Job Scorns his Revilers

BY FREDERIC LIX, A CONTEMPORARY ALSATIAN

ARTIST.
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"No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you."-Job, 12, 2.

T

HE first discussion of Job and his three antagonists,

is followed by two more. It is so easy, cries Job,

for the man in comfort to assume that the one in misery must be evil. He scorns the three for their obstinacy. "Will ye speak wickedly for God," defend His ways by denying facts? Away with such feeble arguers! He, Job, will argue with God, direct! Let them listen! He will search out facts, and state things as they are.

Then comes that solemn review of life. "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble." The answers of the three are here of little weight; they do but grow more bitter against Job. He declares that God watches men, and measures their deeds; but the temporal workings of His Will are beyond human interpretation or understanding. His justice must be of the future. For a moment the keen thinker rises to prophetic ecstacy, and cries out triumphantly, "For I know that my redeemer liveth."

Then bitterness clouds Job's mind again. He declares that God will ultimately avenge him on all who speak evil against him. Goaded by his antagonists, he reasserts his own innocence, and almosts accuses God of injustice, or at least of heedlessness of human suffering.

PSALM CXVIII-THE CORNER STONE

Psalm 118

1033

1 An exhortation to praise God for his mercy.
19 Under the type of the psalmist the coming of Christ in his kingdom is expressed.

5 The psalmist by his experience sheweth how good it is to trust in

God.

GIVE thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. 4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth

for ever.

5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? 7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise thee; for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone

of the corner.

23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

1034

PSALM CXIX-AN ALPHABETICAL PSALM

27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 119

This psalm containeth sundry prayers, praises, and professions of obedience.

ALEPH.1

LESSED are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

BETH.

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

GIMEL.

17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from

me.

'This is the most elaborate of the acrostic Psalms. In its Hebrew form each of the first eight lines begins with aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the next eight all begin with the second letter beth, and so on.