Chapter 96

23:12. I have not departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom.

23:13. For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever his soul hath desired, that hath he done.

23:14. And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him.

23:15. And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear.

23:16. God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.

23:17. For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.

Job Chapter 24

God's providence often suffers the wicked to go on a long time in their sins: but punisheth them in another life.

24:1. Times are not hid from the Almighty: but they that know him, know not his days.

24:2. Some have removed landmarks, have taken away flocks by force, and fed them.

24:3. They have driven away the ass of the fatherless, and have taken away the widow's ox for a pledge.

24:4. They have overturned the way of the poor, and have oppressed together the meek of the earth.

24:5. Others like wild asses in the desert go forth to their work: by watching for a prey they get bread for their children.

24:6. They reap the field that is not their own, and gather the vintage of his vineyard whom by violence they have oppressed.

24:7. They send men away naked, taking away their clothes who have no covering in the cold:

24:8. Who are wet, with the showers of the mountains, and having no covering embrace the stones.

24:9. They have violently robbed the fatherless, and stripped the poor common people.

24:10. From the naked and them that go without clothing, and from the hungry they have taken away the ears of corn.

24:11. They have taken their rest at noon among the stores of them, who after having trodden the winepresses suffer thirst.

24:12. Out of the cities they have made men to groan, and the soul of the wounded hath cried out, and God doth not suffer it to pass unrevenged.

24:13. They have been rebellious to the light, they have not known his ways, neither have they returned by his paths.

24:14. The murderer riseth at the very break of day, he killeth the needy, and the poor man: but in the night he will be as a thief.

24:15. The eye of the adulterer observeth darkness, saying: No eye shall see me: and he will cover his face.

24:16. He diggeth through houses in the dark, as in the day they had appointed for themselves, and they have not known the light.

24:17. If the morning suddenly appear, it is to them the shadow of death: and they walk in darkness as if it were in light.

24:18. He is light upon the face of the water: cursed be his portion on the earth, let him not walk by the way of the vineyards.

24:19. Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat, and his sin even to hell.

24:20. Let mercy forget him: may worms be his sweetness: let him be remembered no more, but be broken in pieces as an unfruitful tree.

24:21. For he hath fed the barren that beareth not, and to the widow he hath done no good.

24:22. He hath pulled down the strong by his might: and when he standeth up, he shall not trust to his life.

24:23. God hath given him place for penance, and he abuseth it unto pride: but his eyes are upon his ways.

24:24. They are lifted up for a little while and shall not stand, and shall be brought down as all things, and shall be taken away, and as the tops of the ears of corn they shall be broken.

24:25. And if it be not so, who can convince me that I have lied, and set my words before God?

Job Chapter 25

God's providence often suffers the wicked to go on a long time in their sins: but punisheth them in another life.

25:1. Then Baldad the Suhite answered, and I said:

25:2. Power and terror are with him, who maketh peace in his high places.

25:3. Is there any numbering of his soldiers? and upon whom shall not his light arise?

25:4. Can man be justified compared with God, or he that is born of a woman appear clean?

25:5. Behold even the moon doth not shine, and the stars are not pure in his sight.

25:6. How much less man that is rottenness and the son of man who is a worm?

Job Chapter 26

Job declares his sentiments of the wisdom and power of God.

26:1. Then Job answered, and said:

26:2. Whose helper art thou? is it of him that is weak? and dost thou hold up the arm of him that has no strength?

26:3. To whom hast thou given counsel? perhaps to him that hath no wisdom, and thou hast shewn thy very great prudence.

26:4. Whom hast thou desired to teach? was it not him that made life?

26:5. Behold the giants groan under the waters, and they that dwell with them.

26:6. Hell is naked before him, and there is no covering for destruction.

26:7. He stretched out the north over the empty space, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

26:8. He bindeth up the waters in his clouds, so that they break not out and fall down together.

26:9. He withholdeth the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud over it.

26:10. He hath set bounds about the waters, till light and darkness come to an end.

26:11. The pillars of heaven tremble, and dread at his beck.

26:12. By his power the seas are suddenly gathered together, and his wisdom has struck the proud one.

26:13. His spirit hath adorned the heavens, and his obstetric hand brought forth the winding serpent.

His obstetric hand brought forth the winding serpent. . .That is, the omnipotent power of God: which brought forth all things created in time, but conceived in the Divine mind from all eternity. The winding serpent, a constellation of fixed stars winding round the north pole, called Draco. This appears from the foregoing part of the same verse, His spirit hath adorned the heavens.

26:14. Lo, these things are said in part of his ways: and seeing we have heard scarce a little drop of his word, who shall be able to behold the thunder of his greatness?

Job Chapter 27

Job persists in asserting his own innocence, and that hypocrites will be punished in the end.

27:1. Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:

27:2. As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment, and the Almighty, who hath brought my soul to bitterness,

27:3. As long as breath remaineth in me, and the spirit of God in my nostrils,

27:4. My lips shall not speak iniquity, neither shall my tongue contrive lying.

27:5. God forbid that I should judge you to be just: till I die I will not depart from my innocence.

27:6. My justification, which I have begun to hold, I will not forsake: for my heart doth not reprehend me in all my life.

27:7. Let my enemy be as the ungodly, and my adversary as the wicked one.

27:8. For what is the hope of the hypocrite if through covetousness he take by violence, and God deliver not his soul?

27:9. Will God hear his cry, when distress shall come upon him?

27:10. Or can he delight himself in the Almighty, and call upon God at all times?

27:11. I will teach you by the hand of God, what the Almighty hath, and I will not conceal it.

27:12. Behold you all know it, and why do you speak vain things without cause?

27:13. This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the inheritance of the violent, which they shall receive of the Almighty.

27:14. If his sons be multiplied, they shall be for the sword, and his grandsons shall not be filled with bread.

27:15. They that shall remain of him, shall be buried in death, and his widows shall not weep.

27:16. If he shall heap together silver as earth, and prepare raiment as clay,

27:17. He shall prepare indeed, but the just man shall be clothed with it: and the innocent shall divide the silver.

27:18. He hath built his house as a moth, and as a keeper he hath made a booth.

27:19. The rich man when he shall sleep shall take away nothing with him: he shall open his eyes and find nothing.

27:20. Poverty like water shall take hold on him, a tempest shall oppress him in the night:

27:21. A burning wind shall take him up, and carry him away, and as a whirlwind shall snatch him from his place.

27:22. And he shall cast upon him, and shall not spare: out of his hand he would willingly flee.

27:23. He shall clasp his hands upon him, and shall hiss at him, beholding his place.

Job Chapter 28

Man's industry searcheth out many things: true wisdom is taught by God alone.

28:1. Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place wherein it is melted.

28:2. Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone melted with heat is turned into brass.

28:3. He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he considereth, the stone also that is in the dark and the shadow of death.

28:4. The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey, those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be come at.

28:5. The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been overturned with fire.

28:6. The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and the clods of it are gold.

28:7. The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of the vulture beheld it.

28:8. The children of the merchants have not trodden it, neither hath the lioness passed by it.

28:9. He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned mountains from the roots.

28:10. In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every precious thing.

28:11. The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hidden things he hath brought forth to light.

28:12. But where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?

28:13. Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of them that live in delights.

28:14. The depth saith: It is not in me: and the sea saith: It is not with me.

28:15. The finest gold shall not purchase it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.

28:16. It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, or with the most precious stone sardonyx, or the sapphire.

28:17. Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of gold be changed for it.

28:18. High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of it: but wisdom is drawn out of secret places.

28:19. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it be compared to the cleanest dyeing.

28:20. Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

28:21. It is hid from the eyes of all living, and the fowls of the air know it not.

28:22. Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard the fame thereof.

28:23. God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place thereof.

28:24. For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all things that are under heaven.

28:25. Who made a weight for the winds, and weighed the waters by measure.

28:26. When he gave a law for the rain, and a way for the sounding storms.

28:27. Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared, and searched it.

28:28. And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, is understanding.

Job Chapter 29

Job relates his former happiness, and the respect that all men shewed him.

29:1. Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:

29:2. Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me?

29:3. When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in darkness?

29:4. As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle?

29:5. When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?

29:6. When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?

29:7. When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?

29:8. The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up and stood.

29:9. The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.

29:10. The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.

29:11. The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me:

29:12. Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless, that had no helper.

29:13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow.

29:14. I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem.

29:15. I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.

29:16. I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.

29:17. I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.

29:18. And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days.

29:19. My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.

29:20. My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.

29:21. They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.

29:22. To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.

29:23. They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.

29:24. If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth.

29:25. If I had a mind to go to them, I sat first, and when I sat as a king, with his army standing about him, yet I was a comforter of them that mourned.

Job Chapter 30

Job shews the wonderful change of his temporal estate, from welfare to great calamity.

30:1. But now the younger in time scorn me, whose fathers I would not have set with the dogs of my flock:

But now the younger in time. . .That is, younger than I am, and as it were obscure, when I was conspicuous and in magnificence; they now look down on me.

30:2. The strength of whose hands was to me as nothing, and they were thought unworthy of life itself.

30:3. Barren with want and hunger, who gnawed in the wilderness, disfigured with calamity and misery.

30:4. And they ate grass, and barks of trees, and the root of junipers was their food.

30:5. Who snatched up these things out of the valleys, and when they had found any of them, they ran to them with a cry.

30:6. They dwelt in the desert places of torrents, and in caves of earth, or upon the gravel.

30:7. They pleased themselves among these kind of things, and counted it delightful to be under the briers.

30:8. The children of foolish and base men, and not appearing at all upon the earth.

30:9. Now I am turned into their song, and am become their byword.

30:10. They abhor me, and flee far from me, and are not afraid to spit in my face.

30:11. For he hath opened his quiver, and hath afflicted me, and hath put a bridle into my mouth.

30:12. At the right hand of my rising, my calamities forthwith arose: they have overthrown my feet, and have overwhelmed me with their paths as with waves.

30:13. They have destroyed my ways, they have lain in wait against me, and they have prevailed, and there was none to help.

30:14. They have rushed in upon me, as when a wall is broken, and a gate opened, and have rolled themselves down to my miseries.

30:15. I am brought to nothing: as a wind thou hast taken away my desire: and my prosperity hath passed away like a cloud.

30:16. And now my soul fadeth within myself, and the days of affliction possess me.

30:17. In the night my bone is pierced with sorrows: and they that feed upon me, do not sleep.

30:18. With the multitude of them my garment is consumed, and they have girded me about, as with the collar of my coat.

30:19. I am compared to dirt, and am likened to embers and ashes.

30:20. I cry to thee, and thou hearest me not: I stand up, and thou dost not regard me.

30:21. Thou art changed to be cruel toward me, and in the hardness of thy hand thou art against me.

30:22. Thou hast lifted me up, and set me as it were upon the wind, and thou hast mightily dashed me.

30:23. I know that thou wilt deliver me to death, where a house is appointed for every one that liveth.

30:24. But yet thou stretchest not forth thy hand to their consumption: and if they shall fall down thou wilt save.

30:25. I wept heretofore for him that was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor.

30:26. I expected good things, and evils are come upon me: I waited for light, and darkness broke out.

30:27. My inner parts have boiled without any rest, the days of affliction have prevented me.

30:28. I went mourning without indignation; I rose up, and cried in the crowd.

30:29. I was the brother of dragons, and companion of ostriches.

Brother of dragons, etc. . .Imitating these creatures in their lamentable noise.

30:30. My skin is become black upon me, and my bones are dried up with heat.

30:31. My harp is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of those that weep.

Job Chapter 31

Job, to defend himself from the unjust judgments of his friends, gives a sincere account of his own virtues.

31:1. I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.

31:2. For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?

31:3. Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?

31:4. Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?

31:5. If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:

31:6. Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.

31:7. If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:

31:8. Then let me sow and let another reap: and let my offspring be rooted out.

31:9. If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend's door:

31:10. Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.

31:11. For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.

31:12. It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.

31:13. If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:

31:14. For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?

31:15. Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?

31:16. If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:

31:17. If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:

31:18. (For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother's womb:)

31:19. If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:

31:20. If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:

31:21. If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:

31:22. Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.

31:23. For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was unable to bear.

31:24. If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:

31:25. If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.

31:26. If I beheld the sun when it shined and the moon going in brightness:

If I beheld the sun, etc. . .If I behold the sun and moon with admiration, knowing them to be created and governed by the power of God, I call on my adversaries to produce any thing against me, whereby I could be charged with worshipping the sun or moon.

31:27. And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with, my mouth:

31:28. Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.

31:29. If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.

31:30. For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.

31:31. If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?

31:32. The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.

31:33. If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.

31:34. If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.

31:35. Who would grant me a hearing, that the Almighty may hear my desire: and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,

31:36. That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?

31:37. At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.

31:38. If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:

31:39. If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the son of the tillers thereof:

31:40. Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.

The words of Job are ended.

Job Chapter 32

Eliu is angry with Job and his friends. He boasts of himself.

32:1. So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he seemed just to himself.

32:2. And Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite of the kindred of Ram, was angry and was moved to indignation: now he was angry against Job, because he said he was just before God.

32:3. And he was angry with his friends, because they had not found a reasonable answer, but only had condemned Job.

32:4. So Eliu waited while Job was speaking because they were his elders that were speaking.

32:5. But when he saw that the three were not able to answer, he was exceedingly angry.

32:6. Then Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, and said: I am younger in days, and you are more ancient, therefore hanging down my head, I was afraid to shew you my opinion.

32:7. For I hoped that greater age would speak, and that a multitude of years would teach wisdom.

32:8. But, as I see, there is a spirit in men, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding.

32:9. They that are aged are not the wise men, neither do the ancients understand judgment.

32:10. Therefore I will speak: Hearken to me, I also will shew you my wisdom.

32:11. For I have waited for your words, I have given ear to your wisdom, as long as you were disputing in words.

32:12. And as long as I thought you said some thing, I considered: but, as I see, there is none of you that can convince Job, and answer his words.

32:13. Lest you should say: We have found wisdom, God hath cast him down, not man.

32:14. He hath spoken nothing to me, and I will not answer him according to your words.

32:15. They were afraid, and answered no more, and they left off speaking.

32:16. Therefore because I have waited, and they have not spoken: they stood, and answered no more:

32:17. I also will answer my part, and will shew my knowledge.

32:18. For I am full of matter to speak of, and the spirit of my bowels straiteneth me.

32:19. Behold, my belly is as new wine which wanteth vent, which bursteth the new vessels.

32:20. I will speak and take breath a little: I will open my lips, and will answer.

32:21. I will not accept the person of man, and I will not level God with man.

I will not level God with man. . .Here Eliu considers that Job hath put himself on a level with God, by the manner he assumed to justify his own life in speaking to God as if he spoke to an equal: Eliu expresses in the following ver. 22 his fear of punishment hereafter for such an attempt.

32:22. For I know not how long I shall continue, and whether after a while my Maker may take me away.

Job Chapter 33

Eliu blames Job for asserting his own innocence.

33:1. Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

33:2. Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.

33:3. My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.