Job bemoans himself:

CHAP. XXIX, XXX. His honour turns to contempt.

19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal 18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold, 20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the towls of the air.

22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; 25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. 26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder; 27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. 28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."

CHAP. XXIX.

Mable, and said,

OREOVER, Job continued his par

2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; 7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the

street!

8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

9 The princes reframed talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

and I shall multiply my days as the sand. 19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners. CHAP. XXX.

UT now they that are younger than I

would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

2 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?

3 For want and famine they were solitary fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.

4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper-roots for their meat.

5 They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;) 6 To dwell in the clefts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

7 Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.

8 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

9 And now am I their song, yea, I am their by-word.

10 They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

11 Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.

12 Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. 13 They mar my path, they set forward 13 The blessing of him that was ready my calamity, they have no helper. to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.

15 Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold

upon me.

17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.

of his integrity in several duties. 13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maid-servant, when they contended with me;

14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

20 I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not. 15 Did not he that made me in the womb 21 Thou art become cruel to me with make him? and did not one fashion us in thy strong hand thou opposest thyself the womb?

22 Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou their desire, or have caused the eyes of the causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest widow to fail; my substance.

ber of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

He reasons with Job. 21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.

22 For I know not to give flattering 39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof titles; in so doing my Maker would soon without money, or have caused the owners take me away. thereof to lose their life:

40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words

of Job are ended.

CHAP. XXXII.

CHAP. XXXIII. hear my speeches, and hearken to HEREFORE, Job, I pray thee,

all my words.

2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth,

So these three men ceased to answer

O these three men ceased to answer my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

own eyes.

3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kin- 4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and dred of Ram: against Job was his wrath the breath of the Almighty hath given me kindled, because he justified himself rather life. than God.

3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then bis wrath was kindled.

5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.

6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

8 Surely thou hast spoken in my bear6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Bu-ing, and I have heard the voice of thy zite answered and said, I am young, and words, saying, ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.

7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. 10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy.

11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will

9 Great men are not always wise; nei-answer thee, that God is greater than man. ther do the aged understand judgment. 10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; also will shew mine opinion.

13 Why dost thou strive against him? for Ihe giveth not account of any of his mat

ters.

11 Behold, I waited for your words; I 14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye search-yet man perceiveth it not. ed out what to say.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, 12 Yea, I attended unto you, and be- when deep sleep falleth upon men, in hold, there was none of you that convinced slumberings upon the bed; Job, or that answered his words:

13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not

16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen, stick out.

22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

24 Then he is gracious unto him, and

Man must humble himself to him. vern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

God omnipotent cannot be unjust. JOB. saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

26 He shall pray unto God. and he will! be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. 29 Lo, all these things worketh. God oftentimes with man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. 31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. 33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom. CHAP. XXXIV.

URTHERMORE Elihu answered and said,

2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

5 For Job hath said I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. 7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water;

18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

21 For his eyes are upon the ways man, and he seeth all his goings.

of

22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judg ment with God.

24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

8 Which goeth in company with the 30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest workers of iniquity, and walketh with the people be ensnared. wicked men?

31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, have borne chastisement, I will not offend

9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man I nothing that he should delight himself with any more God.

32 That which I see not, teach thou me: 10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. of understanding: far be it from God, that 33 Should it be according to thy mind? he should do wickedness; and from the he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. or whether thou choose; and not 1: there11 For the work of a man shall be render fore speak what thou knowest. unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

17 Shall even he that hateth right go

34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. 35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end, because of his answers for wicked men.

37 For be addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God. CHAP. XXXV.

LIHU spake moreover, and said,

2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?

3 For thou saidst, What advantage will

it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have if I be cleansed from my sin?

4 I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

He is to be magnified.

12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. 14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. 16 Even so would he have removed thee 7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou out of the strait into a broad place, where him? or what receiveth he of thy hand? there is no straitness; and that which 8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as should be set on thy table should be full of thou art: and thy righteousness may profit fatness.

the son of man.

17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment

9 By reason of the multitude of oppres- of the wicked; judgment and justice take Isions they make the oppressed to cry: they hold on thee.

cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. 18 Because there is wrath, beware lest 10 But none saith, Where is God my he take thee away with his stroke: then a maker, who giveth songs in the night;

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

15 But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:

16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

CHAP. XXXVI.

ELIHU also proceeded and said,

2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. 5 Behuld, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

3 And if they be bound in fetters, and be affliction;

great ransom cannot deliver thee.

19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. 20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. 22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?,

23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? 24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof;

28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly,

29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it,the cattle also concerning the vapour. CHAP. XXXVII.

holden in cords of after their work, A is moved my fast prem

T this also heart trembleth, and

and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they from iniquity.

return

2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 3. He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

they

4 After it a voice roareth; he thundereth

11 If they obey and serve him, shall spend their days in prosperity, and with the voice of his excellency and he their years in pleasures.

will not stay them when his voice is heard.