Chapter 29
[1] And Job continued and said in his parable,
[2] Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me! [3] As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness. [4] As when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house. [5] When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me; [6] when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
[7] When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets. [8] The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up. [9] And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth. [10] And they that heard me blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat. [11] For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside. [12] For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper. [13] Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me. [14] Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle. [15] I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame. [16] I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not. [17] And I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth. [18] And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while. [19] My root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop. [20] My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
[21] Men heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel. [22] At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them. [23] As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they waited for my speech. [24] Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe it; and the light of my face has not failed. [25] I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
Chapter 30
[1] But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in their turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy to be with my shepherd dogs. [2] Yea, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term of life was lost. [3] One is childless in want and famine, such as they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought. [4] Who compass the salt places on the sounding shore, who had salt herbs for their food, and were dishonorable and of no repute, in want of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.
[5] Thieves have risen up against me, [6] whose houses were the caves of the rocks, who lived under the wild shrubs. [7] They will cry out among the rustling bushes. [8] They are sons of fools and vile men, whose name and glory are quenched from off the earth. [9] But now I am their music, and they have me for a by-word. [10] And they stood aloof and abhorred me, and spared not to spit in my face. [11] For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence. [12] They have risen up against me on the right hand of their offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction. [13] My paths are ruined; for they have stripped off my raiment: he has shot at me with his weapons. [14] And he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains. [15] My pains return upon me; my hope is gone like the wind, and my safety as a cloud.
[16] Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; and days of anguish seize me. [17] And by night my bones are confounded; and my sinews are relaxed. [18] With great force my disease has taken hold of my garment: it has compassed me as the collar of my coat. [19] And thou hast counted me as clay; my portion in dust and ashes.
[20] And I have cried to thee, but thou hearest me not: but they stood still, and observed me. [21] They attacked me also without mercy: thou hast scourged me with a strong hand. [22] And thou hast put me to grief, and hast cast me away from safety. [23] For I know that death will destroy me: for the earth is the house appointed for every mortal. [24] Oh then that I might lay hands upon myself, or at least ask another, and he should do this for me. [25] Yet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress. [26] But I, when I waited for good things, behold, days of evils came the more upon me.
[27] My belly boiled, and would not cease: the days of poverty prevented me. [28] I went mourning without restraint: and I have stood and cried out in the assembly. [29] I am become a brother of monsters, and a companion of ostriches. [30] And my skin has been greatly blackened, and my bones are burned with heat. [31] My harp also has been turned into mourning, and my song into my weeping.
Chapter 31
[1] I made a covenant with mine eyes, and I will not think upon a virgin. [2] Now what portion has God given from above? and is there an inheritance given of the Mighty One from the highest? [3] Alas! destruction to the unrighteous, and rejection to them that do iniquity. [4] Will he not see my way, and number all my steps? [5] But if I had gone with scorners, and if too my foot has hasted to deceit: [6] (for I am weighed in a just balance, and the Lord knows my innocence:) [7] if my foot has turned aside out of the way, or if mine heart has followed mine eye, and if too I have touched gifts with my hands; [8] then let me sow, and let others eat; and let me be uprooted on the earth. [9] If my heart has gone forth after another man’s wife, and if I laid wait at her doors; [10] then let my wife also please another, and let my children be brought low. [11] For the rage of anger is not to be controlled, in the case of defiling another man’s wife. [12] For it is a fire burning on every side, and whomsoever it attacks, it utterly destroys.
[13] And if too I despised the judgment of my servant or my handmaid, when they pleaded with me; [14] what then shall I do if the Lord should try me? and if also he should at all visit me, can I make an answer? [15] Were not they too formed as I also was formed in the womb? yea, we were formed in the same womb.
[16] But the helpless missed not whatever need they had, and I did not cause the eye of the widow to fail. [17] And if too I ate my morsel alone, and did not impart of it to the orphan; [18] (for I nourished them as a father from my youth and guided them from my mother’s womb.) [19] And if too I overlooked the naked as he was perishing, and did not clothe him; [20] and if the poor did not bless me, and their shoulders were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs; [21] if I lifted my hand against an orphan, trusting that my strength was far superior to his: [22] let them my shoulder start from the blade-bone, and my arm be crushed off from the elbow. [23] For the fear of the Lord constrained me, and I cannot bear up by reason of his burden.
[24] If I made gold my treasure, and if too I trusted the precious stone; [25] and if too I rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, and if too I laid my hand on innumerable treasures: [26] (do we not see the shining sun eclipsed, and the moon waning? for they have not power to continue:) [27] and if my heart was secretly deceived, and if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it: [28] let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I should have lied against the Lord Most High. [29] And if too I was glad at the fall of mine enemies, and mine heart said, Aha! [30] let then mine ear hear my curse, and let me be a byword among my people in my affliction.
[31] And if too my handmaids have often said, Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh; (whereas I was very kind: [32] for the stranger did not lodge without, and my door was opened to every one that came:) [33] or if too having sinned unintentionally, I hid my sin; [34] (for I did not stand in awe of a great multitude, so as not to declare boldly before them:) and if too I permitted a poor man to go out of my door with an empty bosom: [35] (Oh that I had a hearer,)and if I had not feared the hand of the Lord; and as to the written charge which I had against any one, [36] I would place it as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it. [37] And if I did not read it and return it, having taken nothing from the debtor:
[38] If at any time the land groaned against me, and if its furrows mourned together; [39] and if I ate its strength alone without price, and if I too grieved the heart of the owner of
the soil, by taking aught from him: [40] then let the nettle come up to me instead of wheat, and a bramble instead of barley. And Job ceased speaking.
Chapter 32
[1] And his three friends also ceased any longer to answer Job: for Job was righteous before them.
[2] Then Elius the son of Barachiel, the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, of the country of Ausis, was angered: and he was very angry with Job, because he justified himself before the Lord. [3] And he was also very angry with his three friends, because they were not able to return answers to Job, yet set him down for an ungodly man. [4] But Elius had forborne to give an answer to Job, because they were older than he. [5] And Elius saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men; and he was angered in his wrath. [6] And Elius the Buzite the son of Barachiel answered and said,
I am younger in age, and ye are elder, wherefore I kept silence, fearing to declare to you my own knowledge. [7] And I said, It is not time that speaks, though in many years men know wisdom: [8] but there is a spirit in mortals; and the inspiration of the Almighty is that which teaches. [9] The long-lived are not wise as such; neither do the aged know judgment. [10] Wherefore I said, Hear me, and I will tell you what I know.
[11] Hearken to my words; for I will speak in your hearing, until ye shall have tried the matter with words: [12] and I shall understand as far as you; and, behold, there was no one of you that answered Job his words in argument, [13] lest ye should say, We have found that we have added wisdom to the Lord. [14] And ye have commissioned a man to speak such words.
[15] They were afraid, they answered no longer; they gave up their speaking. [16] I waited, (for I had not spoken,)because they stood still, they answered not. [17] And Elius continued, and said, I will again speak, [18] for I am full of words, for the spirit of my belly destroys me. [19] And my belly is as a skin of sweet wine, bound up and ready to burst; or as a brazier’s labouring bellows. [20] I will speak, that I may open my lips and relieve myself. [21] For truly I will not be awed because of man, nor indeed will I be confounded before a mortal. [22] For I know not how to respect persons: and if otherwise, even the moths would eat me.
Chapter 33
[1] Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and hearken to my speech. [2] For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken. [3] My heart shall be found pure by my words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity. [4] The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me. [5] If thou canst, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I will stand against thee. [6] Thou art formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same substance. [7] My fear shall not terrify thee, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
[8] But thou hast said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of thy words;)because thou sayest, I am pure, not having sinned; [9] I am blameless, for I have not transgressed. [10] Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary. [11] And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways. [12] For how sayest thou, I am righteous, yet he has not hearkened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.
[13] But thou sayest, Why has he not heard every word of my cause? [14] For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time, [15] sending a dream, or in the meditation of the night; (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, in slumberings on the bed:) [16] then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions: [17] to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall. [18] He spares also his soul from death, and suffers him not to fall in war.
[19] And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed. [20] And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat; [21] until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall shew his bones bare. [22] His soul also draws nigh to death, and his life is in Hades. [23] Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and shew his folly; [24] he will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as fresh plaster upon a wall; and he will fill his bones with morrow. [25] And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in his full strength. [26] And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression of praise: for he will render to men their due. [27] Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins. [28] Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.
[29] Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man. [30] And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light. [31] Hearken, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak. [32] If thou hast words, answer me: speak, for I desire thee to be justified. [33] If not, do thou hear me: be silent, and I will teach thee.
Chapter 34
[1] And Elius continued, and said,
[2] Hear me, ye wise men; hearken, ye that have knowledge. [3] For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat. [4] Let us choose judgment to ourselves: let us know amount ourselves what is right. [5] For Job has said, I am righteous: the Lord has removed my judgment. [6] And he has erred in my judgment: my wound is severe without unrighteousness of mine.
[7] What man is as Job, drinking scorning like water? [8] saying, I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly. [9] For thou shouldest not say, There shall be no visitation of a man, whereas there is a visitation on him from the Lord.
[10] Wherefore hear me, ye that are wise in heart: far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and to pervert righteousness before the almighty. [11] Yea, he renders to a man accordingly as each of them does, and in a man’s path he will find him.
[12] And thinkest thou that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth wrest judgment? [13] And who is he that made the whole world under heaven, and all things therein? [14] For if he would confine, and restrain his spirit with himself; [15] all flesh would die together, and every mortal would return to the earth, whence also he was formed.
[16] Take heed lest he rebuke thee: hear this, hearken to the voice of words. [17] Behold then the one that hates iniquities, and that destroys the wicked, who is for ever just.
[18] He is ungodly that says to a king, Thou art a transgressor, that says to princes, O most ungodly one. [19] Such a one as would not reverence the face of an honourable man, neither knows how to give honour to the great, so as that their persons should be respected. [20] But it shall turn out vanity to them, to cry and beseech a man; for they dealt unlawfully, the poor being turned aside from their right. [21] For he surveys the works of men, and nothing of what they do has escaped him. [22] Neither shall there be a place for the workers of iniquity to hide themselves. [23] For he will not lay upon a man more than right. [24] For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number. [25] Who discovers their works, and will bring night about upon them, and they shall be brought low. [26] And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him. [27] Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances, [28] so as to bring before him the cry of the needy; for he will hear the cry of the poor.
[29] And he will give quiet, and who will condemn? and he will hide his face, and who shall see him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man also: [30] causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people.
[31] For there is one that says to the Mighty One, I have received blessings; I will not take a pledge: [32] I will see apart from myself: do thou shew me if I have done unrighteousness; I will not do so any more. [33] Will he take vengeance for it on thee, whereas thou
wilt put it far from thee? for thou shalt choose, and not I; and what thou knowest, speak thou. [34] Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word. [35] But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not uttered with knowledge. [36] Howbeit do thou learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish: [37] that we add not to our sins: for iniquity will be reckoned against us, if we speak many words before the Lord.
Chapter 35
[1] And Elius resumed and said,
[2] What is this that thou thinkest to be according to right? who art thou that thou hast said, I am righteous before the Lord? [3] I will answer thee, and thy three friends. [4] Look up to the sky and see; and consider the clouds, how high they are above thee. [5] If thou hast sinned, what wilt thou do? [6] and if too thou hast transgressed much, what canst thou perform? [7] And suppose thou art righteous, what wilt thou give him? or what shall he receive of thy hand? [8] Thy ungodliness may affect a man who is like to thee; or thy righteousness a son of man. [9] They that are oppressed of a multitude will be ready to cry out; they will call for help because of the arm of many. [10] But none said, Where is God that made me, who appoints the night-watches; [11] who makes me to differ from the four-footed beasts of the earth, and from the birds of the sky? [12] There they shall cry, and none shall hearken, even because of the insolence of wicked men.
[13] For the Lord desires not to look on error, for he is the Almighty One. [14] He beholds them that perform lawless deeds, and he will save me: and do thou plead before him, if thou canst praise him, as it is possible even now. [15] For he is not now regarding his wrath, nor has he noticed severely any trespass. [16] Yet Job vainly opens his mouth, in ignorance he multiplies words.
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