart blow On th' houses corners and it overthrow The sudden ruine kill'd the young men all And I alone escaped from the fall verse 20 Then Job arose not able more to beare He rent his robe and tore his beard and haire But yet in midst of this extremest griefe He only seekes to God for some reliefe Just like an humble child he kist his rod He cries and worships to his angry God verse 21 Naked I came into the world and when I must returne naked shall goe agen The Lord did give and taken hath the same Blessed and honour'd be his holy Name verse 22 In all this Job did no offence commit Nor was so foolish to charge God with it CHAP. II. verse 1 AGaine the Sons of God before his throne Themselves present who is the great three-one Th' all-daring Foe brazing his hatefull face Among them also came and tooke a place verse 2 Whom God beholding said what new pretence Hath brought thee hither Satan or from whence He soon replies I have the world o'r-run The Earths vast Globe surrounding with the Sun Gilding with specious shews my deadliest baites That win poore soules from thee by their deceits verse 3 Hast thou said God any so perfect seene Or upright as my servant Job hath been All vice abhorring with a deadly hate Helping poore soules prest with a direfull fate Keeping my Statutes with devout est zeale Earth never yet brought forth his Parallell Experience tels us the sweet Camomile The more 't is trodden will the better smell With the same zeale loe he still keepes my Laws Though thou wouldst have me kill him without cause verse 4 Man will not stick replies the foe to give All his possessions to his skin to live verse 5 But now stretch out thine hand and let him feele Thine arme inflicting paines from head to heele He will with raylings thy high power disgrace And with repining curse thee to thy face verse 6 Behold saith God this further grant I give Torment him as thou wilt but let him live verse 7 Away goes Satan and smites Job all o're With boiles his body is but all one sore verse 8 Yet down with patience great he humbly sate To scrape with peeces of a broken pot His boile-inflicted body in the ashes Enduring meekly these soule-trying lashes verse 9 But see a torment worse than all the rest His wife comes to him thus in soule opprest With sharpe rebukings saith she dost thou still Keepe thine uprightness though thou beare this ill Away with this precisenesse wilt thou lie With patience under this curse God and die verse 10 But he speake wiser else ne'r silence breake Thouspeak'st as foolish women use to speake Shall we take blessings from the hand of God And shall we not with patience beare his rod With lowlinesse submitting to the Lord In all this Job utter'd no sinfull word verse 11 When Jobs three friends heard of his chang'd estate By Satans malice and inveterate hate With griefe they trembling as 't were in amaze Each by appointment came from his own place With sweetest comforts to revive his soule And with their griefe his misery condole Bildad the Shuhite Zophar from Naamah came With Eliphaz the Temanite by name verse 12 As Travellers drawing neare their journies end With more impatience for it look and tend So these three friends look ere they yet draw nigh The object of their pitty to espy But when they see yet know him not they weep With bitter lamentations not can keep Longer their teares as messengers they flow Their height of love and pity both to shew They rent their robes and sprinkled on their heads Dust towards heaven so them their sorrow leads verse 13 So they sate with him mourning on the ground Seven daies and nights before that any found One word to speake of for they saw his griefe Was very great almost beyond reliefe CHAP. III. verse 1 THese daies once ended Job as one forlorne In speaking curs'd the day when he was borne verse 2 And as afflicted with his paines he lies In very anguish of his heart he cries verse 3 Let the disastrous day of my sad birth For ever quite perish from off the earth And let that night be in oblivion put Wherein 't was said there is a man-child got verse 4 Let it be cover'd with perpetuall night Let not the Lord regard it nor the light Afford it but one comfortable ray Whereby it may be known to be a day verse 5 Let it a day of darknesse still remaine Yea let death bringing darknesse it distaine Let clouds dwell on it let it fearfull be As a most fatall day of misery verse 6 As for the Night let darknesse on
tast verse 8 I perish thence where I was seen before Thy eyes are on me and I am no more verse 9 As watry clouds obscure the clearest day Yet when disgorg'd of moysture fade away So he that goes to 'th quiet of the grave No more the pleasures of this life shall have verse 10 He shall no more come from his chosen urne Nor to the place of his abode returne verse 11 With saddest plaints therefore I 'le silence break I will in anguish of my spirit speak My catalogue of woes I will unroule In bitterness of my perplexed soule verse 12 Am I a Whale or Sea t'o'repass my bounds That thus with watches thou besetst me round verse 13 When I fore think my bed shall comfort give My couch shall ease my plaints and me relieve verse 14 Then with affrighting dreams thou dost me skare And fearfull visions all my solace are verse 15 So that my soule would strangling yea and death Rather then draw in my so hatefull breath verse 16 I loath it I 'de not live die would I faine Let me alone my daies are all but vain verse 17 What 's man that thou shouldst magnifie him yet And that upon him thou thine heart shouldst set verse 18 And that thou dost him visit every morne And moment-tryals tell him not forlorne verse 19 Why wilt not leave me nor let me alone Till I my spittle may but swallow down verse 20 Oh thou great men-preserver now I see My passed sins what shall I doe to thee Why hast thou as thy marke set me vile else So that I am a burthen to my selfe verse 21 And why my trespass dost thou not forget And take away my sin from out thy sight I shall sleep hidden then within the ground And if thou seek me I shall not be found CHAP. VIII verse 1 THen Bildad speaking did this answer make verse 2 How long of these things wilt thou love to speak And shall we still thy vainer speeches find As are the quick-gone puffes of mighty winde verse 3 Doth the Allmighty judgement turne aside Or doth perverted justice God abide verse 4 If so thy sons were not of sin afraid And he their trespass hath with death repaid verse 5 If thou wouldst early seeke to God and send Thy pray'rs up to him and his will attend verse 6 If thou wert pure and upright surely he Would now awake to help and comfort thee And with continued happiness would bless The habitation of thy righteousness verse 7 Though thy beginning were but small yet peace Should crown thy latter end with great encrease verse 8 Inquire I pray thee laying by thy rage Of our fore-Fathers search the former Age. verse 9 For of our dwelling here the surest state Drawes but from yesterday its longest date We are unskilfull nothing know alas Our daies on earth do as a shadow pass verse 10 Shall not they teach and tell thee and impart Things secret to thee from their knowing heart verse 11 Without the mire can smallest rushes grow Or flags where water doth not use to flow verse 12 While in its greenness and uncut it be It before other herbs we wither'd see verse 13 So are the paths of all that God forget And hypocrites false hope their joy shall let verse 14 Whose confidence shall be cut off and 's trust Shall be swept down as spiders web or dust verse 15 Upon his house his hope and strength shall rest But it shall fall and not endure the test Fast he shall hold it as a guard secure But it shall faile his hope and not endure verse 16 He 's green before the Sun which makes him grow And in his Garden shooteth forth his bough verse 17 About the Fountaine wrapped are his roots And in the place of stones appeares his shoots verse 18 If any shall destroy him from his place Then none shall know that ever there it was verse 19 Behold he will rejoyce for this his way And others shall grow there another day verse 20 See God the perfect man will not destroy Nor help the wicked in their sad annoy verse 21 Untill with laughing he do fill thy mouth And make thy lips rejoyce to see his truth verse 22 As for thy foes who thee pursue with hate Shame shall their cloathing be and woe their mate And who their hands with vicious folly stain Their dwelling places never shall remain CHAP. IX verse 1 THen answered Job I know that this is sure verse 2 But how should man before the Lord be pure verse 3 If he would with him strive when all is done He cannot answer of a thousand one verse 4 He is in heart all-knowing and all-wise And powerfull in strength rending the skies Who e're hath prosper'd or with wealth been blest Which hath against the Lord harden'd his brest verse 5 Which doth remove the hills and they not know And in his anger doth them overthrow verse 6 He doth the Earth remove out of her seat So that the aire its shaking pillars beat verse 7 He bids the Sun and loe it will not rise And sealeth up the Stars within the Skies verse 8 Himselfe alone the heaven abroad doth spread And on the seas impetuous billowes tread verse 8 He doth Arcturus and Orion make And Pleiades from him their being take The chambers of the South his power owne With both the torrid and the frigid Zone verse 10 Which doth great things beyond the reach of man And wonders works whose number none can scan verse 11 Behold he passeth by he goes by me Yet do I neither him perceive or see verse 12 Behold he by his power takes a prey Who shall controule him or but say him nay verse 13 If God his burning wrath will not withdraw The proudest helpes stoope under him with aw verse 14 How much lesse shall I answer him or mould My words with him an argument to hold verse 15 Whom I 'de not answer though I righteous were For 't is presumption such a thing to dare I such rash foolish courses would not take But supplication to my Judge would make verse 16 If in my torments I to him had cry'd And to my calling he had straight repli'd Yet would I not my tried faith once cheere With hopes that to me he had bent an eare verse 17 For why he with a tempest breakes my bones And multiplies without a cause my wounds verse 18 He will not let me take unwilling breath But fils my soule with bitternesse of death verse 19 If I of strength or youthfull rigour speake Lo he is strong a bow of steele hee 'l breake Or if of judgement who shall ever dare To bring me â—o a pleading at the bar verse 20 If I should think my selfe to justifie My condemnation my own words should be If I should think perfect or just to seeme He me perverse and wicked would esteeme verse 21 Though I were perfect yet in mine own eyes Would I not seeme
won't sin commit Nor will God judge amisse or suffer it verse 13 Of whom did he receive the earth in charge Who fixt the Word or can its bounds enlarge verse 14 If he in heart decree a man to death And gather to himselfe his vitall breath verse 15 All flesh shall fall together mortals must As made of earth return again to dust verse 16 If thou hast Wisdom then this lesson hear And in thy minde my talk and lectures bear verse 17 Shall he that hateth judgement rule with might And wilt thou judge him wicked that 's upright verse 18 Is' t fit to say to Kings ye impious are Princes to blame of sin who will or dare verse 19 How then to him who Princes doth not spare To whom the rich and poor both equall are verse 20 For he created both they all shall die Within the shortest twinckling of an eie The people shall be troubled and be gone The mighty shall be flain by God alone verse 21 His eyes are watchfull over all their waies He all their goings marketh all their daies verse 22 There is no darknesse vale of death no cave Which wicked men can for their safegard have verse 23 He on no man so heavy laies his rod That he in judgement should contend with God verse 24 He shall in pieces break all Tyrants great And raise up others in their wonted seat verse 25 Hee knowes their workes destroyes them in the night They are cut off and never see the light verse 26 He useth these as sinners he hath done He strikes them in the presence of the Sun verse 27 They started from him like a broken bow And would his waies nor keep nor seek to know verse 28 They made the poore send up their voice on high Th' afflicted cried and he heard their cry verse 29 When he gives quiet who can trouble make He hides his face and all the earth doth quake Whether he angry be at one alone Or whether it be against a Nation done verse 30 When hypocrites the ruling Scepter beare Then are the people led into a snare verse 31 'T is meet to say I have been chast'ned sore I do repent and will offend no more verse 32 What I see not that teach me by thy skill I will no more do what I have done ill verse 33 Must all be at thy will whether thou chuse He will performe't or whether thou refuse Although not I speake therefore what you know And do not into further follies go verse 34 Behold let wise and understanding men First hear me speak and shew their judgment then verse 35 Job without wisdome spoke yea like a foole Nor were his words framed by wisdomes rule verse 36 'T is my desire Job may be try'd agen Concerning his replies for wicked men verse 37 He addeth sin to sin with us claps hands And aggravating words against God stands CHAP. XXXV verse 1 ELihu further said thinke you this right verse 2 Which you have spoke then God I 'm more upright verse 3 For thou hast said what profit shall I have Or what advantage if my sin I leave verse 4 He answer you and your associates all That do into like errours with you fall verse 5 Looke up to heaven and see and view the clouds Whose height oft-times the Suns bright lustre shrowds verse 6 If thou dost sin dost thou the Lord disease Or dost thou hurt him by thy sins encrease verse 7 What by thy justice dost thou to him give Or from thy hand what gaine doth he receive verse 8 But by thy sin a man thou maiest offend Thy justice may anothers state amend verse 9 The mighty man makes the oppressed cry Variety of torments makes them dye verse 10 None looke to God that made them of the clay Who in the night gives songs griefe to allay verse 11 Who teacheth us more than to beasts is given And makes us wiser than the foules of heaven verse 12 Then through the pride of evill men they cry But he to their requests gives no reply verse 13 God surely will not vanity regard Nor shall it go unpunisht from the Lord. verse 14 Thou saist thou shalt not see him yet he 's just Judgement 's before him put in him thy trust verse 15 But since it is not so although thou smart Thy torments do not sâ—te with thy desert verse 16 Therefore Job speaketh vainly as a foole He doth dispute without discretions rule CHAP. XXXVI verse 1 ELihu further said Let me proceed verse 2 To speake on Gods behalfe I have decreed verse 3 I from above my knowledge will receive And to my maker righteousnesse will give verse 4 My words shall not be false thou shalt confesse When I have spoke my wisdomes perfectnesse verse 5 Behold the mighty Lord doth not despise Who are in courage valiant and wise verse 6 He will not save such as in sin delight But to the poore in spirit giveth right verse 7 But as for those who are to goodnesse wise He doth protect them with observing eyes They are with Kings upon the Throne their place He fixeth firmly free from all disgrace verse 8 If they in prison bound in fetters lie If they be tyde with cords of misery verse 9 Then will he shew them both their work and sin That in their life they have excessive bin verse 10 He openeth to discipline their eare And bids them from iniquity retire verse 11 If they obey him and observe his way Their daies in pleasure yeares shall end in joy verse 12 If they obey not by the sword they 'l fall And in their folly they shall perish all verse 13 But hypocrites in heart prepare his rod Who though afflicted will not call on God verse 14 With the uncleane they spend their youthfull time And perish in their heat of bloud and prime verse 15 He from affliction doth the poore set free In times of trouble he their help will be verse 16 He would even so take sorrow from thy face Putting thy feet into a broader place And not confine thee to a narrow streight Yea all upon thy Table had been fat verse 17 But loe thy thoughts do with the wicked share Therefore thy judgements all most righteous are verse 18 Gods wrath is kindled of his stroke take heed No ransome frees from woe if once decreed verse 19 Will he regard thy wrath no nor thy gold And all thy strength he doth as nothing hold verse 20 Desire not Night his secrets do not trace How he destroy'd the people from their place verse 21 Take heed and sin not looke not once amiss For thou hast rather trouble chose than this verse 22 Lo God exalts who dares his pow'r impeach Or like the Lord what man can wisdome teach verse 23 Who to th' Almighty hath set out his way Or thou hast erred who to him can say verse 24 To praise him for his worke do not forget verse 25 Which all men see
it seize Let it not joyned be among the daies Nor come among the Moneths to make them less Happy by its most omious access verse 7 Yea let that night be desolate no noise Of joy be heard therein or pleasing voice verse 8 Let them whose mournings with the day their course Renew on it lay their most heavy curse verse 9 Let all the stars which in its twilight rise Be darkned through the lowrings of the Skies Let it expect the light but none enjoy Nor let it see the dawning of the day verse 10 Because it did not in my Mothers womb Inclose my body and make it my tombe But clothing my frail flesh with life me brought Of this sad cup to drink a deadly draught verse 11 Why dy'd I not before my birth or why Assoon as I was born did I not die verse 12 Why did the knees my comming not infest Or why for nurture did I suck the breast verse 13 Then had my woes prevented been by death I had been quiet lying void of breath verse 14 With Councellors and Kings of highest race I had enjoy'd a quiet resting place Whose living works to memorise their fame To desart places gave a lasting name verse 15 Or with great men whose treasuries with store Were fil'd with silver and refined Ore verse 16 As an untimely birth I then had been Or as poor Infants which no light have seen verse 17 There tyrants cease from troubling and th' opprest With irkesome labour have a welcome rest verse 18 Those who in prison lie are quiet there No voice of the oppressor do they hear verse 19 The small and great all there together be The abused servant's from his Master free verse 20 Why to that man is given gladsome light Whose soule is lost in miseries long night Or why to them the torment of a life Whose soules are bitter through oppressing griefe verse 21 Who wish for death in vain and seek it more Then hidden treasures and the Earths whole store verse 22 Who with excess of gladness fill their mind When they the quiet of the grave can find verse 23 Why to that man is given light whose way Is as a Labyrinth leading him astray Whom God as with an hedg hath compas'd round That to come out of 's woe no way is found verse 24 My sighings daily come my griefe is great I am perplexed that I cannot eat My roarings are so loud all may them hear Like water poured out so flow my tears verse 25 For in my greatest happiness of all I ever dreaded this my sudden fall Which now is come with such a deadly stroke As it to peeces all my bones hath broke verse 26 I had no safety quietness nor rest Yet trouble came which hath my soule opprest CHAP. IV. verse 1 THus stopping Job the Temanite began verse 2 If we assay to speak to thee vaine man Wilt thou be angry who can patience have By foolish â—ilence thus to let thee rave verse 3 Thou art the same whose grave instructions were To superstitious Vanities a Bar. Thou art the same whose comfort and reliefe Gave strength and joy to souls opprest with griefe verse 4 As are strong pillars to uphold the weak So were the words which thou didst daily speake Weak knees even bowing under burthens great To thee for strengthning comforts did retreat verse 5 Thus wouldst thou others overwhelm'd in griefe Helpe with divinest comforts and reliefe But thou doest faint now griefe does thee assaile Thou art afflicted and thy heart does faile verse 6 Is not this all thy fear thy confidence Thy upright dealings and thy patience verse 7 Remember well I pray thee call to mind If ere the innocent you falling finde Or in your long experience can you say The upright dealer ever did decay verse 8 But I have seen those that do mischiefe frame Plowing and sowing evill reap the same verse 9 They quickly perish by a sudden death They are consumed by th' Almighties breath verse 10 The Lyons roaring voice and by his stroke The teeth of fiercest Lyons whelps are broke verse 11 The Lyons range yet want their sought-for prey And the stout Lyons whelps abroad do stray verse 12 I saw a secret vision and mine ear Some little of it formerly did hear verse 13 'T was when Death 's elder brother fast did keep Poor mortals hood-wink'd in a veile of sleep First enter'd thoughts then visions overspred With displaid banners my sleep-drowned head verse 14 Fear dismall fear soon follow'd which did make Such an impression all my bones did shake verse 15 A Spirit passed then before my face Which frighted me into so great a maze A dreadfull horror in me I did feele My hair stood upright all my blood was steel verse 16 It stood before me yet I could not see At least discern its form what it might be An Image did appear before mine eyes When loe thus speaking I did hear a voice verse 17 Can it be thought that mortall man can be More just then the All-judging Deity Or shall fraile flesh esteem it selfe more pure Then the All-good Can he such thoughts endure verse 18 Behold even in his servants he could find No true faiths lustre shining in their mind Nay th' Angels were impure whom once he dight With his own glorious livery of light verse 19 How much more foolish and impure are they Whose hope consisteth in a house of clay Whose chiefe foundations but in dust are laid Which are before the moth againe destroy'd verse 20 They are destroyed all the day nor are They once regarded with one moane or teare verse 21 Does not their glory quite forgotten lye Ev'n without wisedome as the fooles they dye CHAP. V. verse 1 CAll now and see if thon canst any find That will returne an answer to thy mind Or wilt thou turne to any Saint no Age Can garbe a patterne fitting to thy rage verse 2 The foolish dye in their repining fit And wrathfull envy kils the void of wit verse 3 The wicked have I seene to prosper much Yet at him never did repine or grutch I curs'd his dwelling for I knew that God Had destin'd him to his destroying rod. verse 4 His children are possest with daily feare Of fatall danger to attend them here By publike judgement they 're condemn'd to dye And without helpe or pity crushed lie verse 5 The hungry soule shall hate his harvest corne Yea they shall take it from among the thornes And who are thirsty shall their drowth so slake For drinke their substance yet remaining take verse 6 Though trouble comes not from the dust we know Nor yet affliction from the ground doth grow verse 7 Yet still as mans short daies and life encrease So do afflictions daily on him presse He 's borne to travell and in griefe to dye As sparkes are upwards from the coales to flye verse 8 I 'de seeke to God relying on his laws And unto God would I
so I 'de my life despise verse 22 This is one thing and therefore did I say He doth the wicked and the good destroy verse 23 After the scourge if sudden death be sent Hee 'l laugh at triall of the innocent verse 24 The earth is given to the wicked they In it the Scepter and Dominion sway The faces of the Judges he doth hide They cannot justice see but go aside Or if not so where then or who is he That can a reason shew why these things be verse 25 My daies now swifter then a post do flee They all are vanish'd and no good do see verse 26 As swiftest ships they passed are away Or as an Eagle hasting to the prey verse 27 If that I say I will my plaints forsake Leave off my mournings and some comfort take verse 28 Then do I feare my woes griefes me infold Knowing thou wilt not innocent me hold verse 29 If I be wicked why then still in vaine Thus do I labour lingring in my paine verse 30 If with snow-water I my selfe do wash And make my hands most cleane from sinfull trash verse 31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch most vile I shall appeare yea my cloaths me defile verse 32 For he is not a man with flesh attir'd Like me vile Creature who in sin am min'd That if in judgement we together come Should I him answer nay I should be dumb verse 33 Nor is there any Umpire us betweene On 's both to lay his hand and intervene verse 34 But let him take away his rod from me Let not his fear my soul thus terrifie verse 35 Then would I speak and not fear any ill But since it it is not so I hold me still CHAP. X. verse 1 MY soule 's cut off though painefull life I have I my complaint upon my selfe to leave My catalogue of Woes I will unroule And speake in anguish of my troubled soule verse 2 I 'le say to God Condemne me not but shew Wherefore it is with me thou strivest so verse 3 Doth it seem good to thee that thou oppress Without a cause and heighten my dirtress Or without pitty that thou shouldst despise Thine handy-work is that thy wonted guise Or wilt thou let thy shining favour crown Perverse mens counsels and yet cast me down verse 4 And hast thou eyes of flesh or dost thou see As erring mortals who unknowing be verse 5 Are thy daies fleeting as the daies of man Or are thy yeers denoted in a span verse 6 That of my faults thou dost enquiry make And of my sin a view so narrow take verse 7 Thou know'st I am not wicked that I lye Restrain'd from sinning by my misery Thou also know'st none can so mighty be Who may out of thine hand deliver me verse 8 Thou didst my formeless lump fashion and make Yet thou destroy'st me and my life dost take verse 9 Thou all-Creator call to minde I pray That thou hast made me as the brittle clay And wilt thou scourge me in thy wrath with pain And into dust convert my flesh again verse 10 Hast thou not poured out like milke my lees And into curds converted me as cheese verse 11 Thou hast with skin and flesh my frailty clad And all my joynts and bones and sinews made verse 12 Thy grace and favour too hath made me live Thy providence my spirit did relieve verse 13 And thou hast hid these things within thy heart That this is with thee know I for my part verse 14 If I offend thou markest me wherein And wilt not hold me guiltless of my sin verse 15 If I be wicked woefull is my fate If I be righteous in the worlds conceit Yet dare I will not to lift up my head Both of confusion I am full and dread See thou therefore my misery and griefe And of thy mercy send me some reliefe verse 16 For why alas my daily woes renew With the uprising Sun thou dost pursue Me as a faging Lyon and again Shew'st thy selfe wondrous to prolong my pain verse 17 Thy plagues against me Lord thou dost encrease And wilt not let thine indignation cease I am unsetled yea and full of change Sorrowes against me do an army range verse 18 Why didst thou then bring me from out the womb Would I had di'd or it had been my tomb And that no mortall ever had me seen That it might not be said I once had been verse 19 Then of not being I my wish should have And from the womb been carried to the grave verse 20 Are not my daies few let me then alone That I by comforts may asswage my moan verse 21 Before I go whence no return can be Unto a land of gloomy misery verse 22 A land of darkness like to pitchy night Or like that darkness which did Egypt fright And of the shadow of most dreadfull death Whose light is darkness and no order hath CHAP. XI verse 1 THy throngs of words said the Naamathite verse 2 Should we not answer then you justly might Tax us of folly and you upright be But words their speaker cannot justifie verse 3 Should thy deceits make our advices cease Or thy devices make men hold their peace And when thou mockest dost thou think no man Should for thy floutings make thee blush with shame verse 4 Hast thou not said my doctrine is most pure And I my cleannesse in thine eies assure verse 5 But Oh! that God would now against thee speak And now at length his long-kept silence break verse 6 That hee 'd unlock the most mysterious deep Of sacred wisdome which his treasures keep That they are double to that ford of thine From which thou boastest to be so divine Then would'st thou know thy sins did merit far More heavy plagues then laid upon thee are verse 7 Canst thou by curious searchings of thy mind Presume on such a thought as God to find Or canst thou tread the Dedalaean maze Of his perfection in thy span of daies verse 8 'T is as the heights of Heaven what canst thou do Deeper then lowest hell what canst thou know verse 9 In measure longer then the earth can be And broader then the world-surrounding sea verse 10 If he cut off shut up or gather will Who can him let his purpose to fulfill verse 11 He knowes vain men he wickednesse sees too Will not he then give it his guerdon due verse 12 Man would be wise yet is a lumpish dolt Yea he is borne like a wild Asses colt verse 13 If with repentance thou thine heart prepare And stretch out hands which purified are verse 14 If thou with sin be laden throw 't away And let it not dwell in thy house of clay verse 15 Then shall thy spotless face exalted be And thou shalt stand and no more terror see verse 16 Thou shalt forget thy woe enjoying good And it remember as a by-past Flood verse 17 Thou shalt be clearer then the day at noon
me wretched me hath took And hath my afflicted body even slaine And set me as the mark whereat hee 'l aim verse 13 He cleaves my reines in sunder without spare Yet doth regard nor my complaint nor pray'r His Archers have about beset me round He powreth out my gall upon the ground verse 14 With daily breaches he doth me amerce He runs upon me like a Gyant fierce verse 15 I have sow'd sackcloth on me as was just And have defil'd mine honour in the dust verse 16 My face is foule with weeping so 's my breath And on my eye-lids is the shade of death verse 17 Not that my hands injustice can endure Aso my prayer before the Lord is pure verse 18 Cover not thou my bloud O Earth and let My dolefull cryings in thee no place get verse 19 Also behold my witnesse is on high And my best record is above the skie verse 20 My friends despise me making mowes and jeeres But yet mine eye poure out to God my teares verse 21 O that one might with God for frail man plead As for his friend another may at need verse 22 When but few yeers are come then shall I go The way whereby I shall returne no more CHAP. XVII verse 1 MY breath is grown corrupt short are my daies And for the ready graves I am a prey verse 2 Are there not mockers with me don 't mine eie Too long within their provocations lie verse 4 Lay down now put in surety which I like Who is he that with me his hands will strike verse 4 For thou hast hid their heart from wisdoms things Thou shalt therefore them to honour bring verse 5 He that doth cheat his friends with flattering tongue His childrens eyes shall faile for such his wrong verse 6 The peoples by-word he made me alas And as a tabret I aforetime was verse 7 Mine eye is dimme by reason of my pain And all my members as a shade are vaine verse 8 At this shall be amazed men upright And the innocent shall vex the hypocrite verse 9 The righteous shall hold on his way and so He that hath cleansed hands shall stronger grow verse 10 As for you all return and listen now For I one wiseman cannot find with you verse 11 My daies are past my purposes are done The very thoughts within my heart are flown verse 12 They change the Night into a lightsome day The light is short darknesse it drives away verse 13 If I do waite my house the grave is made And in the darkness I my bed have laid verse 14 Unto corruption I have said forlorne Thou art my father to the silly Worm Thou art my mother and my sister too Whose weak simplicity my frailty shew verse 15 And where is now my hope as for my hope Who shall it see and know his drift and scope verse 16 They shall into the pit go when we have Our rest together in the quiet grave CHAP. XVIII verse 1 HOw long wil't be said Bildad see you make verse 2 An end of words mark us then wee 'l speak verse 3 Wherefore as beasts are we accounted slight And as most vile reputed in thy sight verse 4 He tears himself in 's wrath shall th' earth be left For thee or rocks removed be or cleft verse 5 The light of wicked men shall fade and die The sparkles of their fire shall dying lie verse 6 In his house light and darknesse are the same His lamp shall faile too with his perish'd name verse 7 His streightned steps shall make his strength to fail And his own counsell make him fall and quaile verse 8 He goes into a net at unaware And walks on laid to catch himselfe a snare verse 9 The way-laid grin shall take him by the heel And against him the robber shall prevaile verse 10 Upon the ground for him a snare they lay And spread a trap to take him in the way verse 11 Terrors of death shall fright him every where And drive him to a hasty flight for feare verse 12 His strength shall faile for hunger and beside Nought but destruction shall to him betide verse 13 It shall devoure his skin with tedious length The first-born of grim death shall eat his strength verse 14 His confidence shall from his house be fled And it shall bring him to the King of Dread verse 15 It in his house shall dwell because of right 'T is none of his Brimstone shall on it light verse 16 His root shall wither and dry up below Yea and his branch above shall cease to grow verse 17 His name shall be forgotten and his birth Shall be no more remembred on the earth verse 18 Out of the world he shall be chased quite And driven into darknesse out of light verse 19 He shall nor Son nor nephew have nor land Nor ought remaining in his house to stand verse 20 They that come after shall b'affeighted more At this his day then those who went before verse 21 Such is the house of worldlings such their rod This is the place of them who know not God CHAP. XIX verse 1 THen Job How long will ye thus vex my foul verse 2 And me in pieces break with words so foul verse 3 Ten times have ye reproached me with blame Yet of your strangeness to me have no shame verse 4 Be it indeed that I have err'd vile elfe Mine error yet remaineth with my selfe verse 5 If ye your selves will magnifie indeed And my reproach against me surely plead verse 6 Know now that God hath me quite overset And hath my feet encompas'd with his net verse 7 Lo I cri'd out of wrong but none doth hear I cry aloud but judgement don't appear verse 8 He fenced has my way I cannot pass And he hath set sad darkness in my place verse 9 He strips me of my glory and doth tread On me He takes the Crown from off my head verse 10 He hath destroy'd me and I 'm gon and he My long-liv'd hope hath moved like a tree verse 11 His wrath is kindled to increase my woe And he accounts me as his daring foe verse 12 His troops besiege me and defence their waies They doe encamp about my dwelling place verse 13 He makes my brethren from me too too strange And my acquaintance will not know my change verse 14 My Kin have failed and my well known friends Forget my passed love for my amends verse 15 My houshold for a stranger tooke me quite I am an alient in my maidens sight verse 16 I call'd my servant he no answer gave And I intreated with my mouth my slave verse 17 My Wife as strange my loathed breath did take Though I did beg for mine own childrens sake verse 18 Young children also did me wretch despise They speak against me when I did arise verse 19 My inward friends abhor me cause I mourn They whom I loved do against me turn verse 20 My bones cleave to my
stormy blasts driven so they flee verse 19 For Parents sin so strickt a Judge is God He on their children oft inflicts his rod. This he shall know this he shall plainly see When he to merit shall rewarded be verse 20 His eyes shall see his own and off springs fall And of Gods wrath shall drink the very gall verse 21 For when his daies are shortned what vile pleasure Hath he in 's house or late relinquish't treasure verse 22 Shall any teach God knowledge or reprove His acts as ill who judgeth from above verse 23 One in his height of strength and best of daies Dyes even choak't with too much wealth and ease verse 24 His brest and bones of milk and marrow full Which cares and crosses never did annull verse 25 Another lives a life far worse then death Drawing an irksome with a carefull breath verse 26 They both shall die alike and in the grave Their rotting bodies wormes for meat shall have verse 27 Behold I know your private closest thoughts Where with you 'd wrong me I foresee the plots verse 28 Where does yee cry this Princes Palace stand Where is the dwelling of the wicked man verse 29 Ask them that passe and travell by the way And mark their tokens hear what they will say verse 30 Are not the wicked to a ruine kept That by the day of wrath they may be swept verse 31 Who shall his error to his face declare His sin to blame or punish who shall dare verse 32 Yet he to his appointed grave shall come And lie concealed in a tragick tombe verse 33 The slimy valley to him shall be sweet Him some precede some follow some do meet verse 34 How then do all your comforts prove but vaine Since in your answers falshood doth remaine CHAP. XXII verse 1 THen Eliphaz reply'd may man indeed verse 2 To God bring profit as he may proceed In his affaires who 's wise in worldly things Whose very action dayly profit brings verse 3 If so thou art upright what can it yet Profit th' Almighty can he gaine by it verse 4 Will he reprove thee as possest with feare Will he his judgements at thy will forbeare verse 5 Hast thou not greatly multiply'd thy sin Have not thy faults innumerable bin verse 6 Thou hast for nought thy brother made a prey And from the naked â—a'ne their cloaths a way verse 7 With drinke the weary thou didst not relieve Nor to the hungry of thy bread didst give verse 8 But to the mighty still was added more Thy hand and power encreast the rich mans store verse 9 The widowes teares ne'r made thee to relent Thou hast oppressed Orphans empty sent verse 10 Therefore in every path is laid a snare Thy soule shall be perplext with sudden feare verse 11 Or dismall darknesse that thou canst not see Afflictions shall like water cover thee verse 12 Ah! Is not God in heaven Behold the sky And view the stars beyond our wonder high verse 13 Canst thou yet say how should th' Almighty know Can he judge through the clouds tush surely no. verse 14 They are a vaile through which he cannot see Walking in heaven what our offences be verse 15 But hold hast thou observ'd that worldly way Wherein of old the wicked went astray verse 16 Who e'r they thought of death were snatcht away And their foundations swallow'd by the sea verse 17 Who say to God depart we will not feare What can th' Almighty doe for which we care verse 18 Yet he increas'd their stock and fil'd their store With sought-for wedges of refined Ore Yet never let me from thy truth so erre As these mens counsels justly to prefer verse 19 The righteous see it and rejoyce withall And who are guiltless laugh and scorne their fall verse 20 Whereas our substance stands untouch'd but fire The ruine of their remnant shall conspire verse 21 Therefore returne to him and make thy peace So shalt thou prosper and thy trouble cease verse 22 Receive his Law I pray and in thine heart Lay up his words thence let them never start verse 23 If thou returne he will repaire the breach And thou shalt put prophanenesse from thy reach verse 24 Thou shalt hoord gold as dust with gold of Ophir Even as with stones thou shalt fill full thy Coffer verse 25 Yea the Almighty shall be thy defence Plenty of silver shall delight thy sence verse 26 In the Almighty thou shalt then delight And in his presence lift thy face upright verse 27 Then shall be hear and answer when you pray And in thy zeale then shalt thou vow and pay verse 28 Thou shalt decree and he shall make it sure And all thy waies his favour shall procure verse 29 When others fall then shalt thou say I have A lifting up God will the humble save verse 30 The just shall save the Land yea it shall be Preserved by the goodnesse that 's in thee CHAP. XXIII verse 1 BUt Iob repli'd my plaints most bitter grow verse 2 My wound is greater then my griefe can show verse 3 Oh that I might my angry God but meet That I might be admitted to his seat verse 4 Then would I plead my cause before his face And with my reasons make him know my case verse 5 I would his answer know and understand What he would say or what he would command verse 6 Will he his pow'r against my frailty use O no an answering strength he will infuse verse 7 There might the just dispute with him so I Should from my Judge be made for ever free verse 8 If I go to the East he is not there If to the West yet will he not appear verse 9 I find him not though I the North surround He 's hidden in the South and is not found Forward and backward he e and there I spie Yet all my searches cannot him descry verse 10 But he knowes all my waies and when I 'm tri'd I shall come forth like silver purifi'd verse 11 My foot hath held his steps most equally I 've kept his way and have not gone awry verse 12 I have not turn'd my back upon his law Nor from his precepts did my selfe withdraw I did esteem his words as far more good Unto my soule then to my body food verse 13 But he is constant who can change him then He doth his pleasure to the sons of men verse 14 He will perform what is decree'd of me And something doth we can nor know nor see verse 15 I tremble at his presence I fall down When I consider then I fear his frown verse 16 The Lord hath made my heart from hardness free And the Almighty hath afflicted me verse 17 I am afflicted but not quite destroy'd Although I know not why I am annoy'd CHAP. XXIV verse 1 CAn the All-knowing God to whom obey Dayes times and houres be ignorant how they Do passe or circle whence proceeds if then That those
give This is the portion tyrants shall receive verse 14 The sword with raging fury shall orethrow His growing off-spring with a sudden blow And his surviving stock for want of bread Shall travell desarts yet be never fed verse 15 Death shall his remnant in oblivion rake Their relict Widdowes no complaint shall make verse 16 Although as dust in heaps he silver hoord Though he with rayment as with clay be stor'd verse 17 The just shall share his wealth he may prepare But th' innocent his clothes so got shall wear verse 18 He like the moth builds in anothers ground And as a Keepers booth at night 's not found verse 19 The rich lie down but dying never have As had their fathers a contented grave verse 20 He look's and 's gone terrors shall them affright Tempests shall steal him in the dead of night verse 21 The east-wind takes him and away he 's flown It hurles him from his place and he is gone verse 22 God will cast trouble on him and not spare He faine would flee and fals into a snare verse 23 All men shall clap their hands at his disgrace And with derision hisse him from his place CHAP. XXVIII verse 1 VVIthin the earth for silver there 's a mine And there 's a place the golden Ore to fine verse 2 Iron is digg'd from out the earth with paines And Brasse is molten out of stones for gaines verse 3 God endeth darknesse all perfection hath He binds up darknesse and the vale of death verse 4 The floud breakes out against the dwellers by The floud-forgotten waters are grown dry verse 5 Out of the earth growes bread for mans use fit And fire as 't were is turn'd up under it verse 6 The stones thereof are as the Saphires store Its dust is of the purest golden Ore verse 7 Within its path no foule hath ever been The Vultures eye its walkes hath never seen verse 8 The Lions whelps in it ne'r set their foot Nor have fiere Lions ever come into 't verse 9 He doth but touch the rocks and laies them low He doth the mountaines by the roots o'rthrow verse 10 He turneth rocks to rivers by his might All things are obvious to his sight verse 11 He binds the flouds they cannot overflow And hidden things he maketh all men know verse 12 But where is wisdome found thrice happy he Who can the place of understanding see verse 13 No man the knowledge of its price can gaine Much lesse can flesh-clad mortals it attaine verse 14 The depth cries out it doth not rest in me Nor is it with me answereth the Sea verse 15 It is not gold this rarest jewell buies Nor silver can its value counterpoise verse 16 Pure Ophir gold can't for its worth prevaile The precious Onix and the Saphire faile verse 17 Nor gold nor jewels nor the Crystall pure Have worth this heaven-fetcht jewell to procure verse 18 Corall or Pearles shall not be thought of for 't Nay more the rubies of its worth fall short verse 19 The Ethiopian Topaz cannot hold To purchase it no more than can the gold verse 20 Whence then proceedeth understanding where Doth wisdome in its height of worth appeare verse 21 Seeing 't is bid from every mortall eye And from the foules kept close that soare on high verse 22 Death and destruction say its force and sound Hath to our eare a frequent passage found verse 23 But only God the way thereof doth know And understands the place whence it doth flow verse 24 For he the corners of the earth doth see And knows all things that sublunary be verse 25 As in a ballance he the winds doth weight And measures all the waters in survey verse 26 When for the raine he its decrees did lay And for the thunders lightning make a way verse 27 This secret then he saw and did declare He in his hidden thoughts did it prepare verse 28 But unto man he said If it be so That you this sacred wisdome faine would know In fearing God consisteth wisdomes skill And understanding in eschewing ill CHAP. XXIX verse 1 ANd Job proceeded Oh that now I were verse 2 As in times past when God of me took care verse 3 While on my head his favour shined bright And when I walk'd through darknesse by his light verse 4 As in the daies of youth when God more neare My dwelling with his presence did appeare verse 5 When God with favour did my actions meet And when my children came about my feet verse 6 When butter wash'd my waies and when the rock Poured out flouds of oile t' encrease my stock verse 7 When to the gate I went and judgement seat And when I made my station in the street verse 8 The young men saw my gravity and fled The aged to my wisdome bow'd their head verse 9 The Princes when they saw me silence kept verse 10 The tongue of Nobles was of speech bereft verse 11 The care that heard me did my justice blesse The eye that saw me did my praise confesse verse 12 Th' oppressed poore and fatherlesse I freed And helpfull was to him that help did need verse 13 I did the blessing of the poore enjoy And made the widdowes heart to sing for joy verse 14 I put on justice which as cloaths did seeme My judgement was a Robe and Diademe verse 15 I was as eyes unto the blind mans woe And to the lame I was as feet to go verse 16 I was a father to the poore when doubt Made causes hard to know I sought them out verse 17 I from the wicked brake their claws away And from his ravening teeth I pluckt the prey verse 18 Then said I I shall dye within my nest My daies even as the sand shall be encreast verse 19 My root was by the waters spread and grew Upon my branch all night lay pearled dew verse 20 My glory as the bay-tree fresh did stand My bow was strengthened in my ready hand verse 21 Men harkened to me waited my advice And when they heard it kept a silent guize verse 22 After my words they never did reply My speeches dropped on them from on high verse 23 They waited as for raine my sight to gaine They op'd their mouth as for the latter raine verse 24 If I did laugh they would it not beleeve They did not let my mirth or make me grieve verse 25 I chose their way I sate as chiefe as King Like him that comfort doth to mourners bring CHAP. XXX verse 1 BUt now my youngers follow me with mocks Whose fathers I disdain'd should tend my flocks verse 2 For to what service could their strength availe Who not for age but did for famine faile verse 3 For want so sore distress'd they fled in haste Into the desart lately darke and waste verse 4 Who by the bushes Mallows cut to eat And pull up roots of Juniper for meat verse 5 Chased from men whom still they did