Bible. English. O.T. Job. ^.Arnold,
The history of Job ...
Washington Gity.D.C .[etc. ]1855.

V MEMORIAL^-
COLLECTION

Yale University Library

!ffi M

OCDH3*

THE

HISTOKY OF

JOB;
A TALE,
ILLUSTRATIVE OP THE DISPENSATIONS OP
THE ALMIGHTY;

EE-CONSTETJCTED IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TO ACCORD WITH THE LONG-LOST ORIGINAL ARABIC.

WITH BRIEF COMMENTS AND EXPLANATIONS,
AND A CONCISE
MEMOIR OF JOB.

(f

Behold, to reverence the Almighty, that is Indeed wisdom 1
And to refrain from evil is indeed understanding I Likes 2058 and 2050.
Blessed is the man that endnreth temptation. — James i. 12.

PUBLISHED BT SAMUEL REEVE, OF WASHINGTON CITT, D. C.
EDITED AND FOR SALE BT L. M. ARNOLD, POBGHKEEPSIE, N. T.
1855.
I

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855,
BT L. M. ARNOLD,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of New York.

tobitt's combdjation-ttpe,
181 william st., n. t.

THE BOOK OF JOB.

PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.

The reader, if unlearned in other languages than his own, would hardly
be able to judge of the correctness of this version if he had the original.
A glance at what is called the original version will satisfy him it has
difficulties. But the commentaries of the learned prove it. For fifteen or
twenty variations in rendering a single couplet are not uncommon, and
the various translators not only disagree, but they contradict each other.
To digress to an analysis of their various opinions on almost every
sentence of this single book, would swell this volume to several large
ones. It would be too cumbrous and costly for general circulation. The
learned would no more agree than they now do, and the unlearned may
now fill themselves with the discussion by referring to other authorities.
There is here presented a harmonious and a connected dialogue, where
each speaker has a character and a purpose evident to ordinary compre
hension. We trust, therefore, that many sincere admirers will derive new
pleasures from Job's story in this new dress. When we bear in mind
that the form in which the oldest copies extant are found, is one modified
by the addition of vowels to the language formerly written without them,
and that these vowels were not added to the written record till hundreds
of years after it ceased to be a living speaking language, we cannot be
surprised that many now regard the vowels as of no authority. The Eng
lish consonants B D, may, by using as many vowels between them, be
made four very different words, as bad, bed, bid, bud. Similar to this is
the old Oriental character and writing. The vowel or vowels between the
consonants were to be supplied. Whilst the language was spoken, it was
not difficult to do this with fair correctness. But in a language whose
A 1

idioms and peculiarities can only be surmised from a portion of it imper
fectly understood, who shall eliminate truth and correctness 1 Names may
confer authority upon a version to some minds, but the seekers for Truth
must judge if they have found it rather by an intuitive perception than by
reason or study. God can assure the mind it has found Truth, and make
it rest satisfied with thatperception of truth, which is, after all, only Faith,
that Faith which is God-given. Who shall say that this Faith is not supe
rior to and more reliable than man's reason, even though endorsed by
other men's reason ?
We therefore rejoice that we can place within the reach of all Christians
a book which contains so much to console and to edify, in a new dress, by
which its proportions and beauty are more apparent than before ; and,
without expectation of pecuniary profit, we cordially commend it to gene
ral reception.
The author chooses not to be announced.
SAMUEL REEVE, Washington Crrr
Publisher.
LEVI M. ARNOLD, Poughkeefsie, N. Y.,
Editor.

THE HISTORY OF JOB IN A NEW ENGLISH VERSION, TOGETHER WITH HIS LIFE.
Sold by
L. M. Arnold, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Of whom Booksellers can obtain it at the usual discount.
Price Twenty-five cents ; or Thirty cents, postpaid, to any part of the U. S.
One volume 8vo. pp. 94.
Payment may be made by enclosing postage stamps, ¦where other
means of remittance are not so convenient.

JOB.

(D

Introduction.
CHAP. I.
1. There was a man in tbe land of Uz, of the name of Job ; he was
just and perfect as a man, pious, and abstaining from evil things. He
had seven sons and three daughters. His animals were seven thou
sand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and
five hundred breeding asses. His attendants were numerous, his hus
bandry extensive. He was also a man illustrious in rank among the
sons of the East.® Jotfs manner of life.
4. And his sons had a custom of entertaining each other and their
sisters, alternately, each for a day. And whenever the days of feast
ing were gone through, Job sent for and purified them, and rising
early in the morning offered sacrifices equal to the number of all
of them, a young bull for a sin offering for each of
them ;(3) for Job said, Perhaps my children may have sinned, and
perhaps they blessed God in their hearts X4) In this manner there
fore Job always acted.
1. A tale illustrative of God's government.
2. Orientals, (i. e. Eastern people,) so called witb reference to Egypt and the great sea or
Mediterranean. J
8. Acting as a priest, recognized as such by them and others.
4. The feelings of the father prompted the action of the priest. He made the offering
for them as if they had sinned, though he knew not that any sin had occurred.

CHAP. I.
A trial of Job's motwoes of action.
6. And there was a day when the sons of God presented them
selves before God, and an adversary(S) came also in with them. Then
God said to the adversary, Whence comest thou 1 And the adver
sary in reply said to God, Having gone round the earth, and roved up
and down the whole of it, here I am. And God. said to him, Hast
thou set thy attention upon my servant Job ? For there is not upon
earth a man just and perfect as he, pious and abstaining from all evil
things. Then the adversary in reply said before God, Doth Job wor
ship God for nothing ? Hast thou not made a fence about Job, and
about all that is his, abroad and at home, and about all that belong
to him on every side, and blessed the works of his hands, and multi
plied his animals upon the earth ? But put forth thy hand now and
touch all that he has, and see if he will not give blessing to thee ac
cording to thy face. (6) Then God said to the adversary, Behold, all
that he has I place in thy power, only upon himself lay not thy hand.
12i. So the adversary went away from God, and after that it oc
curred upon a day when the sons and daughters of Job were feasting
and taking wine in their eldest brother's house, behold a messenger
came to Job and said to him, The oxen were ploughing, and the
breeding asses feeding near them, and plunderers came and carried
them off. Thy slaves too they slew with the sword, and I alone have
escaped to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, another messenger
came and said to him, God'B fireC7) has fallen from heaven and burned
up the sheep and consumed the shepherds likewise, and I only being
escaped have come to tell thee. While yet speaking, another came
and said to him. The horsemen having formed in three troops, rushed
upon the camels, and surrounding them have carried them off, and
slain thy slaves with the sword, and I only have escaped to tell thee.
While he was yet speaking there came also another, saying to Job,
While thy children were eating and taking wine in their elder bro
ther's house, a great gust of wind came up from the wilderness and
took all parts of the house so that it fell upon thy children, and they
are dead, and I alone only escaped to tell thee.
5. The adversary was in a minority, as few of the people who knew Job attributed to
him sordid or selfish motives in serving God faithfully. But a few reasoned as the adver
sary is introduced to make declaration regarding him.
6. i. e. If Thou turnest from Job he will from Thee. He now only blesses Thee be
cause Thou favorest him.
7. Lightning.

CHAP. H.
Job's endurance of misfortune.
20. Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and
cast himself upon the ground®, worshipping and saying, "Naked came
I from my mother's womb, and naked shall I be in my return. God
gave and God has taken away, blessed be the name of God." In all
this Job did not sin against God, nor charge him with want of
wisdom. (9> A further trial of Job's disinterestedness.
II. 1. And again there was a day when the sons of God presented
themselves before God, and an adversary came also in with them to
present himself before God. Then God said to the adversary, Whence
comest thou ? And the adversary answering in the presence of God,
said, Having traversed all under heaven and roved through the whole
of it, here I am. Then God said to the adversary, Thou hast then
attended to my servant Job, like whom is not one on the earth, just
and perfect as a man, pious and abstaining from all evil things. Still
he retains his innocence, although thou didst destroy his possessions
without cause, having failed in thy purpose. But the adversary an
swered God and said, Skin for skin/10) yea, all that a man hath he
will give for his life. Only put forth thy hand now and touch his
flesh, and he will indeed then bless thee according to thy face. Then
God said to the adversary, Behold I deliver him to thy hand, only
preserve his life/11) Thereupon the adversary went forth from God,
and smote Job with foul sores from head to foot, so that he took a
piece of broken ware to scrape away the foulness, and seated himself
in an unclean place outside the city walls.
S. The prescribed or customary form of mourning for the loss of near relatives.
9. His adversary and all cavillers were foiled, and shown that Job blessed and served
God without reference to earthly reward.
10. The giving of part ofa man's possessions to retain health or life is not so great a
sacrifice as to lose all and be further afflicted. Skins in those days denoted possessions
much as notes do now, as they were the material for records of possessions.
11. Job suffered every thing but death, which he longed for as a relief. So in fact he
Buffered more than death, for he suffered the want of it, consequent upon the loss of his
outward possessions, the honor of his fellow men, the regardof bis friends, and tbe society
of his relatives. He was deposed, or suspended at least, from his priestly office by reason
of impurity, which was evident to all, and contrary to tbe ordinances of the patriarchal
religion. He was indeed so unclean as to be avoided by all, and regarded by all as incura
ble, and as having incurred the Divine Retribution for a secret sin.

6
CHAP. III.
9. Then after a time his wife said to him, How long wilt thou per*
sist in saying, ' I will wait yet longer for my deliverance in hope and
expectation of it V For behold ! the memorials I gave thee, those
sons and daughters I brought forth with much pain and labor in vain
— they have vanished from earth, and thou thyself sittest amongst
putrefaction of worms, always in the open air, while I am serving,
wandering about from place to place, from dwelling to dwelling, wish
ing for the setting sun that I may rest from my labors and sorrows.
Wilt thou then continue to bless God and die ?(12) But Job said to
her looking steadfastly upon her, Like a woman without knowledge
thou hast spoken. H we have received from God good, shall we not
suffer afflictions ? In all that befell him, Job did not sin by words
against God.
Job is visited by three powerful and steadfast friends.
11. Now when Job's three especial friends heard of all the calamities
which befell him, they came each from his own country, namely, Eli-
phaz king of Teman, Baldad sovereign prince of Sauche, and Zophar
king of Minima ; for they had come to comfort and take care of him
by appointment, but from a distance they did not know him, and see
ing him they raised their voices and wept aloud. And each one
having rent his robe, they sprinkled themselves with dust, and sat
down by him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none
of them spoke to him, for they saw that the grief was very severe.^)
Job's announcement of his despa/ir cmd suffering .
III. 1. After this Job opened his discourse, cursing his day, exclaim
ing and saying,
3. Perish the day in which I was born,
The night they said ' It is a male child.'
4. Let that day have darkness,
Let not God regard it from on high,
Let not the light fall upon it;
Let darkness and the shadow of death hide it,
Let thick darkness as a cloud rest upon it,
Let it be renounced as a black and bitter day.
12. In other words, Cease to worship as thou hast, but adopt some other ritual and form
of worship. Trust in some other Divinity.
13. They came to sympathize and console They used the customary forms.

CHAP. in.
6. And that night — may pitchy darkness take it away,
May it never rejoice among the days of the year, 10
May it never be numbered among the days of the months ;
Oh, that night ! may it be solitary,
May gladness or mirth never come upon it.
8. Let them curse it who curse days,
Who are ready to raise up the greatest evil.
May the stars of its twilight be black,
May it long for light but find it not,
,Nor see the eyes of the morning stars !
Because it shut not the doors of the womb,
Because it hid not sorrow from my eyes. 20
0, why did I not end my days in the womb 1
Or instantly perish when I came forth from it 1
12. 0 why was I dandled upon the knees ?
Why did I receive suck at the breasts 1
I might have lain still and been quiet,
I might have gone to sleep and remained at rest ;
As sovereigns of the earth in their tombs,
As wealthy nobles who filled their graves with silver ;
Like an untimely birth sent forth from the womb,
Like infants who never saw the light of day ; 30
For there the wicked cease to trouble,
There the wearied strength recruits.
There the feeble cease to hear the oppressor's voice,
And there the prisoners have rest ;
The small and great are there on a level,
The slave and his dreaded master, d4)
20. O, why is light given to one in sorrow,
And life to him who has anguish of soul ?

14. These three stanzas give us nearly all the men of that day believed of the future
state.

CHAP. IV.
Who longs for death but finds it not,
Who digs for a tomb as those dig for buried treasures, 40
Who rejoice and are glad exceedingly if they find them.
But from a man whose way is hid from him
God hath also hedged in death and repose ;
For my groanings are more urgent than my meals,
And begirt with sorrow, I pour forth tears like waters
My fear which I had, has come upon me,
And that which I dreaded has befallen me.
Was I not in safety, and had I not innocency ?
Lived I not quietly in peace 1 yet trouble came upon me.05)
They first attempt to console Job by his own example.
IV. 1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite, answering him, said,
2. If we attempt discourse with thee, be not distressed; 50
Yet who can withhold reply from thy vehement words 1
3. Behold ! Thou who hast instructed many,
Who hast given strength to hands which were weak,
Whose words have upraised the fainting,
And given courage to the knees which were falling,
Now when trouble hath come upon thee, dost thou faint ?
When it toucheth thee, art thou impatient 1
Is not thy fear evidence of thy folly 1
Thy hope — was it not in the uprightness of thy ways ?
Remember now thy sayings, " Who being innocent has perished ?" 60
Or, " When were the righteous utterly cut off?" d°)
15. Job asserts his innocence, and thus furnishes his friends with a clue to cause him to
confess sin. Neither he nor they could comprehend the propriety, if the possibility were
admitted, of requiring from a righteous man such suffering as a trial, such terrible afflic
tions asabestowmentof good to himself and others. The course ofthe argument makes
this clear to Job, and finally to his friends. Job's despair is founded on this perplexity,
and as this becomes cleared up in his mind his conviction of ultimate deliverance grows
upon him, till at last he loses his despondency and regains hope.
16. Eliphaz reminds Job of his own methods of consoling the afflicted and of calling
them to repent of evil and confess their sins as the cause of their misfortune. And then
in the following verses he adds the testimony of his own experience, and insists that
either Job taught error before, or was a guilty man then.

9
CHAP. IV.
8. Even I, have seen that those who plow iniquity,
Who sow wickedness, shall reap sorrows.
" By the decree of God they have perished,
"By the opposition of His breath they are utterly destroye'd."
So the roaring of a lion, the cry of the fierce lioness,
And the strength of young lions are made to end.
As the old lions perished for want of food,
And the strong young lions have fled from each other,
So, had there been truth in thy sayings, > 70
Not one of these evils would have befallen thee.
Eliphaz declares what had been revealed to him.
12. Now I have received a saying in secret,
And mine ear hath heard unusual things.
In a dreadful vision of a night,
When deep sleep rested upon men,
Fear and trembling came upon me,
And the multitude of my bones shook together.
Then a spirit rushed before me,
The hair upon me stood erect, my flesh trembled ;
It stood still, but I saw not its form, 80
It was before my eyes, but I discerned it not.
In silence I only heard a still voice, saying,
" What ! Can a mortal be more pure than God 1
" Or a man's works better ordered than his Maker's 1
" If in His servants He placeth not unlimited confidence,
" And in His messengers findeth a lack of wisdom,
" How shall He regard them who dwell in houses of clay,
" Whose foundation is dust, perishing before the worm ?
" They are beaten down from morning to evening,
" They utterly perish and cannot save themselves, 90

10
CHAP. V.
" They die — even without wisdom they vanish,
K And the excellency they have passes away."
V. 1. Call now, will any one answer thee 1
To which ofthe departed ones wilt thou turn 1
Passion, indeed, overcometh the foolish,
Even as envy destroyeth the unwise.
3. Now I have seen the foolish take root,
But suddenly their sustenance was consumed.
His children are far from safety,
They are insulted at the city gate,
And no one cometh to deliver them.
The harvest they gathered the upright shall eat,
Nay, they themselves shall not be free from wrongs,
Por their power shall at last be exhausted.
Yet trouble cannot be produced from the earth !
Nor will affliction grow out upon the mountains 1<XH
An evident objection to this theory of Eliphaz answered.
7. But is man born for trouble,
As sparks of coal arise to fall?(i8)
8. Even then would I supplicate God,
And unto Him commit my cause, ""
Who doeth great things beyond finding out,
Marvellous things which cannot be numbered ;
17. Eliphaz insists that even if the wicked appear prosperous for a time, retribution
soon, or at least ultimately, overtakes them ; and inasmuch as these things cannot happen
without a cause, and as that cause is not a natural or visible production of nature it must
be from God directly.
18. He now considers the objection that inasmuch as all men arc imperfect, (as had
been declared to him by the " still voice" in his vision,) these troubles must necessarily
accompany the state of manhood on the earth, and insists that even then the benevolence
of God is so great, and his character so lofty, that he would be justified in casting himself
upon the mercy of the Almighty, and that his humility and abnegation would receive
favor and security from God. He then winds up by a magnificent appeal to Job lo profit
by his chastisement, and promises in that event a renewal of all his prosperity.

11
CHAP. V.
Who giveth rain upon the whole earth,
And sendeth water upon the borders.
He sets up on high the lowly ones,
And raises up mourners to safety.
He guides the devices of the crafty,
So that their hands fail to accomplish them.*
He entangles the wise in their wisdom,
And defeats the counsels of the artful; 120
In the day-time darkness meets them,
And they grope at noon-day as at night ;
So He saves the humble from their devouring,
From the sword, and from the hand of the mighty.
Thus even the feeble may have hope,
And the objections of the wicked be overcome.
An appeal to Job to submit to God's punishments.
17. 0 ! Happy is the man whom God chastises,
Therefore despise thou not the corrections of God.
He makes sore, and He binds up,
He wounds as He will, and His hands heal. 130
He shall deliver thee in six troubles,
And in seven no evil shall touch thee.
In famine He will redeem thee from the doom of death,
And in battle redeem thee from the hand of a sword ;
He will shield thee from the tongue of detraction,
And the appearance of destruction shall not affright thee ;
Aye ! at such destruction and famine thou shalt laugh ;
Neither shalt thou be afraid of savage beasts,
For even the stones of the field will defend thee,
And the beasts of the field shall be on thy side. 140
Thou shalt know that peace is in thy dwelling,
And that provision shall not fail for thy family.
* I. Cor. iii. 19

12
CHAP. VI.
Tea, thou shalt know that thy children shall be many
And thy offspring as the grass ofthe open field;
Thou shalt arrive at thy grave in full time,
As a shock of corn ascends in its season,
Or as grain from a threshing-floor is carried home in the harvest.
27. Behold, we have investigated this, and know it is so,
Keceive it for thyself, and know it is for thy benefit.
Job justifies his despair, and reproves his friends for
accusing him of sin.
VI. 1. But Job replied, saying,
2. 0 that my grief might be correctly weighed, 150
And my calamity poised in the balances with it ;
For it would be heavier than the sand of the sea,
And my words would disappear as trifles ;
For the arrows of God are within me,
And their poison drinks up my blood :
As terrors they array themselves against me.
5. What ! will a wild ass bray at his grass 1
Or the ox low over his fodder in a stall?
Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt ?
Or is there any relish in that which is tasteless ?(19) 160
The things my soul refused to touch,
Are ever before me as unsavory meat ; —
Can my temper be calm in my suffering 1
8. 0 that I might have my request !
O that God would grant me what I long for !
Even that he who hath begun would destroy me,
That he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
Then might I have comfort out of my sorrow !
Let Him not refrain because I have not disputed His commands.
19. Job intimateB that those who are in peace cannot appreciate his affliction.

13
CHAP. VI.
For what is my strength that I should hope ? 170
What is my future that I should prolong my life ?
My strength is not as stones nor my flesh as brass,
I have confided not in myself, but in Him, —
But help is far from me, and Mercy hath taken leave.C20)
14. He that melteth away from a friend
Forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
My brethren have dealt with me deceitfully as brooks !
As swift brooks in the valleys that pass away ;
At times they are blackish by reason of ice,
Or hidden from view by a snow covering ; 180
Again when warmth increases they vanish entirely,
For in the heat thereof they are quite consumed.
Thus have I been forsaken by tbe paths of all,
And being undone, I am left by them to perish.(2i)
19. Take now a view of the company of Tema* and pause —
Both the Sabeans and dwellers in cities and wealth will blush.
They came, — and are confounded, because I hoped in God, —
They came even to me and are ashamed of me ;
For now you have not compassion for me,
And seeing my affliction you are afraid. 190
Did I say to any of you, Bring unto me any thing?
Or, Give unto me a ransom from your substance ?
Or, Deliver me from mine enemy's hand ?
Or, Rescue me from the hand of the Mighty One ?(22)
24. 0, teach me and I will hold my tongue,
If I have erred, tell me plainly wherein :
20. He still despairs of restoration, and longs for death as his only possible relief.
21. Job remarks upon the general ingratitude he had experienced,
22. And reproaches his friends with deserting him when they had voluntarily come to
him, though he-had not asked them to do any thing for him.
* The "company of Tema" were those siding with Eliphaz.

14
CHAP.VH.
Well spoken words have force with them;
But what does your argument reprove ?
Tou rebuke forms of expression, mere breath,
The speeches of a despairing one ;
Yea, you fall upon the fatherless,
And even insult your friend.
Now therefore be content, look upon me, —
I look you in the face, see if I will lie ?
Sit down, I beseech you, and let there be no more reproaches;
Yea, sit down again, for you meet a righteous man :
There is no sin upon my tongue,
And my taste doth incline to wisdom.(23>
Job discusses the nature of man.
Vil. 1. The life of man on the earth is a warfare,
And his days are like the days of a hireling. 210
As a slave longs for the far falling shadow,
As a hireling looks for the end of his time,
So I have waited in vain for months,
Whilst wearisome nights have been doled out to me.
When lying down I say, When shall I arise ?
And when the evening is measuring I say, Where is its end?
And I am filled with afflictions from evening to morning.
My body is covered with wormy putrefaction,
And the earth is moistened with my foulness.
My days pass swiftly as thread from the shuttle, 220
And are consumed without hope of renewaLW
23. He insists that they have been captious, reasserts his innocency, and urges them to
refrain from reproaches, though he is willing to hear any definite charge they can bring
against his conduct.
24. In this beautiful simile Job compares his days to the threads in the shuttle,
and declares also their difference, as those threads are always renewed at the will of the

15
CHAP. VII.
0 remember that my life is but a breath,
And that my eyes cannot return to see their joy.
The eyes of men shall fail to see me
Thine eyes see me, and I shall be seen no more, —
Like a cloud consumed and vanished away.
For he who goeth down to the grave shall not reascend
He shall not return again to his dwelling,
Neither shall his occupation know him any more.
Therefore I will not refrain from speech, 230
I will speak in the anguish of my soul,
I will unfold the bitterness of my life in my distress.<26)
12. Am I a sea monster or a swollen river,
That a guard has been set over me ?
When I say, My bed shall comfort me,
My couch shall give relief to my complaints-
Then am I terrified with dreams,
And affrighted through my visions ;
So that my soul chooseth strangling of breath,
And death, rather than to remain with my bones. 240
For I am not to live alway that I should keep patience ;
Withdraw from me then, for my life is a vanity. <26)
17. And what is man that Thou dost magnify him ?
Or that Thou dost place Thy attention upon him 1
That Thou dost visit him every morning,
And try him till he goes suddenly to rest 1
How long wilt Thou not spare me affliction,
Nor leave me till I swallow my spittle ?
For if I have sinned what can I do for thee ?(27)
25. This whole address, v. 1 to 11, L. 209 to 232, is thus far to Eliphaz und those on hie
side, and is a justification of his vehement first speech.
26. He now boldly addresses the Almighty with consciousness of innocence, v. 12 to
16. L. 233 to 242.
27. He declares his inability to do more for God, whatever he may inflict upon him,
or however long and constantly he may be afflicted. v. 17 to 20. L. 243 to 249.
B

16
CHAP. VIII.
20i. 0 Thou who art the Observer of men ! 250
Why hast Thou set me up as a mark before Thee ?
And made me a burden to myself?
0 why dost Thou not make a pardon for my transgression?
Or take from me a purification for my sin ?
0 let me depart, depart into the earth,
So that in the morning I shall not be found ! <28)
Baldad reiterates the arguments of Eliphaz, and enforces
them by quotations from ancient poems.
Vill. 1. Then Baldad the Sauchean answering, said,
2. How long wilt thou speak these sayings,
And pour out of thy mouth a strong wind of words ?
Doth God pervert judgment?
Doth the Almighty overthrow justice ? 260
Although thy children have sinned in His sight,
And He hath cast them away in their transgression,
If thou wilt arise betimes before God,
And make supplication for thyself to the Almighty,
If thou art pure and just surely He will hear thee,
And make thy righteous dwelling prosperous ;
And be thy beginning ever so small,
Thy latter life shall be unspeakably great
8. For inquire, I pray thee, of a former generation,
And make for thyself search among the fathers ; 270
(For we being of yesterday know nothing,
And our life on earth is but a shadow,)
They will teach thee and declare to thee,
And utter their words from their very hearts ;
Thus, " The papyrus, can it grow without moisture ?
" The rank grass, can it grow without drink ?
" While it is yet in flower and is not cut down,
" Doth not every herb wither that drinketh not ?
28. And again prays for relief or death, v . 20} to 21. I.. 250 to 266.

17
CHAP. IX.
" Such therefore shall be the end of all who forget God,
* So shall the hope of the hypocrite perish I"
Yea, his hope shall be cut off suddenly,
And his trust disappear as a spider's web.
He will lean upon his dwelling but it shall not stand,
He will prop it up but it shall not continue.
Also, " He is green before the sun cometh,
" And his tender branch shooteth forth at its rising,
" But his bed is on a heap of stones,
" And his roots are wrapped about flint stones.
" If he would swallow up drink in his place,
a It will deny him, and say, ' I know thee not.' " 290
Behold, this is all the joy of his way,
And others shall come up in his place.
20. Indeed ! God will not cast away the innocent,
Neither will He reach forth His help to evil doers ;
But He will fill the mouth of the upright with laughter,
And open their lips with songs of thanksgiving.
They that hate them shall be covered with confusion,
And the dwelling of the wicked shall disappear.
Job admits the force of Baldad' s quotations, and enla/rges
upon the greatness and incomprehensibility of God.
IX. 1. Then Job replied, saying,
2. Indeed I know that this is so,
And how can a mortal be pure before God ? SOO
If he will have a trial with Him,
Not one charge in a thousand can be answered.
For He is wise in heart and strong in might,
And who hath hardened against Him and prospered ?
He maketh mountains disappear insensibly,
He overtumeth them in His anger, 2

18
CHAP. IX.
He shaketh the earth to its foundations,
So that the pillars thereof tremble.
He commandeth the sun and it riseth not.
He shutteth up the stars with His seal. 310
He alone hath spread out the heavens,
And treadeth on the lofty waves as a pavement ;
He is the maker of the Pleiads, and Hesperus,
Of Arcturus, and of the chambers of the Southern constellations.*
He doeth things great and unsearchable,
Things glorious and wonderful and innumerable.
Behold ! He passes over me and I see Him not,
He gpeth everywhere and I perceive it not.
If He dismiss, who can return against Him,
Or who can say to Him, ' What hast thou done ?' 320
For God Himself disregardeth all anger,
And hath bowed down the proudest of the strongest under heaven :
How much less then shall I answer Him,
Or choose out words for an answer to His charge !
So, though I am righteous, I answer not to Him,
But I will make supplication to my Judge.
And if I call and He will not answer,
Shall I not believe He hears my voice ? —
But He breaketh me down with a tempest,
And He multiplies my wounds without reason, 330
He suffereth me not to take breath peacefully,
And He hath filled me with bitter fruit.
Yet because He is strong He prevails always,
Who then shall set a bound to His decrees ?

20. But if I am righteous shall my own mouth condemn me
And if I am blameless shall I prove myself wicked !

* Paraphrase:
He is the maker of the clusters of stars and ofthe single bright ones,
Of those that revolve in our sight, and of those that can only be seen occasionally.

19
CHAP. IX.
For if I have been wicked, I am unconscious of it,
Nevertheless my life is utterly destroyed. (29) 340
22. There is this one thing therefore I insist on,
He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked !
And if He scourge by the hand of the wicked,
He may laugh the righteous to scorn.
He giveth the earth over to the power of the wicked,*
He blindeth the eyes of the judges thereof,
For if it be not He who does it, who is it ?
And where is He when it is done ?
25. Now my days are swifter than a courier,
They flee away and they see not any good j
They are passing away as the swift ships,
As the eagle that pursueth the prey ; 350
If I say, ' I will cease to complain,
' I will only bow down my face and groan ' —
I shudder in every limb though innocent,
For I know that Thou wilt not let me alone.
29. But now if I be so wicked
Why have I labored in vain for death ?
For though I have been washed as in snow,
And purified with clean hands,
Thou hast so plunged me in filth that my robes abhor me.
But Thou art not a man like myself, 360
With whom I might contend and come to trial,
There is no umpire between us both,
To lay his hand on each and hear us ;
To take away His rod from me,
And let not His fear terrify me ;
For I cannot answer when I fear Him,
Nor when I am terrified be master of myself.
29. Job still insists that he is innocent, and cannot confess himself guilty so long as ho
is unconscious of having sinned. It is this which excites the ire of Zophar, who intimates
most unreservedly that Job is not sincere in thus denying his guilt. But Job's conscious
ness of rectitude sustains him.
* As in Ch. 1, v. 12, and Ch 2, v. 6.

20
CHAP. X.
He resolves to supplicate God as his Judge.
X. 1. Though weary of life, I will not speak against myself—
But I will speak to God in the bitterness of my oppression.
I will say to God, ' Teach me not to renounce Thee, 370
'But show me wherefore Thou dost condemn me.
'Is it pleasing to Thee to oppress me, to reject the work of Thy hands ?
'To calumniate me, and help the wicked counsellors ?
' Hast Thou eyes as mortals, seest Thou as a man ?
' Are Thy times the times of men, or Thy years fleeting ?
' That Thou dost inquire after my transgressions,
' Or seek to know wherein I may have sinned ?
' Thou knowest well that I am not wicked,
' And that none can deliver me out of Thy hand ;
' Thy hands have made me and fashioned me on every side, 380
' Wilt Thou change Thy mind and utterly destroy me ?
'Remember, I beseech Thee, Thou didst make me of clay,
' And art turning me now again into the dust.
' Art Thou not pouring me out as milk ?
' Hast Thou not curdled my flesh as cheese ?(30)
' Yet Thou didst clothe me with skin and with flesh,
' And didst hedge me in with bones and with sinews.
' Thou didst grant me fife, and favor me,
' And Thy presence hath preserved my soul.
'These performances are hidden in Thee, 390
' Yet I know Thou doest all things, and accomplisheth every one.'
14. ' But if indeed I have sinned inadvertently,
' Thou hast me fast and dost not acquit me of transgression.
' H I be indeed wicked let wo be upon me,
' And if I be righteous I cannot hold up my head for shame ;
' Therefore see Thou my affliction for it increaseth,
'And turning again furiously upon me Thou hunteth me.
' Thou hunteth me as a lion for slaughter in Thy great wrath,
' And renewing Thy plagues against me doth war upon me.
80. An allusion to the progress ofthe ulcers with which he was covered.

21
CHAP. XI.
' 0 why then didst Thou bring me forth from the womb ! 400
' 0 that I had yielded my breath when no eye had seen me !
1 1 might then have been as though I existed not,
' I would have been carried from the womb to the grave.
' But now the term of my days will soon be ended,
' Cease, then, and let me enjoy a little repose,
' Before I go, from whence I shall not return,
' To a land of darkness, covered with the shadow of death ;
' To a land of everlasting and deep darkness,
' Where light itself has blackness, and mortals are seen no more.'(3i)
Zophar accuses Job of hypocrisy and presumption, and
reiterates the persuasions of his predecessor.
XI. 1. Then Zophar the Mininian answered, saying,
2. " The multiplier of words should not be unanswered, 410
" Or the fine speaker may think himself justified."
Should thy lies then make mortals hold their peace ?
When thou hast mocked at others, shall no one reply to thee ?
4. Thou hast said " My doctrine is purity,"
And, " My ways are irreprehensible before thee, 0 God."
0, 1 would that God would speak to thee,
And open His lips to Thy discomfiture
Indeed should He unfold to thee the might of His wisdom,
Thou wouldst find it double what thou supposeth,
And thou wouldst know that He doth require of thee 420
But half that thy iniquity would denote as due Him.
7. Canst thou by searching find the place of God?
Or comprehend the extent of His creation ?
High as the heavens are, what canst thou do ?
Deep as are the mansions of departed spirits, what wilt thou learn ?
These are longer than the measure of earth,
These are broader than the spread of the sea.
31. Though Job ventures now to hope for some repose before death, ne still looks for
ward to that event as the only sure relief from his extraordinary sufferings.

22
CHAP. xn.
Now should He overturn these, or press them together,
Who shall say to Him ' Pause !' or who shall turn Him away ?
Ah ! He knoweth the folly and works of the wicked, 430
And when He seeth wickedness will He not consider it ?
But a foolish man floateth on vain words to pride,
And thinketh himself born as a wild ass's colt. W
13. But if thou wilt prepare thy heart by purification,
And stretch forth thine hands in supplication to Him ;
If thou wilt put away the iniquity thou hast practiced,
And let not injustice lodge in thy dwelling-place ;
Then mayst thou lift up thy countenance as pure as water,
And disrobing thyself of filth be no more terrified ;
Yea, thou shalt forget thy past trouble and thy fear, 450
Remembering them only as a wave that has gone by.
Thy wish shall arise suddenly like a morning sun,
And brightness like noonday shall gild thine old age ;
Thou shalt be in security and have hope,
Thou mayst labor in peace and take thy rest in safety ;
Yea, thou shalt rest at ease, and none shall make thee afraid,
But many shall turn to thee entreating thy protection.
20. As for the wicked, their eyes shall melt away,
Every way of escape shall fail to save them,
And their final hope shall be but a puff of wind. 440
Job reproaches his friends for the course of their argu
ment, and amplifies his own.
XII. 1. To this Job answering, said,
No doubt ye would be called the whole people !
And claim that wisdom will be with you till your death.
But I too have a consciousness as well as you,
I understand these sayings as well as you ;
And who doubts or disputes these assertions ?(83)
32. Able to help himself, and in a state of perfect freedom from control.
33. Job accuses his friends of merely echoing the popular voice, instead of answering
his arguments

23
CHAP.Xn. 4. But you mock me, though my neighbors,
You laugh me to scorn because I call upon God ; —
Because I believe He will answer a just and innocent man ;
That is ready now to slip with his feet and be no more seen, [ous !
Whose dwindling light is despised in the illuminations ofthe prosper-
6. Do not the tabernacles of robbers prosper ? 460
Are not the bold rejectors of God left in security ?
And is it not He who hath placed all in their hands ?C34)
Yea, ask now the beasts of the earth and they may teach thee,
Ask the birds of the heaven and they can tell thee.
Speak even to the earth and it will discourse to thee,
To the fishes of the sea and they will declare to thee.
For who among these knoweth not these things,
And that the hand of God hath caused them all ?
In His hand is the existence of every living thing, 470
And the spirits of all bodies of mankind.
He shows that he can glorify God in a greater degree than
they have.
11. H indeed it be the ear that discerns sayings,
And the taste of the hearer findeth the good,
H by length of time wisdom is acquired,
And by long life is obtained understanding !
With Him must be wisdom and power,
With Him must be counsel and understanding.^")
Surely then if He throweth down no man can rebuild,
If He withholdeth any thing from a man, none can deliver it.
IS He withholdeth waters, the earth itself drieth up ; 480
HHe sendeth them forth, it is overthrown and destroyed.
He possesses knowledge and strength,
And the deceiver and the deceived are both of Him.
34. Job now recurs to his position taken in last speech (L. 339 to 346,) and reminds his
friends that tho fact is too notorious to be denied, that the wicked are often prosperous,
and that they must be so by the will of God.
35. He has lived long enough to be All-wise, and such wisdom makes him All-
powerful.

49£

24:
chap. xm.
He hath led counsellors into captivity,
And judges hath He brought to confusion ;
He looseth the belts of kings of men,
And sendeth them forth with their loins girded ;
He leadeth priests away with despoilment,
He overthroweth nobles with shame.
He changeth the regard of liege men,
And taketh away the faithfulness of elders ;
He poureth contempt upon commanders,
And bringeth weakness upon mighty warriors.
He manifests to all the depth of darkness,
And reveals to all at last the shadow of death.
He divideth nations and destroyeth them,
He casteth them down and taketh them away '
He taketh away the purpose of the chiefs of tib e earth's people,
And causeth them to wander without a road in the wilderness :
Yea, they shall grope as if in the dark without light, 500
They shall reel to and fro like a drunken man.(36)
XHI. 1. Indeed mine eye hath witnessed all these things,
My ear hath heard them and comprehended them all ;
For I indeed know all that you know,
And I am not lower in knowledge than you.
Job warns his friends that God will not be deceived by
their pretence of being on his side, and he appeals to
the judgment of God for his vindication.
3. But yet I desire to speak to the Almighty,
And to argue before Him if it be His pleasure to hear me.
For you are supporters of falsehoods and calumnies
You are physicians who cannot heal my wounds ;
But could you altogether hold your peace, 510
You might be considered to be wise men.
86. In these last stanzas the wanderings of the Israelites are alluded to as happening
and to happen.

25
CFai-. XIIL
6. Hear now the argument I shall set forth,
And attend well to the conclusions of my lips.
Why do you speak wickedly in the name of God?
And utter deceits in His presence in a solemn manner ?
Judge you, if you withhold truth, will it be well for you ?
If you judge for Him, will He not mark your ways ?
Will you please Him, from whom nothing can be concealed ?
Or as a man deceiveth another, can He be deceived ?
Surely He will reprove you if you feign these for Him, 520
And if you will respect conditions of men He will also confound you.
When He beginneth to act He shall bear upon you,
And the terror of His majesty shall fall upon you.
Your memory shall pass away as ashes,
And your bodies shall fall into dust.
13. Be silent a little while that I may speak.
Let me alone that I may receive what cometh to me.W)
14. Though I could tear my flesh with my teeth,
And take my life into my own hand,
Though he may utterly crush me, yet will I trust in Him, 530
And yet will I plead my cause and my ways before him.
And this also will cause Him to save me,
For no hypocrite will be before Him.
Hear then, hear attentively my discourse,
And I will proclaim in your ears my declaration !
Behold now, for I have ordered my cause correctly,
And I know that I shall be found just.
0 let him come that will plead against me,
For if I be silent now I must render up my soul.
20. Only two things do Thou grant to me, (38) 540
Then I will not hide myself from before Thee —
37. Here Job pauses to collect himself for a grand plea before the Almighty, addressed
to Him in a judicial form as if He were an earthly judge. He then declares to them his
continued trust in God, and challenges whoever will to plead to God against him.
S3. Here Job commences his plea to God as to a judge, first deprecating His majesty.

26
CHAP. xrv.
Withdraw now Thy hand far from me,
And let not the dread of Thee terrify me completely.
Then call and I will answer Thee,
Or let me speak and do Thou reply to me.
How many are mine iniquities and my sins?
Make me to know my crimes and my offences !
24 0 why hidest Thou Thy face from me ?
Why holdest Thou me to be Thine enemy?
Wilt Thou break a leaf that is already driven by Thy wind ? 550
Or as dried grass wilt Thou pursue me by Thy blast ?
Hast Thou recorded bitter things against me ?
And dost Thou lay to my charge the sins of my youth ?
Hast Thou marked my feet with indented sandals,
And observed closely wherever I have stepped ?(39)
He pleads to God the insignificance of man, as a claim
to his compassion.
28. Man, that is born of woman, groweth old,
Like a leathern bag he is consumed with rottenness/40)
Or, like a garment which is devoured by moths ;
For he is mortal, and in a few days he passeth away with disquiet :
He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down in his bloom, 560
He glideth away as a shadow, and continueth not at all.
And is it not such a one Thou hast opened Thy observation upon ?
And such a one Thou hast called to be judged by Thee ?
But who can make him clean who is from the unclean ?
Not one ! Only Thou, who alone art clean and pure.
Whether the course of his life be one day or months be set for him,
He cometh.to Thy appointed bound and cannot pass it.
O, turn then aside from him that he may take rest,
Till accomplishing his day, like a hireling, he receiveth his comfort.
39. An allusion to the clogs worn on the feet of slaves and prisoners whose escape wa
feared. By their foot-prints they were easily tracked.
40. The skins of animals were universally used as bags and as bottles.

27
CHAP. xrv.
7. Of a tree there is hope that it will sprout again if it be cut down,
That the tender branches shall put forth and not fail ; 571
Even if its root be old in the earth, and the stock thereof dying,
Yet by the moistening of water it will blossom again and leaf out,
And even produce a crop like a tree lately planted.
But man dieth, and is gone forever,
Yea, a mortal falleth, and he is seen no more.
As waters that should depart from a sea,
As a river that is unsupplied drieth up,
So man, when he hath lain down in the grave, riseth not,
Till the heavens disappear they shall not awake from sleep. 580
13. 0, that Thou hadst kept me in the mansion of the dead,
Hiding me there till Thy indignation should pass away !
0 that Thou wouldst set a time when Thou wilt receive me,
So that though the man hath died he shall live !
All the days of my appointed time I would patiently wait,
Till, after finishing this life, I should receive my change.
Then Thou shalt call and I will answer Thee,
And do Thou reach forth Thy right hand to me.
Thou indeed didst number all my steps,
And not one inadvertency could escape Thee ; 590
But now seal up my offences in a bag,
And close up all my iniquities I may have committed.
18. And surely the mountain falleth and cometh to nought,
Even the rock is removed out of its place ;
Waters wear away stones and wash away banks of earth,
Wilt thou so in like manner destroy hope in man ?<4i)
Thou wilt ever prevail against him and he shall pass away,
Thou settest Thy face against bim and sendeth him away ;
Though his sons rise to honor he knoweth it not,
Though they are reduced to lowness he perceiveth it not ; 600
41. A plea for an early decision,— as God's eternity outlasts the most permanent
natural objects, so man's patience cannot contend with him.

28
CHAP. XV.
His flesh hath been but to suffer pain,
And even the soul within him hath mourned over it.
Eliphaz insists that Job's arguments and discourse prove
his own course wrong.
XV. 1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered saying,
2. Would a wise man answer with empty words,
Though he be full of them laboring to come forth ?
Would he reason with unprofitable speeches ?
Or make use of arguments which cannot serve his cause ?
Hast thou not cast off reverence of God,
In using these foolish arguments before Him ?
For the arguments of thy mouth show thy guilt,
And thou canst not discover the arguments of the wise ; 610
Yea, thine own mouth doth condemn thee more than I,
Thine own lips show forth thine own answer !
He rebukes his presumption and quotes more ancient
authority.
7. What ! wast thou born the first man ?
Wast thou brought forth before the hills ?
Hast thou heard the secret ways of God ?
Or hath God called thee to be His counsellor ?
For what dost thou know that we do not know ?
What dost thou comprehend more than we ?
Among us are elders and very aged men ;
Yea, among us are men older even than thy father. 620
Thou hast not been chastised as thou deservest,
Thy exceeding haughtiness hath withheld confession :<42)
Thy heart doth carry thee away with boldness,
Thine eyes stare proudly and wink not ;
Thou turnest thyself wholly against God,
That thou dost utter such lofty words from thy mouth.
42. A reply to Job's first answer to him. L. 150.

29
CHAP. XV.
For what is man that he should be found innocent,
Or the ofispring of woman that he should claim righteousness ?
Behold ! He putteth not full confidence in pure angels,
And even the heavens are not perfectly clean in His view. 630
How abominable then must man be,
Who drinketh even iniquity and swalloweth filth !*
17. But let me tell thee, not only what I have seen,
But hear thou what wise men have received from their fathers ;
They to whom knowledge of the whole earth was given,
And whose peace no stranger disturbed. «S)
" The whole life of the wicked is spent in anxiety,
The years of the oppressor are hidden from him ;
Sounds of terror are heard in his open ears,
And if he seemeth to be at peace yet shall his destruction come ;" 640
" Let him not hope to return out of darkness to light,
For he is doomed already and the sword shall find him ;
He knoweth within himself he shall meet with a fall,
And that he shall be preyed upon in his dark days."
" Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid,
They shall surround him as a prince with an army ;
Because he hath stretched forth his hand against God,
And even hardened his neck against the Almighty."
" He runneth contemptuously upon Him, by his neck,
Yea, he beareth against Him the thick bosses of a buckler !" 650
" Because he covereth his countenance with fatness,
And his sides hang down with abundance,
He shall dwell in desolated cities which none inhabit,
In houses which are ready to crumble to earth."(44)
" He shall not be enriched, for his gatherings shall be carried off;
He shall not take root and continue in his inheritance ;
43. Tema had long been the seat of wealth, prosperity, peace, and civilization.
44. He shall meet with reverses because of his selfish gratification.
* Unclean ness the most reprehensible.

30
CHAP. XVI.
He shall not go forth nor arise from his dark affliction,(45)
The burning wind shall blast his branches and his blossoms shall fall."
" He shall not believe, nor find his error, nor see his vanity,
He shall indeed receive vanity as a recompense." 660
" He shall indeed be cast down prematurely,
And a young shoot from him shall not flourish ;
He will fall as grapes from a blasted vine,
As the blossom from the olive tree in its prime."
"For desolation shall come upon every hypocrite,
And a fire shall consume the tents of bribery."
" He hath conceived sorrow, he bringeth forth iniquity,
And the fruit of his womb shall vanish in the air."
Job replies that were their cases reversed his course would
be different from theirs.
XVI. 1. Then Job answering said,
2. I have heard many such discourses,
You are all miserable comforters ! 670
Alas ! shall empty words continue always ?
For by thine answer they please thee well !
But if my soul could be exchanged for yours,
Think you I would load you with words and wag my head upon you ?
I would strengthen you by my mouth,
And I would not spare moving my lips for you.
But now, if I speak, shall I not bemoan my wound ?
If I spoke not it would not depart from me !
7. But now that I have been made a poor rotten fool,
Thou hast fallen upon me to destroy my hope of consolation, (46) 680
And this lie has been made a witness against me,
And a false speaker hath risen up before my face ;
45. And he shall not recover from his reverses.
46. Job's only hope rested on his righteousness, and his friends endeavored to deprive
him of that consolation.

31
CHAP. XVI.
Gathering himself up he hath fallen upon me furiously,
And gnashing his teeth upon me he threatens me ;
As mine enemy he hath darted terrible eyes upon me,
And opened wide upon me all his mouths ;
Having smitten me to my face with reproaches,
With one consent all together have rushed upon me.
11. God indeed hath delivered me up to the unrighteous/47)
And turned me over to the power of the wicked. 690
When I was resting in ease He suddenly broke me up,
Taking me by the neck He shook me, He made me a mark ;
They surrounded me as with javelins, darting them into my wounds,
Without mercy they cause my gall to run upon the ground ;
They shoot into me one deadly thrust after another, "
And run against me with all their mighty strength
15. I have sewed sackcloth next to my skin,
I have cast up ashes to fall upon my frontlet,
My face is foul with weeping in the dust,
And around my eyelids hang the shadows of death ; 700
Yet these are not for injustice at my hand,
And also my prayer to God was pure.
Job again appeals to God, though he despairs of an
answer.
18. 0 Earth ! cover not thou my blood,
O, let there be no hiding place for this my cry !
For even now behold ! my Witness is in heaven,
And He who knoweth me well is in the high place.
0 that my suit could come before God !
My friends scorn me, but before Him mine eyes would weep.
0 that a man might come before God to plead,
As a son of man may before his neighbor ! 710
47. Job admits his affliction to be from God, and through wicked men, but insists that
has received it with humility, and that itwasundcseived. c

32
CHAP. XVII.
But behold, my numbered years have come,
And I am walking the path on which I cannot return.
Job addresses God, but calls on his friends to be convinced
because he so fully trusts in God.
XVII. 1. I am dying in torture of soul,
I am ready for burial but find no grave,
I am supplicating in anguish, and have not sinned,
I am ready to come to trial, who will appear against me ? C*8)
4. Because the heart of those is hidden from comprehending,
Thou wilt not exalt them, though they contend with me. (49)
(For " Though one speaketh flatteries to friends,
" His children's desires shall melt into tears.") 720
But though Thou shouldst make me a by-word among nations,
And I become as it were their tabret for all occasions,
Whilst mine eyes are dim because of sorrow,
And all my parts are brought to darkness ;
Though at this the upright will be astonished,
Still the innocent will withstand the false speakers,
The righteous man will hold on his way,
And the clean-handed shall add strength to strength.(50)
And now therefore do all of you turn and come over to me,
For I cannot find any wisdom amongst you. 730
11. My days have passed away with groaning,
My intentions are wasted, my heart has broken.
For me a night has been put into the place of day —
And is the light near because of its darkness ?
If I wait for light the dwelling of the dead will be mine,
And even now my bed is made in its shadow.
48. See xiii. 19. L. 538 and 539.
49. A reference to what he charges upon his friends in xiii. 7, etc. L. 614 and after.
BO. Though God's ways are incomprehensible, the righteous will not lose their faith in
Him.

33
CHAP. XVHI.
I have already called to corruption, ' Be thou my father !'
To worms, 'Be ye mother and sisters to me !'(S1)
Where then is now hope for me,
That I shall behold those good expectations ? 740
Ah ! they shall go down with me to the lowest abyss,
And together beneath the dust we shall rest.
Baldad indignant that Job despises their arguments,
hurls against him more quotations and enlarges
upon them.
XVIH. 1. Here then Baldad the Sauchean making reply said,
2. How long is the continuance of thy words !
Now attend and let us speak after thee.
Wherefore should we be accounted as beasts,
And reputed by thee to be vile against thee ?
Thou that tearest thy soul in thine anger K»2)
Shall the earth be without men because of thee ?
Or the immovables thrown aside for thee ?
5. Yea, " the light of the wicked shall be extinguished, 750
Not even a spark of his fire shall continue to shine ;
The lamp in his dwelling shall not give its light,
The lamp that is over him shall be put out forever.(53)
The steps he would take in his strength shall be shortened,
And his own counsel shall cast him headlong."
For " his foot is entrapped and entangled in a net,
And as he walketh its snares come upon him.
Whilst his foot shall be held in its toils,
The robbers shall prevail against him."
" A snare is hid for him on the ground, 760
And a trap dug for him in his way.
51. He expresses bis belief that his life is nearly ended.
62. An allusion to Job's first announcement of his despair. III. 1 and after. L. 1 and
after. 53. An allusion to the lamps hung over the divans and kept constantly burning.
3

34
CHAP. XIX.
Terrors shall affright him on every side,
And drive him forth to entangle his feet."
" His strength shall be eaten away by famine,
And hunger will invade the bones of his sides.
Yea, it will devour the comeliness of his face,
And the first born of death shall consume his strength.'^54)
" Hope shall be expelled from his dwelling,
And distress shall lay hold of him like a king ;
Those who were not his companions will dwell in his tent, 770
And brimstone shall be scattered where was his dwelling."©5)
" Beneath him, the roots from which he came shall be dried up,
Above him, every branch from him shall be cut down,'
Yea, even " his memory shall perish from the earth,
And he shall no longer have a name in the street ;"(56)
" He shall be driven forth from light into darkness,
Till he shall be chased even out of the world."
He shall not have a son or a nephew among his people,
Nor shall a descendant of him remain in his land ;
They that shall come after shall be astonished at his fate, 780
Even as those of his day were seized with horror because of him.
Such surely are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
Such the fate of them that will not know God.
Job insists that his friends have no foundation for their
argument, and recounting his sufferings appeals to
their pity.
XIX. 1. Then replied Job, saying,
2. How long will you disturb the peace of my soul ?
How long will you break me in pieces with words ?
54. "rTirst born of death," Pestilence.
55. So that none -will dwell in that place again, but. will even pitch their tents in
another place.
56. The street of tombs. Burials took place outside of cities by the roadside.

35
CHAP. XIX.
Behold now ten times ye have spoken against me, (57)
And are not ashamed to harden yourselves against me !
If I grant you that I have erred,
My error indeed will then be with me ;
Then might you set up yourselves against me, 790
And plead against me with such reproaches. (58)
6. But know now that God hath overthrown me,
And hath encompassed me with lines of scourges.
Behold ! suffering violence I cry out, but I am not heard,
I cry aloud, but I obtain no judgment.
He hath hedged my way that I cannot pass forward,"
And He hath set darkness in all my paths.
He hath stripped me of my glory,
He hath taken from my head His crown ;(59)
He hath broken me down on every side and I am gone, 800
And my hope hath He taken away as a tree plucked up.
He also hath exercised great wrath against me,
And hath counted upon me as His enemy,
His troops altogether fell upon me with one consent,
And coming forth from ambush surrounded my dwelling.
13. He hath put my brethren far from me,
And my acquaintances like strangers acknowledge me not ;
My kinsmen have failed to bestow attention upon me,
And those who were familiar friends forget me.
My domestics, yea, even my bondwomen, regard me as a stranger, 810
I am indeed an alien in their sight.
57. Say, Eliphaz' first speech  Three days in delivery,
Baldad's  Two days "
Zophar's  Two days "
Eliphaz' second speech  Two days "
Baldad's "  One day "
We should not imagine that all that was said was recorded, although the delivery was
slow and formal and with great ceremony.
58. Inasmuch as Job did not admit his guilt, and it had not been proved upon him by
any evidence, the arguments of the friends had no base, and were unworthy of reply.
69. The manifest favor of God was withdrawn from him. That was justly regarded as
a diadem.

36
CHAP. XIX.
I called to my body servant, he answered me not,
Though I intreated him with my own mouth ;
Then I entreated and prayed to my wife,
I called affectionately the children of my household.
They despised me as a fool, they renounced me forever ;
When I urged them again they spoke violently against me.
All the friends I confided in have abhorred me,
And they whom I most loved are turned against me.
The flesh from my skin to my bone hath become rotten, 820
And scarcely doth the skin of my teeth escaped60)
Have pity, 0, my friends ! have pity upon me,
For the hand of God hath touched me wonderfully !
Why do ye also persecute me even further than God doth,
And are not satisfied with the flesh upon me ?(61)
He warns his friends that they shall receive a retribution.
23. Oh that my words were written down,
Oh that they were recorded in a book forever ;
Oh that they were graven with an iron pen upon lead,
Or chiselled upon the face of a rock imperishably K62)
For I know that my Avenger liveth fbrever,(63) 830
And that at the end He will be manifest upon the earth ;
And though after my skin all this be destroyed/64)
Yet from my flesh I shall see my God.
60. The ulcers from head to foot were deep, and no part of his flesh had escaped.
61. As if God had not afflicted him sufficiently, they increased his anguish by their
reproaches. 62. In this rising asseveration Job expresses his confidence that ultimately he will be
justified. All these ways of writing were then in frequent use. 1st, on loose leaves or
pieces of papyrus, 2d in books for preservation, 3d on leaden tablets which would bear
exposure to the elemonts, and lastly on the faces of precipices, where they are yet to be
found of more ancient date than Job's day.
63. He here speaks of God as of his next of kin, and so should every man regard his
Heavenly Father, to whom belongs vengeance exclusively, and by whom- only it can be
executed with propriety.
64. His skin was nearly gone, but should even his flesh too disappear, God could restore
him, and he wonld not yield his faith that God would yet appear to be on his side.

37
CHAP. XX.
And my own eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger,
And with this hope in my bosom my reins are consumed.
28. And now if you will continue to say, " Let us persecute him,
And search out a root of accusation against him,"
Stand in fear of the scene which shall appear !
For wrath as of the sword shall be a punishment,
And you shall indeed experience a judgment. 840
Zophar particularly replies to Job's former answer to him,
and declares that vengeance will overtake the wicked
ultimately, if not immediately.
XX. 1. Then Zophar the Mininian answering said,
2. Because a variety of thoughts press upon my mind,
I will make haste to answer ere my mind wandereth away.
I have heard the course of thy reproaches,
And a spirit from my understanding maketh answer for me/66)
4. Dost thou not know of olden time,
Yea, since the time man was placed upon the earth,
That the triumph of the wicked iB very brief,
And the joy of the false speaker but for a short time ?
" Though his excellency reacheth unto the heaven,
Though his head be lofty as the upper clouds, 850
Yet he shall perish forever as his own ordure passeth away,
And they who have just seen him will say, Where is he ?"
" Like a dream that passes away he shall not be found,
Yea, he shall vanish as a spectre of the night,
So the eyes which had seen him shall view him no more,
Neither shall his place any more behold him."
" Poverty shall oppress his children,
And its hand shall make a signal of his distress,
65. Zophar believing himself inspired, makes his reply first to Job's objection to his
former address, xn. 6. L. 4G1 to 463. He urges all the considerations arising from their
sure destruction before or by their death, and supports his position by further quotations
from reverend sayings well known to the initiated or learned.

38
CHAP. XX.
Whilst his bones are full of his youth,
It shall go to rest with him under the earth." 860
12. " For wickedness being sweet in his mouth,
He will surely hide it under the words of his tongue ;
He will not spare it nor let it alone,
He will fill his mouth with it, but it cannot help him."(66)
" In his belly the venom of asps will be his meat,
Though he hath filled it with swallowed riches ;(87)
For he shall vomit them up again,
And God shall cause them to be dragged forth."
" He may suck the poison from the head of the asp,
But at last the tongue of the viper will slay him.(68) 870
17. " He shall not see the streams of milk from his kine,
Nor the rolling up of his honey and his butter ;
That which he obtained with such labor he shall restore,
And of all his riches he shall not enjoy a taste."
" In proportion to his riches shall be the restitution,
And he shall not at all be left to rejoice."
Because he hath crushed the poor and forsaken them,
Because he hath violently plundered dwellings and cast them down.
20. Surely he shall not enjoy what he hath swallowed,
And all of that he sought for shall not save him ; 880
Of all that he hath, nothing shall remain with him,
And none of his good things shall in any wise return to him.
" In the fulness of his boasting he shall be afflicted,
And every kind of distress shall fall upon him.''
23. Now " if he undertakes to fill himself with food,
The wrath of fiery indignation shall smite him,
And angry rain shall beat down upon him continually."
66. Hypocrisy nor honeyed words will not save him.
67. His wealth itself shall be a source of disquietude and anguish.
68. Though he guard himself against poison by hardening himself gradually to its
effects, it shall not prevent his destruction.

39
CHAP. XXI.
" From weapons of iron he may flee away,
But brass from the bow of steel shall pass through him.
The sword too shall come forth from its scabbard, 890
It will glitter against him with bitterness of hate ;"
" Terrors shall stalk after him,
And darkness overtake him in lonely places."
" A fire that no man kindleth shall devour him,"
And " his guest shall turn against those in his dwelling."(69)
" The heaven shall disclose his iniquity,
The earth will rise up against him,"
" The offspring of his house shall come to an end,
And his all shall flow away in the day of his destruction."
29. This is the portion from God to a wicked man, 900
This is his inheritance decreed by the Master of all.
Job begs of his friends to review and consider his whole
case.
XXI. 1. Then Job answered, saying,
2. Hear, hear my words, and comprehend my consolations,
Hear me discourse, and then, if you will, deride me.
4. What ! do I address my complaints to men 1
Then indeed should I leave just cause for indignation K70)
Ah ! look upon me with wild amazement,
And lay your hands mournfully upon your cheeks/71)
For as often as I remember I shudder,
And a trembling taketh hold of my poor flesh.
69. To dishonor or corrupt them.
70. He only asked relief from God, believing and admitting his affliction to be from
Him. 71. As they were amazed at his boldness and mourned his perverseness and obstinacy,
he urges them to consider calmly all the circumstances and gaze "mournfully" upon
him, for even his own contemplation was a cause of shuddering to him, so great had
been his afflictions and burdens of sorrow.

40
CHAP. XXI.
He makes a clear argument to show that prosperity and
adversity follow no rule but God's special will.
7. But why do the wicked live happy and grow old ? 910
Yea, why are they strengthened with vast possessions ?
Their seed flourisheth in their own sight and presence,
Their descendants multiply before their eyes ;
Their houses are in peace without fear or anxiety,
They themselves feel not the scourge of God upon them ;
Their cattle conceive and fail not to increase,
They bring forth in due time, and cast not their young ;
Their little ones gather together as a flock,
Their children go forth leaping for joy.
They arise at the sound of the tabret and harp, 920
And they merrily dance to the sound of the pipes.
Then, having spent a life of festivity and mirth,
They descend quietly to the peaceful grave.
Therefore do they say to God, " Depart from us !
For we desire not a knowledge of Thy ways !
Who is the Almighty that we should worship Him ?
And how is it profitable to us to wait upon Him in prayer ?"(72)
16. But lo, their prosperity was not by their own hand,
And far be their counsels of action from me !
17. For how oft is the lamp of the wicked extinguished ? 930
How often destruction and wrath violently overthrow them ?
How oft are they as chaff before the wind,
Or as stubble which the whirlwind beareth away ?
God indeed may lay up punishment for his children,
But ought He not to recompense his sins upon himself?
72. Having shown that sometimes the wicked continue peaceful to the end of a pros-
pcrous life, he claims that God conferred upon them" that prosperity, but disclaims any
desire to purchase his peace by following their example ; and admits that often they
perish miserably. Yet, though they suddenly perish, he contends that they ought (if his
friends' theory were true) to witness their total ruin, and each see the destruction even
of his children.

41
CHAP. XXI.
So that his own eyes may witness his own destruction,
And he himself drink of the poison of the Almighty ?
For what is it to him what befalleth his family after him,
After the number of his months is all drawn out ?
22. But shall any one now teach wisdom to God, . 940
Or show Him how He ought to judge those that are lifted up ?
23. One shall die in his strength hale and hearty,
Having all his life enjoyed prosperity and happiness !
His bowels are clothed with fatness,
His bones are filled with juicy marrow !
Another dieth in bitterness of suffering,
And hath never enjoyed any good things.
But both of these are equally composed in the dust,
And worms shall cover and dwell with them both .'(73)
27. Behold ! I know your thoughts and what you will say, 950
And the unjust accusations you will bring against me.(74)
You will say, " Where is the house of him that was so great ?
Where are the tents that covered the wicked ?"
Ye will have asked those who travel the highways !
Ye will have consulted the monuments and not missed any.
Saying, " The wicked is reserved to the day of his destruction,
He shall be brought forth for punishment in his time."
31. But who hath reproved him on account of his life 1
And who shall repay him for what he hath done ?
Behold, he hath been brought to the grave with pomp, 960
And he hath caused a watch to be kept over his tomb !
73. Job will not undertake to be as wise as God, and explain these discrepancies— he
only insists that they exist.
74. He then objects to their classing him among the wicked because of his misfortunes,
or to their claiming that punishment will at some time pursue and overtake the wicked
who yet are prosperous, for many have gone down to the grave honored and splendidly
followed, and repose in beautiful tombs, built of polished stones. Their power, unex
hausted by death, even provides watches for the preservation of their mortal remains.

42
CHAP. XXII.
The stones from the torrent have been beautified for him,
And as many as went before him have followed his funeral/76)
34. How vainly then do you undertake to comfort me,
When thus your answer is shown to be false K76)
Eliphaz brings accusations against Job.
XXH. 1. Thereupon Eliphaz the Temanite answered, saying again,
2. Can a man, then, be profitable to God,
As a prudent man may be profitable to himself?
Can it be a pleasure to the Almighty if thy works are just ?
Or a gain to Him that thou canst be found walking straight ?
Will He through fear of thee enter into a controversy ? 970
Or will He carry it to an end in a trial and judgment ?
Is not thy wickedness already sufficiently great ?
Or wouldst thou render thine iniquities infinite ?(77)
6. Hast thou not taken a pledge without cause from thy brother,
Or stripped from the naked their last garment ?
Hast thou not withheld drinks of water from the weary,
Or robbed from the hungry even the morsel they had left ?
Hast thou not suffered the strong-armed to seize the land,
Or allowed the influential to hold it and dwell upon it ?
Hast thou not sent away the widow empty, 980
Or broken down the defences of the orphans ?
That therefore thou hast been beset on all sides with snares,
And because of a sudden fear thou hast been troubled ;
75. As many as were his servants or attendants in life, followed him to the tomb.
76. As then the whole argument of the friends was founded on this falsity, he cannot
be instructed by it, nor can they be comforters to him.
It will be observed that the argument of the three friends now assumes a diflerent
course, endeavoring to prove Job guilty by particular charges against him, thus -ending
where they ought to have begun.
77. Eliphaz claims that Job could not be profitable to God, and that therefore Job's
boldness in pleading before Him was useless and impious.

43
CHAP. XXII.
Yea, thy light hath become darkness, and thou seest not,
And a violent flood of afflictive waters hath overwhelmed thee K78)
12. Now doth not He who dwelleth on high observe 1
Now also hath He not lifted Himself above the loftiest K79)
And sayest thou then, " What doth God know ?
" Can He judge through the cloudy darkness ?
" He is enclosed with a covering of thick clouds, and seeth not us, 990
" Though He walketh about the whole circuit of the heavens."
15. Hast thou carefully observed the ancient track,
Which wicked men have continually traversed ?
Who were therefore cut down before the end of their time,
And their foundations overthrown by a flowing flood of fire ?
Because they said to God, " Depart from us,"
And to the Almighty, " What canst Thou perform for us ?"
(Though He filled their houses with good things,
The counsel of the wicked shall be ever far from me.)
But the righteous hath seen it and rejoiced, 1000
The innocent too will laugh them to scorn.
For surely their substance was wasted away,
And a fire from heaven consumed the residue/80'
Eliphaz quotes higher authority, and promises prosperity
for J<~J>'s r«peniamie.
%\. 1 cr" UCO -thy-sen vc ixod. and thou shalt be wi, peace,
And thereupon thou shalt receive abundant good ;
78. He then accuses Job of having committed some crime such as he mentions, going
over in effect the principal crimes of that state of society, and attributing to that cause
his destruction.
79. Eliphaz chooses to think Job believes God does not see iniquities, since he claims
that He does not visibly punish them. He therefore puts sayings in Job's mouth which
he never used, but which Eliphaz believed to be consequent to tbe sentiments Job ex
pressed. 80. He warns him of the fate of the wicked, as having occurred in a well known in
stance, whose fame was unobscuredby time and nearness of position, the overwhelming
overthrow ofthe Cities ofthe Plain.

44.
CHAP. XXIII.
Hear, I pray thee, from His mouth what is required,
And treasure up His words in thy own heart/81)
" If thou return to the Almighty thou wilt be rebuilt,
" And iniquity shall be driven far away from thy dwelling.
" Thou wilt then lay up gold as earth, 1010
" And that of Ophir as stones of the torrent,"
For the Almighty will then be to thee a treasure,
And His strength will be to thee the pure silver.
Then indeed thou shalt have delight in the Almighty,
And shalt cheerfully look up to thy God.
Thou wilt then pray to Him and He will hear thee,
And the vows thou mayst render will be accepted ;
Whatsoever shall be purposed by thee shall be accomplished,
Wherever thou mayst go, His light will illuminate thy pathway.
For " Whosoever shall be humbled, will be exalted, 1020
" And he that shall be very lowly will be saved in a secure place."
He will indeed save the innocent in their security,
And thou too shalt be saved if thy hands be but pure.
Job again sets forth his desire to be tried by God, his
hopes and his fears.
XXIII. 1. In reply to this Job said,
2. Even yet my complaints continue to be bitter,
For my hand is unable to remove my groaning ;(82)
0 that I might know where I might find Him,
0 that I might come even unto His throne !
0 that I might arrange my cause in His presence,
Then would 1 fill my mouth with pleading !
81. The quotations are here professedly from the very words of God, handed down in
sacred records to the priests. He hopes this high authority will induce Job to surrender
himself to God as a guilty man, and urges it with promises of his own.
82. His own power or wisdom cannot remove his disease or relieve his pain. Therefore
he still appeals to the Almighty, and asks not help of man. Indeed he desires to be per
mitted to plead before God, because he believes Him to be a merciful Judge. Eut God
will not make His presence known to him, and he is obliged to sustain his affliction with
out the visible or conscious presence or communion ofthe Almighty. Still his confidence
increases that ultimate good will arise from his trial, not only to himself but to others.

45
CHAP. XXIV.
Then I would know in what manner He would answer me, 1030
And I would comprehend what He would convey to me.
Though He might oppose me with His great power,
He would not overwhelm me by its exercise ;
For there the righteous may present their case before Him,
And there should I be forever released by my Judge.
But behold ! if I go forward I find Him not,
If I turn backward I shall not perceive Him,
To the left hand, where He worketh I cannot find Him,
And to the right — He may encompass me, but I cannot discern Him.
But He knoweth completely the way I have taken, 1040
He puts me to the test, He tries me as gold ;
I shall come forth pure, for my foot standeth in His path,
I have kept His ways, and have not turned from them.
Neither have I turned aside from the injunctions of His lips,
For I have treasured up His words more than my food.
13. But he is a One, and who can oppose Him K83)
Whatsoever His soul willeth, that doeth He ;
So He accomplisheth His decree in my case,
And many other like things He performeth.
Therefore I am alarmed by His manifestation, 1050
And when I consider all these attentively I am afraid of Him.
For God indeed hath made my heart soft,
And the Almighty maketh me shudder with fear.
O why was I not cut off before this darkness fell upon me ?
Or why did He cover my face with the thick darkness ?
Having restated his position, he continues his former
argument, that God does not visibly punish the wicked.
XXIV. 1. Now why, if fixed times to judge are gbserved by the
Almighty,
Why do not they that know Him witness those days ?
83. Having expressed hie hope, his fear again predominates. He knows not God's pur
pose but is sure it will be accomplished ; so he cannot but wish he had never been
subjected to the trial.

46
CHAP. XXIV.
2. There are those who remove landmarks,
Who violently bear off flocks and feed upon them ;
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, 1060
They seize upon the widow's ox as a pledge ;
They have obstructed the way of the feeble,
They have obliged the poor of the earth to hide themselves.
Others go forth to their work, as wild asses to the desert,
By rising early they go forth to plunder/84)
So even a wilderness yieldeth bread to them,
And a desert waste maintains their children.
They make others cut down fields of corn for them,
And strip the vineyard of him whom they have overcome ;
They have caused the naked to sleep without a covering, 1070
Even those who are without a shelter from the cold ;
They leave them to be wet with the dew of the mountain,
And to cluster by a rock because they have not a cover.
9. There are those who tear the fatherless from the bosom,
Who grasp at the last garment of the poor man ;
Then having made them go naked for want of clothing,
They rob them, though famishing, of a few ears of corn ;
Entrapping some unjustly, they make them press out their oil,
And when treading out their wine presses leave them to thirst ;
So also from the city they make groaning go forth, 1080
And the souls of the afflicted make a loud lamentation.
12i. Yet God doth not call these to account !
Though they are of those who resist even His light !
Who regard not the ways upon which it shines,
Nor remain even in the paths which lead to it !
So the murderer before the dawn falls upon the poor and needy,
So in the night the thief pursues his avocation ;
84. Without regard to the control of law or of lawmakers, they obtain in a barren
country their support ample as the spoils of wealth can furnish. They even make slaves
of those they rob. As this paragraph details the crimes of powerful men in the country,
so the next one relates the oppression incident to city life in that region and time.

47
CHAP. XXV.
The eye also of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight,
And secreting his face he says, " No eye shall witness me."
So they steal into houses in the darkness of night, 1090
But in the day time they shut themselves away ;
So they seek no acquaintance with the light,
So even the dawn is to them as a shadow of death,
And the light itself is as a terror of the blackest darkness.
18. Such should be tossed as foam on the waves,
Their possessions should be cursed, their vineyards desolated86)
As drought and summer heat grasp away the snow waters,
So ought death to swallow up all these sinners.
" So ought the womb that bore him to forget him,
So ought worms to feed sweetly upon him ; 1100
He should be blotted out from all remembrance,
He should be broken off like a tree in the midst of his offences.''
And such too should have barren and childless wives,
Neither should any go in to benefit their widows —
But these tyrants possess their powerful strength,
They recover when even themselves despaired of life ;
God grants them security, and supports their existence,
Although He doth constantly observe their manner of life ;
Till at last they fall away by a sudden stroke ;
Like others they perish and are enclosed in the tomb. 1110
They are cut off as the tops of ripe ears of grain,
They are gathered in fulness and laid carefully away.
25. Now if this be not so, convict me of falsehood,
And so set at naught all the words I have spoken before God.
85. According to your theory, Job says, these iniquities should be punished. If God
had fixed times of judgment, some one should be able to perceive when they transpire.
If He punishes iniquity these ought not to escape. Yet it is evident they do escape all
punishment before the eyes of beholders and seem at least to be prosperous and happ" -
the end of -.heir being. D

48
CHAP. XXVI.
Baldad now rests on the imperfection of every creature of
God, as disproving Job's claim to be innocent.
XXV. 1. Then answered Baldad the Sauchean, saying,
2. Dominion and majesty are on His side,
He causeth peace to prevail in His high places !
Is there any limit to the strength of His armies 1
And upon whom hath not His light arisen 1
4. But how can man be justified before God 1
Or how can he be clean who is born of woman ?(86) 1120
Behold, " even the moon shineth not always,
And the stars remain not pure in His sight !"
How much less then man, who is corruption,
How much less the son of man, who is but a worm !
Job admits this, but considers it as irrelevant to his
argument.
XXVI. 1. But Job replied thus,
2. How dost thou here help him that is without power 1
How dost thou lift up the arm of him that hath not strength 1
How dost thou give counsel to the unwise 1
For truly thou hast plentifully declared what all confess !
For whom then didst thou utter thy discourse ?
And whose spirit was poured forth by thee 1 1130
He enlarges upon the omnipotence of God, and man's
inability to comprehend His motives or plans.
5. Behold, giants tremble beneath the waters,
And so also do all the inhabitants thereof;
The abodes of the dead are naked before Him,
Neither doth any destruction make a covering from Him ;
86. Woman being, compared with man, unclean, and her state being unclean, (in a cer
emonial view) at the time or man's birth, how can the man be purer than she from whom
he came ?
It should be remembered that these ceremonial regulations did not originate with
Moses or in his day, but that they were only then made binding on his followers. Gene
sis contains many allusions to them, and modern researches into Egyptian antiquity
have proved their existence in the religious system of that people.

49
CHAP. XXVII.
He it is who hath stretched the north over emptiness,
And hanged the earth itself upon a void.
He bindeth up waters in His cloud,
And the cloud retaineth them and is not rent.(87)
He withholdeth from our sight the face of His throne,
The heavens are hidden by the spread of His clpud ; 1140
He hath encompassed the waters with firm bounds,
Even where light and darkness commingle and end.
The pillars of the heavens tremble by his power,
And at His rebuke they break with consternation ;
By His power He smootheth the sea when it is tossed,
And by His knowledge the proud upliftings are stricken down.
By His spirit the heavens are adorned with order,
And by His hand the brightest constellation was shaped.
14. Behold, these are but part of His ways !
rlow small is the portion we have heard whispered of Him ! 1150
Now who can understand the strength of His might,
Who knoweth when He will speak with the thunder of His voice !
Maintaining his innocence, he argues that he cannot be a
hypocrite.
XXVII. 1. Moreover Job continued, taking up again his oration,
2. As God liveth who hath reserved my judgment,
Even the Almighty who hath embittered my life,
So long as breath remains in me,
And the spirit from God continues in my nostrils,
My lips shall not set forth wickedness,
Neither shall my tongue utter a lie. t88)
God forbid that I should justify your judgment,
For till I die I will not part from my integrity. 1160
I will hold fast my righteousness, I will not let that go,
And my heart shall not reproach me till I end my days.
87. An allusion to the skin bottles used in that day to hold liquids.
88. He will not confess sins he is unconscious of having committed, and not only uncon
scious of but confident he is guiltless of. .

50
CHAP, xx vn.
7. Then let mine enemy be overthrown as ungodly,
And he that riseth against me be destroyed as unrighteous.
For what is the hope of a hypocrite that he will persist ?
What will he have gained when God taketh away his soul 1
Will God hear his supplication at the last ?
Or listen to his complaint when trouble cometh to him ?
Will he continue to appear to delight himself in the Almighty ?
Will he continue always to call upon his God ? 1170
11. Thus will I teach you, though I am in the hand of God,
And what I have received from the Almighty I will not conceal/89)
Behold it ! you all yourselves have seen it !
Why then will you thus heap vanity on vanities ?
Zophar embodying the popular opinion draws a picture
of Job as he was, showing that in him had been
realized the fate due to all oppressors.
0. Zophar the'Mininian answered, saying,
13. This is the portion of a wicked man from God,
This is the inheritance oppressors shall receive from the Almighty.
14. " If the multitude of his children increase, they are for a sword,
And his offspring shall not fill themselves with bread.
Those who survive him shall be destroyed by sudden death,
And the widows they may leave shall not weep for them." 1180
" Though he pile up silver as the dust,
And lay aside raiment as if it were clay,
Let him store it, for the righteous shall put it on,
And the innocent shall receive the silver themselves."
" Though he build his house as that of a moth,
Though he secure it as a booth made for a keeper,*
89. He does not deny that God afflicts him, but claims that he has shown that such
affliction Is not inconsistent with innocency or God's Wisdom and Providence.
* Paraphrase:
Though he build his house without a door or a window, 1185
Though he secure it as a prison made for a jailor's use. 1186

51
CHAP. XXIX.
The rich man lies down in it, but shall not increase,
He will open his eyes, but all will have vanished ;"
" Sorrows will flow in upon him like floods of waters
In a night a tempest shall sweep him away ; 1190
A burning wind shall lay hold of him and he must depart,
As a whirlwind it will bring him forth from his place ;"
" A multitude will dash upon him violently without any mercy
Though he would willingly take to flight from it s hand
It shall clasp a clapping of hands upon him,
And it will hiss him away from every beholding place."
Job does not interrupt the regular progress of his argu
ment to reply directly to Zophar, but allows a refuta
tion to eliminate from his history as he relates it.
XXIX. 1. But Job went on with his oration, and taking up the
exordium said,
2. 0 that I might be as in months passed by,
As in the days of the months when God preserved me ;
When over my head His lamp shined brightly,
When by His fight I walked, through the darkness around me ;(90)1200
As I was in the days of my youth,
When God was unobserved in my tabernacle ;(91)
When my offspring were put forth thickly set,
And my servants stood round about me ;
Then my paths abounded in butter,
And out of the rocks flowed to me rivers of oil.
7. Then when I walked early through the city gate,
A seat was placed for me in the way ;
The younger men who saw me withdrew from sight,
The elders arose and stood in my presence ; 1210
90. An allusion to the light or lamp always maintained in the inner chambers of
palaces and temples and tombs, by which his reliance on the light of God's revelation in
his heart was elucidated.
91. Before he was famous as a pious and upright man, as he was afterward generally
confessed lo be, and therefore honored as he goes on to describe.

52
CHAP. XXIX.
Nobles refrained from speech and covered their moutns,
Princes remained silent and kept their tongues close to their throats ;
But the ear when it heard me gave forth to me a blessing,
And the eye when it saw me bore to me a witness ;
For I delivered the poor who cried for help,
I assisted the orphan who had no helper ;
So the blessing of him who had been about to perish was to me,
And so the heart of the widow bounded for joy ;
So was my righteousness put on as a clothing,
So was my justice my robe and my crown. 1220
I was an eye to those who were blind,
My foot was at the service of the lame.
I was a father to all in affliction,
And if I knew not its cause, I diligently searched for it ;
So I brake the jaws ofthe wicked oppressor,
So I tore out the spoil from between his teeth.
18. Then said I, ' I shall die in my nest,
' I shall live long, even as the stock of the palm tree ;
' My roots spread out beside the waters,
' The dews lay every night upon my branches, 1230
' My blossom shall come forth ever fresh,
' And my bending stem renew its fruit to my hand.'^92)
21. Those who heard me speak were attentive,
And receiving my opinion they were silent ;
They did not venture to add to my decision,
But let my decree drop upon them all ;
They waited patiently for it as for rain,
They opened their mouths to receive it as the delayed rain.
If I smiled upon them they hardly believed it,
But if the light of my countenance fell amongst them it was not lost.
92. Observe the perfect beauty of this comparison. The tree ever bearing and ever
blossoming, and even bending with its abundant fruit. The palm-tree lives about 175
years, and sends up numerous suckers which surround it if undisturbed.

53
CHAP. XXX.
For I chose out their way and sat among them as a ruler, 1241
I dwelt among them as a king in the midst of his army,
As a god comforting all who were afflicted. (93)
XXX. 1. But now the younger than I hold me in derision,
Whose fathers were disdained more than the dogs of my flocks ;
The strength of their power was as nothing to me,
Yea, they were unworthy even of destruction ;
For by reason of want and hunger they were desolate as the night,
Having before fled from distress and calamity into the wilderness,
So that they ate grass and gnawed the bark from trees, 1250
And for their meat chewed the roots of junipers.
Against me have risen up thieves with a shout,
Who had been driven forth from the abodes of men,
Who dwell in the clefts by the torrent beds in the valleys,
In cavernous holes in the earth or on the gravelly bed
Where they carouse hideously among the bushes,
And gather themselves amidst the nettles for enjoyment ;
Children of fools, yea, children of the meanest of mankind,
They are viler than the dust of the earth ;
But now I am become the burden of their songs, 1260
Yea, I am become a by-word in their speech.
And they too abhor me and stand off far from me,
And refrain not even to spit before my face/94)
11. Because He hath let go His string and afflicted me,
They have cast off the curb I made for them by my presence.*
93. He stood even between men and God, and as a god comforted men. So great was
his power and influence, that he might easily have placed himself higher in their estima
tion than were the gods some worshipped.
64. Even yet in the Orient ibis is regarded as the greatest indfgnity and insult, as a
mark of extreme contempt. * Paraphrase :
Because God hath shot into me arrows of affliction, 1284
Those wretches despise my presence and cast off all restraint. 1266

54
CHAP. XXX.
12. Upon my right hand arise these youth, and planting their feet
before me,
They vindicate by my calamities their destructive ways.(95)
Thus all have overwhelmed my paths and shown my misfortunes,
And they that had no helper prevail against me ;
They have rushed in upon me, as when a wall is broken down, 1270
They have rolled down upon my desolation through the opened passage.
Terrors pursue me, and as a wind carry away my hope, [naught.
And my prosperity having passed away as a cloud, I am brought to
16. And now my soul melts away within me,
And days of affliction seizing me bear me down ;
Even in the season of darkness my bones are pierced,
And the feeding upon my sinews taketh no rest.
By the force of my disease the fullness of my garment is changed,
So that it girdeth me about even as the collar of my vesture.
Thus I am cast down into the mire like dirt, 1280
And I have dust and ashes for my inheritance.
I cry unto Thee, 0 God, and Thou hearest me not,
I stand up before Thee, and Thou regardest me not ;
Thou art turned most cruelly toward me,
And with Thy strong hand Thou comest upon me unmercifully.
Thou didst lift me up and set me on high, as it were by a wind,
And Thou hast dashed me down with great violence and broken me.(96)
23. I know that Thou wilt deliver me up to death,
For the earth has a house appointed for all that live ;
But 0, that I might now put forth my hand against myself, 1290
Or cry loudly to another to destroy my life K97)
95. Instead of railing against him as the three friends had done, xxi. 28, L. 952 to 957,
they would claim that righieousness had no reward, and that wickedness was more prof
itable to a man ; and thus both parties added to his sorrows though they conflicted with
each other's views.
96. Job describes his present state as most pitiable, and declares that though his eleva
tion was great and rapid, his fall was more sudden and complete.
97. Once more Job expresses his desire that it would be justifiable in him to cause bis
sufferings to end immediately iu death.

55
CHAP. XXXI.
He sets forth the suddenness and nature of the change he
had experienced.
25. As for me in my former state I wept for him who was in trouble,
And my soul sighed within me when I saw a man in distress —
Yet when I looked for good things evil came upon me,
When I waited for the morning light thick darkness came around ma
Then my bowels boiled continually and could not rest,
Then days of affliction prevented my repose ;
I went on mourning without regarding the sun,
I stood before the multitude and wept aloud ;
I am become a brother to jackals and birds of the night, 1300
To howling animals I am a companion by the wayside.
My skin is blackened by my exposure,
And the heat drieth up the bones within me.
My kithara is turned to a mourning sound,
And my pipes to a wailing song for myself.
He now completes his answer to Zophar 's argument, and to
all assertions that he deserved this punishment he replies
by asseverating his innocence, and imprecating
greater evil and disgrace upon himself if
he speaks untruly.
XXXI. 1. I made a covenant upon my eyes,
That they should not even gaze upon a virgin —
Yet what hath God apportioned me from above,
What hath been my inheritance of the Almighty from on high 1
3. So destruction is not to the wicked alone, 1310
Nor banishment for the workers of iniquity only j
For doth He not see all my paths 1
Hath He not counted all my steps 1
5. Now if I have walked in ways of folly,1
If my feet have pursued deceitful courses —
Then let Him weigh me in even balances,
And let God know me according to my integrity.

56
CHAP. XXXI.
7. If my steps have departed from the way,
If my heart has followed after my eyes,
H any unclean reward has clung fast to my hands* — 1320
Then let me sow and let another eat,
Yea, let all that proceedeth from me be rooted out.(98)
9. If my heart hath been seduced by a woman,
Or if I have laid waiting for one at my friend's gate —
Then let my wife be made to serve another with food,
Let other men lie down upon her at their will.(99)
11. For this is a most heinous crime in any,
Yea, it is a grievous iniquity, and forjudges to punish ;
For it kindleth a fire which destroys every part of a man,
Which rooteth up all that hath sprung from him. 1330
13. If I despised the cause of my servants,
When my men or my maids had controversies with me—
Then what shall I do when God arises to judge 1
When He calleth upon me what answer can I make ?
For He who formed me in the womb formed them also,
And were we not there all fashioned alike
16. If then I have denied to the poor their heart's necessity,
Or if I have caused the widow's eyes to dim with tears ;
If I have eaten my portion alone,
If the fatherless hath not also partaken of it ; 1340
(Indeed from my youth as a father I brought him up,
And from my mother's lap I smoothed the path for the widow ;)
98. i. e., AU my descendants, or productions of every kind.
99. Women being secluded from the assemblies and general society of men in the
Orient, great freedom of expression upon subjects others regard as delicate has and does
prevail there. * Paraphrase:
If I have turned aside from the path of justice, 1818
If I have coveted what I have seen possessed by others,
If I have allowed any kind ofa bribe to influence my awards,
Let me be punished by the loss of all my possessions,
Even my children and the children of them all. 1822

57
CHAP. XXXI.
If I have looked upon the naked and perishing,
If I have seen any poor ones without a shelter,
And the fruit of their loins have not blessed me,
And themselves have not been warmed by the fleeces of my flocks 
If I have lifted my hand against the fatherless,
Because I saw my servants around me in the court, —
Let my shoulder-blade be dislocated,
Let my arm be broken in every bone. 1350
But no ! the power of God always restrained me,
And the knowledge of His greatness overbore the temptation.
Having declared his freedom from outward sin, he now
sets forth the purity of his heart.
24. If I have declared my hope to be wealth,
Or have said to the pure gold, ' Thou art my confidence ;' —
If I have rejoiced over my wealth because of its greatness,
Or exulted in my hand as if that had obtained it all ; —
If beholding the sun as it shone brilliantly,
Or the moon as it walked in its radiant brightness.
My heart hath been enticed secretly to give them gloryj
And my hand hath been raised to meet my lips — (10°) 1360
This also is an iniquity for my Judge to punish,
For it is a denial of the omnipresence of the Most High God.
29. H I have rejoiced at the destruction of my enemy.
Or have lifted up my heart because evil overtook him ;
Then would I have allowed my tongue to give forth sin,
Then would mine ear have earned a curse for my soul.
31. Never did the servants of my household say in my dwelling,
" 0 that we had of his flesh meat, for we do not have enough ;"
Indeed the stranger even did not lodge in the street,
For I opened my doors to those who passed along the way. 1370
100. The Sabean method of worshiping the heavenly host.

58
CHAP. XXXII.
33. If after the manner of some I concealed sin,
And hid away iniquity in my bosom ; —
If I feared either a great multitude,
Or was apprehensive of the contempt of kinsmen,
So that I preferred to hold my peace,
And did not let the knowledge of it go forth from my door —
Then indeed why should I be heard with patience 1
Why should the Almighty grant my desire 1
35i. 0 that my opponent would write me in a book/101)
That I might bear it on my shoulder or wear it as a crown ! 1380
Every step I have numbered should be declared to him,
And as a prince I would go boldly into his presence.
38. For even if my land hath ever cried out against me,
Or the furrows of it joined together to weep — •
If I have consumed its fruits without return,
Or have wasted the lives of the sons of the soil — CUB)
Let nettles grow up for me instead of wheat,
Let bramble bushes prevail more than barley 1388
The dialogue or argument being concluded by the discom
fiture of the three friends, a new speaker is introduced.
XXXII. 1. Here Job ended his oration, and so these three men,
friends of Job, ceased from reply, because he was vindicated, and ap
peared righteous.
Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite
of the tribe of Ram, and of the country of Uz ; against Job was his
wrath inflamed, because he maintained himself righteous before God
and against the three friends of Job he increased his wrath because
though they had condemned Job they, answered not his defence.
4. Now Elihu had waited during all the speaking of Job because
they were his elders, but when he saw there was no answer in the
mouth of the three, he was fired with indignation.
101. His opponent before God.
102. Fruit-trees are properly the " Sons ofthe Soil."

59
CHAP. xxxn.
The speech of Elihu. . . Elihu introduces himself.
6. And so Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, saying/193)
61. I am of a few days,
But ye are very old, — 1390
Therefore I hung down my head before you,
And was afraid to declare my opinion ;
For I said, "Days should speak enough,
And many years should be able to teach wisely.",
8. But I see plainly there is a spirit in men
And it is the inspiration of the Supreme Ruler which confers wisdom.
Princes are not always wise men,
Neither doth age always know how to judge.
Therefore have I said, ' I will speak;'
' Hearken to me and I also will declare my opinion.' 1400
11. For, behold ! I waited upon your words,
I gave my ears to understand your reasons,
Whilst you searched out words to continue the discourse ;
Yea, I attended to you though you convinced him not,
For none answered effectually his arguments.
But you shall not say, " We have discovered wisdom,"
And, " God thrusteth him down to affliction, not man."(104)
14. Now as he did not direct his words against me,
I will not make reply to him in your words.
He apologizes to Job, and proposes a plan of discussion.
15. They had yielded and they answered no more/106) 1410
They gave up even the speeches they had made ;
I have waited for them, but they persist in silence,
They stand still and they have not a word to say.
103. This part is addressed to the three friends.
104. You are not to be allowed to say Job was right, and so accept his solution of the
occasion of his calamities as the true one.
105. Elihu having rebuked the three wise men, the princes, now addresses Job, and
declares his reasons for appearing in the controversy, and sets forth his ideas of the pro
per way to conduct it.

60
CHAP. XXXIII.
Therefore I will now answer on my part,
And I will even bring out my own opinion.
For I am more than full of speaking matter,
The spirit of my inwards constrains me to speak ;
For behold ! my feelings are as wine unopened,
I am full as are new vessels ready to burst;
So I must speak in order that I may breathe freely, 1420
I must open my lips and render forth an answer.
But I shall not swerve from truth for any one,
Neither shall I undertake to flatter any human being :
For I am not used to give flattering titles as honors,
And if I should, I would soon be removed from my God.
XXXni. 1. Hear then, 0 Job, hear thou my discourse,
And listen very attentively to all my words.
Behold ! now that I have opened my mouth,
My tongue will give utterance to my inmost thought ;
For my speech shall be from the purity of my heart, 1430
And my lips will declare my sincere opinions.
Because the Spirit of God influences my speech,
And inspiration from the Almighty impels me to speak.
5. Answer me now, if thou art able to do so,
Place thyself in order before me, and let us face each other ;
Behold, here according to thy wish I appear in the place of God,
And I also am formed out of the clay as thou art;
Therefore fear of me will not overwhelm thee,
Neither will this, my hand, be heavy upon thee.d"6)
Elihu makes reply to Job's assertions and speeches in
God's name.
8. Now truly thou didst say in my hearing. 1440
For I heard the sound of these very words,O07)
106. Elihu retorts upon Job some of his expressions: as L. 709 and 710, L. 715 and 716
L. 360 to 367, L. 642 and 543. '
1°7. See for 1st verse, L. 378 and 379, 701 and 702, 1042 to 1045.
" for 2nd verse, L. 548 and 549, L. 803.
" for 3rd verse, L. 554 and 555, L. 589 and 590, 1312 and 1313.

61
CHAP, xxxin.
"I am pure and without transgression, I am free from guilt;
" Neither will any iniquity be found in me :
"Behold ! He hath sought out occasion against me;
" And He hath accounted me wicked as His enemy:
" He hath placed on my feet indented sandals,
" So that all my paths have been marked to His view."
Behold ! it is this in which thou art not justified,
And to this I shall answer, ' God is far greater than mortal man.'
13. Why then dost thou contend against Him, 1450
And insist that He shall render an account to thee 1
14. But God hath often spoken to man,(i°8)
And yet men do not regard it.
Sometimes in dreams or visions of the night time,
Whilst in deep sleep slumbering upon the bed,
He opens wide the ears of men,
He rouses them by instructions ;
That He may entice away a man from his performance,
That his pride may be hidden from himself.
So he keeps back his soul from the abode of the dead, 1460
So his life shall be saved from the power of the wielded sword.
19. Also he is chastened with pain in his bed,
And his bones shall every one of them ache.U09)
So that his taste shall abhor the bread necessary to life,
And his soul shall refuse the meat it desired ;
His flesh becometh rotten, and even wasteth entirely away,
His bones become visible where they had never been seen ;
Yea, his soul will draw near to the mansion of the dead,
And his life will seem to be in the grasp of the destroying disease ;
But if there shall be a messenger to speak for him, 1470
Though but one of a thousand shall declare his uprightness ;(110)
108. The spiritual nature of God's instructions set forth.
109. Next the harmony and the mercifulness of afflictive dispensations is shown.
110. Though but a single good work should have been performed by him, God is ready
to accept it as a ransom if pleaded by His chosen officer, or messenger, or angel.

62
CHAP. XXXIV.
Then will He be gracious unto him, and say,
'Save him from descending to the lowest depth,
' For I have found a ransom that I may be merciful.'
Then will his flesh be fattened as a child's,
He shall seem to return to the days of his youth ;
He shall pray to God and give thanks to Him,
He shall let his face be seen to be joyful,
And unto all men will he show forth the justice of God.
He will look around upon men and will say, 1480
' I have sinned indeed and I have greatly offended,
Truly indeed I have been chastened equal to my desert.'
So his soul will be delivered from going down forever,
So shall he live, and so still witness the light.
29. Lo ! all these afflictions will come upon man,
Yea, God worketh them time and time again ;
To deliver his soul from going down forever,
So that it may be enlightened and five in light.
31. Be very attentive, 0 Job ! and hear me,
Keep perfect silence while I speak ; 1490
But if thou hast any thing to urge, make answer ;
Speak thou, for I wish that thou mayst be found upright ;
And if thou hast not any thing to say, then hear me continue,
Hold on to thy silence, and I will teach thee wisdom.
{After a pause, to see if Job would contend against his
opening argument^) Elihu invokes the attention of
the assembly as a jury.
XXXIY. 1. Then furthermore Elihu answering said,
2. Now hear me, 0 ye wise men ;
Give to me your ears, O ye men of understanding ;
For the ear is the trier of words,
Even as the palate is the taster of meats.
Let us take upon ourselves this judgment,
Let us see among ourselves wherein is the right. 1500

63
CHAP. XXXIV.
For Job hath declared, " I am innocent/111)'
" And God hath taken from me my just due ;
" For this judgment upon me is a false one,
" My incurable wound hath pierced me though I have not sinned.
7. And where is there a man like unto Job,
He swalloweth down scorn as if it were water ;
He goeth in the company of workers of iniquity,
He walketh in the paths of wicked men ;
For he hath said also, " A man shall not be profited
" Though he should delight to be with God."(U2) 1510
Therefore, O ye wise men, listen attentively,
And be ye attentive, all ye men of understanding.
10 k. Far be wickedness from our God/113)
Far from the Almighty be iniquity.
For to every man is rendered according to his deeds,
And according to his ways will every man be recompensed.
Yea, for surely God will not commit wickedness,
Neither will the Almighty pervert the rules of justice ;
For whom besides Himself hath He appointed over all 1
And to whom hath He entrusted all that He hath made ? 1520
If He placed upon man His resolution,
He would gather unto Himself again life and breath ;
All flesh would then perish together,
And mankind in a body would return to the dust.
Again addressing Job, Elihu rebukes his boldness, and
affirms that Job is only equal to an humbler man
in the view of the Almighty.
16. If then thou hast wisdom, hear thou this,
Give an attentive ear to the voice of my words ;
111. See L. 207, L. 1153 to 1153, L. 537.
Also for following verse xvi. 17, L. 701 and 702.
112. A perversion of Job's argument, summed up in L. 339 to 346. The expression in
L. 927 is not Job's own, but quoted as that ofthe wicked, and condemned by him in the
following verses.
113. The justice and omniootence of God portrayed. E

64
CHAP. XXXIV.
Shall one who hates the right bind fast ?
And dost thou even condemn Him who is the Most Just 1
Dost thou say to a king, Thou apostate !
Dost thou say to princes, Oh, you ungodly 1 1530
But He accepteth not the persons of rulers,
Nor doth He regard the rich any more than the poor !
For are they not all equally the work of His hands 1
Shall not any of them die in the twinkling of an eye 1
Even at midnight the people shall be troubled and pass away,
The mighty too shall then be taken without hand of men.
For His observation is upon all the ways of mankind,
He has regard for the going forth of all their steps ;
Neither is there any darkness to hide the workers of iniquity,
Nor can they be concealed even in the shadow of death. 1540
Elihu argues that inasmuch as God is omniscient He does
not need to hold a court to try men, and that He is
only accountable to Himself , for His actions,
or want of actions.
23. Therefore He hath no need to search out carefully,
Or bring men to a trial before His tribunal ;
But He abases the mighty without more investigation,
And so He setteth up others to stand in their places.
For He knoweth their works even in the night time,
And so in the darkness they are overwhelmed.
26. At other times He striketh them down as wicked,
Even when they are visible to the sight of others.
Because they turned back from following after Him,
And would not continue to regard every one of His ways. 1550
For they cause the cry of the needy to lift up to Him,
And He heareth the voice of the afflicted.
29. But when He giveth quietness, who can make trouble ?
Or when He hideth away His face, to whom is He visible ?
Whether this be to many nations or a single man,
Whether it be a hypocrite king or a deceived people ?

65
CHAP. XXXV.
Elihu therefore concludes that Job can only find peace
and restoration by humility and resignation; though
for himself he prefers that Job should be
further punished.
31. Surely then it is proper that thou shouldst say to God,
' I have borne inflictions I will not now offend.
' As I do not understand, do Thou teach me,
' And if I have done wrong heretofore I will do so no more.' 1560
For according to thy mind will He recompense.
Choose thou then whether to reject or accept ;
It is for thee to choose and not for me ;
It is for thee to speak, and declare thy mind's will.
But men of understanding assent to my saying,
And wise men receive these words of mine ;
' Job,' they will say, ' hath not spoken carefully,
His words indeed have been without knowledge.'
But it is my desire, 0 Job, that thou mayst be tried to the end,
Because thou hast made answers for the wicked/11*) 1570
Because, adding rebellion to thy other sins,
And clapping thy hands in our presence,
Thou hast multiplied thy speeches against God.
EUhu takes up the objectionable argument he has just
" charged Job with homing used;, and proceeds to
reply to it.
XXXV. 1. Moreover Elihu continued his speech, saying,
2. Thinkest thou this to be right, as thou didst say.
Thou didst say, " I am innocent in the face of God V
And thou saidst, " What advantage is it to me V
And " What profit is it to me more than for sin 1"
Now this is the answer which I make to thee,
To thee and to the friends who are on thy side.
114. Eeferring to Job's argument in xxi, 7 to 15, L. 910 to 927.
5

66
CHAP. XXXVI.
5. Look up to the heavens and consider, — (115) 1580
Look ! even the clouds thou viewest are high above thee ;
If thou dost sin, how wilt thou harm Him 1
If thy transgressions be multiplied, how will He suffer loss 1
Again ! if thou art righteous, what dost thou bestow upon Him 1
Or in what way shall He receive any thing at thy hands 1
Thy wickedness may indeed destroy a man like thyself,
Or thy righteousness be profitable to a son of man.
9. The multitude of men's oppressions maketh them cry aloud;
They exclaim against the powerful arm of a tyrant ;
But no one saith, ' Where is the God who made me, 1590
' Who bestoweth upon me reasons to rejoice even in the night,
' Who giveth us more knowledge than the beasts of the earth,
' Who maketh us to be wiser than the fowls of the air ?'
Therefore let them cry whilst none will give answer,
And even though bad men shall abuse Him, He will not give ear •
God therefore will not hear those vain prayers,
Neither will the Almighty examine into the causes of such men.
So, though thou complainest, thou seest Him not,
Yet judgment is before His face, expect thou His decision.
Even now He doth not come down because of thine anger, 1600
Neither doth He punish thee according to thy offences.*
16. Therefore doth Job open his mouth in folly,
So doth he multiply his addresses without knowledge.
Elihu undertakes to display the great characteristics of
the Almighty.
XXXVI. 1. Again Elihu proceeded and said,
2. Bear with me a little longer that I may convince thee,
For I have yet more to say on behalf of God.
115. He argues that as God cannot be harmed or benefited by man's action, our wick.
edness or righteousness can only affect ourselves and our fellows. That God does not
always listen to the outcries we may make of such injuries, because so many of us often
neglect to thank Him for His blessings. That, as we always complain and never praise,
we do not deserve commiseration. * Paraphrase : [1600
Thine anger hath not yet induced Him to come down to thy perceptions or to thy relief,
Neither hath He yet punished thee sufficiently for thy great offences. 1601

67
CHAP. XXXVI.
I will go over all my knowledge from the beginning,
I will show forth my Maker to be Perfect ;
For indeed my words shall not be false,
And perfection of knowledge shall be shown to thee.C11")
ELBST, HIS JUSTICE.
5. Lo ! God is mighty, yet He doth not despise, 1610
For He is mighty in strength and also in understanding ;
He preserveth not the being of the wicked,
He giveth justice to those who are afflicted ;
He withdraweth not His eyes from watching the righteous,
He placeth them as kings upon their thrones,
He establishes them forever, and they are exalted.
Are any bound in fetters of iron 1
Or held fast by cords in the bondage of poverty 1
Then He showeth them the works they have done,
And the transgressions in which they have exceeded. 1620
He also opens for them their ears to correct them,
He commandeth them that they may turn aside from evil.
If they hear His voice they shall lengthen their days in pleasure,
H they obey Him they shall finish their years in glory.
But if not they shall pass away by the sword,
They shall come to an end in their own blindness.
13. As for the hypocrites whose hearts heap up wrath,
They shall not cry out to Him when they are bound;
Their lives shall perish in a frightful storm,
They shall come to an end in the midst of impurity. 1630
But He will deliver the afflicted from their misery,
After having opened their ears by adversity.
16. So even though the narrow mouth of the abyss hath been opened
for thee,
Thou mayst come to a broad place and be free,
116. This part of Elihu's discourse is arranged with great care. He divides his subject
into parts, and preliminizes an exordium to each, and finally closes by presenting a pic
ture ofthe effect of their combination. It is remarkable that God's Love is passed over ;
sts manifestation as a doctrine, and prominence as an attribute, was reserved for another
velation, another Teacher.

68
CHAP. XXXVI.
Even He would restore thee, and bring thee to fatness,
And so would thy table be covered thereafter.
But if thou wilt persist to fulfil the judgment of the wicked,
Their judgment and justice will take hold as thy sin.
Because of thy wrath will He cast on thee His stroke,
And from that what ransom can turn thee aside 1 1640
Will He care how thou mayst esteem thy wealth,
Thy gold, or all the greatness thou mayst possess 1
20. Desire not, then, that the night may come,
The night, in which the multitudes disappear from their place ;
Take heed, that thou hast not desire for this great sin.
That thou desirest ceasing to five, rather than bear thy affliction.
SECOND GKEAT CHAEACTEKISTIC, HIS FOWEK.
22. Behold ! God is great, exalted by His power,
Among law-givers where is one equal to Him ?
Who hath enjoined upon Him His course of procedure?
Or who dare say to Him, ' Thou hast wrought iniquity V 1650
Kemember that His works should be extolled,
Even beyond what men have seen with admiration ;
Every man may see them for himself,
But every one beholdeth them from very far off.
26. Behold ! God is great, beyond our knowledge ;
Neither can the number of His years be ascertained.
For He maketh even the small drops of water,
And poureth down the rains as floods ;
He collecteth the waters in clouds for rain,
He maketh them a shade for man and for beast. 1660
29. Now who can understand the spreading forth of His clouds,
Or, the crashing sound which rolls over His tabernacle 1
Behold He also spreadeth His light over it,
And He covereth up the roots of the sea.
For thus He giveth judgment upon nations,
And bestoweth food upon multitudes of people,

69
CHAP. XXXVII.
32. Again, in His hands He concealeth the lightning,
And giveth command where it shall be shown again ;
Then the noise thereof declareth its fall,
And sheweth His friend that He possesses it. 1670
But for this knowledge my heart would tremble,
But for this it would be moved violently from its place.
XXXVII. 2. Hear then attentively the terrors of His voice,
The terrible sound of a threat from His mouth ;
He directeth it to all under the whole heaven,
It goeth with His light to the very wings of the earth ;
After the voice roareth He thundereth with the voice of His indignation,
And He will not stay them when He shall cause this voice to be heard.
5. So God thundereth wonderfully with His voice,
Thus He doeth great things beyond our searching out ; 1680
For He saith to the snow, " Upon the earth be thou ;"
So saith He to the shower, and so to the continuing rain.
7. Lo ! He sealeth up the hand of every man,
That every man shall know how far he may work;
Then too the beast shall retire to his covert,
And all life goeth to rest upon beds.
9. Out of the southern chambers cometh the fierce wind,
And the scattering wind of the North produceth cold ;
Which by a breath from the Alrnigbty beareth frost,
And bindeth the face of the broad waters at His pleasure. 1690
11. He wearieth the thick cloud of watering,
He scattereth away the cloud of His splendor ;
So is each thing turned about by His counsel,
That all may do whatsoever He commandeth.
12i. So over the face of all the world of men,
Or in any of the earth He causeth a thing to come
Whether in one tribe, or all His own land,
For a rod of correction, or for mercy, He causeth it to come.

70
chap, xxxvn.
THIKD AND LAST-MENTIONED GREAT CHARACTERISTIC, HIS WISDOM.
14. Hearken unto all this, 0 Job ! and be still, —
Contemplate the wonderful works of God. 1700
Dost thou know how God disposed of all these 1*
How He commanded His light to illuminate the clouds ?
Dost thou even know the placing of those clouds,
Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in wisdom ?
Knowest thou how thy garments grow warm,
How the earth is tranquilized, by the breath of the South ?
Hast thou with Him spread forth the open sky,
Strong, and brilliant as a molten mirror ?
Then teach us what we shall say to Him,t
For by reason of obscurity we cannot compose our sayings ; 1710
Let it not be said to Him that I speak by myself,
For if a man speak, surely he shall be overwhelmed.
Summary of the resulting character, derived from these
qualities.
21. As men cannot bear to view the brilliant light,
When a wind hath passed by and left the sky serene,
And the sun shines resplendent in the heavens ;
So like the golden purple that flashes in the North,J
So God is clothed in unbearable majesty.
The Almighty !— Oh, who can find Him out 1
Excelling in power and in wise judgment,
Inconceivable by us in Hi6 multitudinous righteousness, 1720
He will not uselessly afflict any. * Paraphrase:
Contemplate these manifestations of God's Power thus enumerated, 1700
And see if thou knowest anything of the Wisdom that produced them. 1701
t Paraphrase:
If thou knowest how all these are performed, then teach others, 1709
For to us the way of performance is so obscure we cannot speak of it,
And even in what I have said, I spoke not by my own power, [1712
For if a man speak on these subjects without inspiration he shall surely be overwhelmed.
X The Aurora Borealis.

71
CHAP. XXXVIH.
Men indeed ought therefore to regard Him,
They indeed who are truly wise will reverence Him.
And now was heard the Divine Voice attributed by the
multitude to the personality of God.*
XXXVIII. 1. Then Jehovah responded to Job, speaking from the
circling cloud of air ; saying,
2. Who is this who obscureth my designs,
Who hideth in his heart words, but not knowledge ?
Gird up now thy loins, as thou art a resolute man.
And I will ask of thee, and thou shalt answer me.
The wonders of the Creation, and of inanimate objects
described.
4. Where hast thou been since I laid the earth's foundation i1
Declare it now since thou hast knowledge at heart !
If thou canst answer thereof, who hath laid down its plans ? 1730
Who hath drawn out the measuring line upon it 1
Upon what doth its sockets rest securely 1
Or who hath laid its first corner-stone ?
For then the morning stars sang together,
Then all the sons of God shouted forth joy.
8. Who shut up the sea with great gates,
When it rushed forth, breaking from its womb ;
When I made clouds the mantle thereof,
And misty darkness a swaddling for it ?
When I established my decree for its bound, 1740
And set fast its barriers and its doors ?
Who said to it, ' Thus far, but no farther shalt thou come,
Here shall thy proud swells be broken down ?'
12. Hast thou during thy life ordered the morning,
And pointed out to the dayspring its place of rising ?
Hast thou taken hold the wings of the earth to shake it,
That thereby the wicked may be tossed from evil 1
f As Moses was made God to Pharaoh, Exodus vii. 12, and Manoah and his wife believed
an angel to have been God. Judges xiii. 22, 23.

72
CHAP. XXXVIII.
Hast thou shaped its clay by a seal,*
And stamped its appearance as a vesture ?
Then withdraw from the wicked their splendor, 1750
And break in pieces their uplifted arm !
16. Hast thou penetrated to the source of the sea,
Or walked in search of the depth of the abyss ?
And were the gates of death opened to thy vision,
Or didst thou see the doors of the mansion of the dead 1
Hast thou ascertained the extent of the earth 1
If thou knowest it all, declare it to me !
19. Where then is the light ? which is the way to its dwelling ?
And the darkness — where is the place of its abode 1
Thou canst no doubt guide me to its boundary, 1760
Since thou knowest the paths to its house !
Surely thou knowest it — if thou wast then born !
And as for the number of thy days, are they not many ?
22. Hast thou entered into the snow treasury ?
Hast thou seen the stores of the frozen rain ?
Which I have laid up for a time of scarcity,
Against a day of confusion and conflict?
24. By what means is the lightning divided,
When the eastern tempest breaks over the earth ;
Opening courses for the violent rains, 1770
And marking the way ofthe bolt of the thunder ?
26. In order that it may rain on the earth without man,
In the wilderness wherein a mortal dwelleth not, —
And saturate the deserted and wasted land,
So that the tender budded herb may spring forth, —
Who is father to the rain in its season 1
Who hath begotten the particles of the dew ?
* Paraphrase :
Hast thou molded the face ofthe earth into its present irregularities, 1748
And didst thou imprint upon its surface all these various colors 7 1749

73
CHAP. XXXIX.
29. Out of whose womb came forth ice ?
And who hath engendered the hoar frost in the sky 1
So that the waters are hardened as a stone, 1780
And the face of the deeps is hidden by cold !
31. Canst thou bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades, —
Or canst thou unbind the chains of Orion 1
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season ?
Or guide in their paths the sons of Arcturus 1
Knowest thou the ordinances that govern the constellations 1
Art thou able to arrange their effects upon the earth ?
34. Canst thou lift up thy voice to summon a cloud,
That thou mayst be covered with abundant waters 1
Canst thou send forth the lightning flashes that they will go ? 1790
And will they return to thee and say, ' Behold us here !'
36. Who hath put wisdom in the wandering lights of heaven?
Who has given knowledge of order to the passing star 1
37. Whose was the wisdom to number the clouds,
So that the bottles of heaven remain quiet,
When the dust has been turned into mire by their pouring out,
And the broken clods are again glued together?
The wisdom displayed in the characteristics of various
animals.
FIRST, m PROVIDING FOR THEIR SUSTENTATION.
39. Wilt thou hunt tbe prey for the lioness,
Wilt thou satisfy the wants of the young lions,
When they couch down in their dens, 1800
And lie in wait concealed in their coverts ?
41. Who thus provideth food for the raven,
When his young ones cry unto God for it,
And they wander to and fro because they have it not ?
SECOND, IN PROVIDING FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THEIR VARIOUS KINDS.
XXXIX. 1. Knowest thou where the wild rock-goat bringeth forth ?
Canst thou declare when the hinds drop their fawns ?

74
CHAP. XXXIX.
Canst thou number the months that they fulfil ? with 
Or knowest thou the time when each should bring forth ?
They bow down upon each other that they may bring forth young,
They cast them out and they are deUvered from their sorrows; 1810
Their young ones are strong and go forth to feed,
They go forth boldly and return to them no more.
THTRD, IN STOCKING EVERT PART OF THE EARTH WITH UFE.
5. Who hath sent forth the free wild ass ?
Who hath uuloosed the bands of the wild mule ?
I gave to him the desert for his dwelling place,
And the salted spots for the place of his tabernacle ;
He scorneth the multitudes who throng cities,
He hath not heard the cries of a driver ;
He ranges about the mountains for his pasture,
He searcheth out every green thing. 1820
FOURTH, THEIR INDEPENDENCE OF MEN.
9. Will the rhinoceros willingly serve thee ?
And will he go to his rest in thy stall ?
Canst thou bind him to plow out thy furrows,
Or break up the clods of the valley after that ?
Wilt thou confide in him because of his great strength ?
And wilt thou leave thy labor for him to perform 1
Wilt thou trust him to carry forth thy seed,
And gather the product thereof into thy floor ?
FIFTH, THE NOBUJTT OF THEIR INSTINCTS.
19. Hast thou given to the horse his strength ?
Hast thou mantled his neck with pride ? 1830
Canst thou cause him to bound forward as a grasshopper,*
When the glory of his nostrils is a sound of terrors ?
Pawing in the valley, he rejoices in his courage, —
He rushes impetuously to enter the field of armed men ;
* Properly " a locust" of Arabia, very different from the American animal bearing the
same name.

75
CHAP. XXXIX.
He makes mocking of fear, he is undaunted.
He is not turned back even by the sword ofa king.
Above him shall rattle the quiver and bow,
Against him shall be the shield and the glittering spear ;
Then he swalloweth ground with fierceness and rage,
And waiteth impatiently the sound of the trumpets. 1840
But at the sound of the trumpets he saith " Aha ! aha !"
And he snuffeth the scent of the battle afar off;
He boundeth at the thundering voice of a chieftain,
He plungeth again at the shouting of the army.
The instincts of the feathered tribes display the wisdom
of their Maker.
FIRST, Df THEIR ADAPTATION TO CIRCUMSTANCES.
13. Why is the wing of the ostrich but a plaything,
But the feathers of the stork or the falcon for flight 1
0. Didst thou form the heart of the one with its softness,
Didst thou make him tender toward all of his family 1
Will he fly far away by thy wisdom,
And return again to his haunts by thy prudence ? 1850
14. Behold then the other leaving her eggs on the earth,
Perhaps thou wilt warm them to life in the sand !
She forgetteth that the roving foot may crush them,
And remembereth not that the wild beast may trample them j
She is hardened against them as if they were not hers;
But though regardless of fears, is her labor in vain'?
And though God hath thus silenced feeling within her,
And hath not bestowed upon her understanding,
At a proper time she will lift up her wings on high,
And she will laugh scornfully at the horse and his rider. 1860
SECOND, IN THE SUPERIORITY OF SOME OF THEIR FACULTIES OVER THOSE
OF MEN.
26. Doth the hawk expand his feathers by thy skill, ,
Poising himself aloft to survey the distant South ?

76
CHAP. XL.
Doth the eagle mount upward at the word of thy mouth,
Doth thou direct her to build her nest on the projecting crag ?
There she dwelleth among the rocks and abideth with flints,
There she broodeth upon the inaccessible mountain peak ;
From thence she seeketh her food by rapine,
And her eyes behold it from very far off.
So her young ones also have blood to suck up,
And wheresoever the carcase is, there is she. 1870
The display of power in the formation of animals now
happily extinct.
FIRST, ON LAND.
XL. 15. Come now, look upon the Mammoth which I made,
He feedeth upon the grass around thee like an ox ;
Behold the prodigious strength of his loins,
And the force he hath in the muscles of his belly ;
He erecteth his tail like a cedar tree,
His secret sinews are intertwined with each other ;
His bones are like strong tubes of brass,
His joints are like bosses of iron.
He is the chief of these productions of God,
But He who made him can make a sword to cut him off. 1880
When he goeth up the mountains to feed,
The beasts of the field gambol around him ;
But he reposeth beneath the shade of the lotos,
In the covert of the reeds and in moist places.
And these broad-leaved trees shall increase their shadows over him,
There the willows of the brooks will encompass him.
Behold he drinketh up a rivulet and doth not stop,
He trusteth that even Jordan could be drawn into his mouth.
Who can ensnare him while he hath eyes 1
Who can bore through his nostrils by stealth 1 1890

77
CHAP. XLI. SECOND, IN THE OCEAN.
XLI. 1. Canst thou draw out the Leviathan with a hook,
Or tie his tongue with a cord thou mayst submerge 1
Canst thou put a ring into his nose to lead him 1
Or pierce both his jaws with a thorn to hold him ?CUT>
Will he make to thee many entreaties for fife 1
Will he utter soothing supplications to thee for mercy ?
Will he mate a covenant with thee to serve thee,
Wilt thou be able to take him to be thy slave forever 1
Wilt thou play with him as a bird for the chase,
Wilt thou harness him for the pleasure of thy women 1 1900
Can thy companions make a banquet from bis flesh,
Can he be parceled out to the Phenician traders 1
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons,
Or pierce into his head with thy fish spears ?
Wilt thou indeed dare to lay a hand upon him 1
Then thou wilt remember the battle and do so no more !
Behold ! to hope against him is a vain expectation,
For at a sight of him every one shall be cast down with fear.
If then none are so bold as to dare to arouse him,
Who shall be found able to rise up against Me 1 1910
Who hath bestowed upon Me, that I should return aught to him?
For all that is under the whole heavens is Mine.
12. I will not withhold knowledge of his qualities,
Of his strength, nor of his mighty proportions.
Who can strip off his outer covering ?
Who can enter within his double armor 1
Who can open the doors of his face 1
Around about them are his terrible rows of teeth.
117. The dangerous crocodile is captured by a stick sharpened at each end and thrust
by the hand of a diver between his opened jaws. When he closes his mouth upon it,
he is drawn ashore by a cord attached to the stick thus piercing him. But the Leviathan
is too powerful and terrible for this method of capture. See also v. 14. He is indeed supe
rior to man and to man's art by his powerful strength and strong defences. His very
appearance strikes terror into the hearts ofthe bravest men.

78
CHAP. XLI.
His scales hke to strong pieces of shields are his pride,
They shut themselves close together, as if sealed ; 1920
One of them is so joined to another that air cannot enter,
Adhering so closely and firmly they cannot be parted.
His sneezing maketh a flash of light to shine,
And his eye hath a lustre like the opening of day.
Out of his mouth goeth lamps of light and flakes of fire,
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke as of a fire for seething.
His breath kindleth coals to glowing,
And from his mouth proceedeth a burning flame
In his powerful neck strength dwells secure,
And destruction goeth exultingly before him. 1930
The ribs of his body are compacted together,
Firm in his flesh its abundance cannot be carried away.
His heart is firm, like to a pounding millstone ;
Yea, as hard as an anvil that cannot be moved.
25. When he lifts up himself the heroes fear him^
After his breaking forth they undergo mortification ;
For the sword of him assailing is useless,
Also the lance, the dart, and the coat of mail ;
Then he esteemeth iron as straw-spears,
And brass is to him but as decaying wood ; 1940
The arrow of the steel bow cannot make him turn,
And the stones of the catapult fall to him as stubble ;
The hammers for the battle are counted as chaff,
And at the shaking of the long spear he laughs in scorn.
30. His bed is formed of sharp cornered rocks,
Of rugged things he maketh his couch in the mire ;
He maketh the deep to boil as a seething pot,
The sea he maketh as a pot of stirred ointment ;
He maketh a pathway to shine after him,
He maketh the waters to put on a hoary look ; 1950

CHAP. XLn. & XL.
No one on the earth can equal his power,
No one can meet with him entirely without fear ;
He looketh on all with excessive haughtiness,
For he is a king over every offspring of pride.
Job admits h is ignorance of the decrees of God, but asks
to be instructed in them.
XLII. 1. Then Job answered to Jehovah and said,
2. I know Thou canst do all things whatsoever,
And that no intention of thine can be delayed ;
Who indeed can overcome designs without knowing them ?
Who indeed can understand Thy decrees ?
As therefore I have spoken without understanding,
Of marvellous things which I comprehended not, 1960
Hear Thou me, I beseech Thee, and let me speak,
Let me ask of Thee, and do Thou teach me ;
For I have heard of Thee before by the ear,
But now I perceive Thee plainly by my eye ;
Therefore do I blame myself for my speaking,
And repent of it in humility of heart.
The Voice again heard replying to Job.
XL. 1. Then Jehovah further said to Job,
2. Shall he who contendetb with God be instructed 1
Let him who censures the Almighty answer !
Job completely humbled makes entire submission.
3. Then Job replied again to Jehovah and said,
4. What can I answer ? behold I am a vile man,
I have spoken inconsiderately, I will answer no more. 1970
At one time I spoke what I ought not to have said,
At another I ought to have remained silent before Thee.
The Voice conveys to Job the decision upon his appeal.
6 Then Jehovah spoke to Job out of the circlmg storm, saying,
P

80
CHAP. XLII.
7. Gird up thy loins now like a man of resolution,
And I will make demand of thee, and thou mayst answer.
8. Wilt thou endeavor to render my purpose ineffectual ?
Wilt thou condemn Me that thou mayst be justified 1
Hast thou an arm to use like- God 1
Or hast thou a voice to thunder against Him 1
Put then upon thyself now majesty and superiority,
Array thyself with glory and perfection ! 1980
Cast abroad the terrors of thy indignation,
And beholding the proud do thou humble every one ;
View the arrogant on every side and confound them,
Tread down the wicked wherever they stand;
Hide them all in the dust together,
Cover their faces dishonorably in the abyss.
Then will I confess to thee thy glory,
And that thine own right hand hath power to save thee.
The reproof of the three friends, and their direction to
make atonement
XLII. 7. And it occurred after these words had been spoken by the
Almighty to Job, that Jehovah spoke to Eliphaz the Temanite,
saying, 7i. My wrath is kindled against thee,
And also against these two friends of thine ; 1990
For you have not spoken truthfully before Me,
Tou have not spoken of Me as my servant Job hath.
Therefore gather together and take seven bulls,
And also take with you seven rams to my servant Job ;
And he will offer up for you a burnt-offering,
And he shall be your intercessor to Me ;
For it is Job only of whom I will accept,
And but for his sake you would be destroyed by your folly ;
Because you have not spoken with truth before Me,
You have not spoken of Me as hath my servant Job. 2000

81
chap, xxvni.
A general direction by which men may find wisdom and
understanding. (118)
FIRST, MAN'S INABILITY TO OBTAIN IT BT HIS OWN POWERS.
XXVffl. 1. Silver hath indeed its veins where it may be found,
And gold which is already refined hath its place;
Iron, too, is dug up from the earth, >
And copper is procured from the melted rock :
Man urges himself into the places of darkness,
And diligently explores them to the farthest extremity,
Even from stones so dark to the shadow of death ;
Also the waters whose channels are lost in the sand,
Which have been forgotten by the foot of the needy,
Are discovered and displayed to the sight of men : 2010
From the earth is produced bread growing in its place,
And from underneath it is brought forth that which may be burned;
Among its stones have been found the precious sapphire,
And from its clods are brought forth grains of gold :
In a path which the migrating bird hath not known,
Which even the vulture's eye hath not discovered, —
Which the children of traffick have not trodden,
Nor hath the black lioness roamed over it,
He putteth forth a hand to the flinty rock,
He overturneth the foundations of the mountains ; 2020
In the rocks he hath cut out the channels of rivers,
And everywhere he hath sought out something precious ;
He hath searched the oozy beds of waters,
And from every place he hath brought to light some hidden thing.
118. This may be considered a reply to Job's prayer, L 1S57 to 1862, as well as a con.
tinuance of reproof to tho friends who had undertaken to declare thewisdomofGod, and
a reprehension of Elihu who had overestimated his own knowledge and inspiration. In
deed it is a summing up ofthe knowledge to be derived from the whole poem, and is the
conclusion arrived at by all the speakers and the assembly who sat around them during
the lengthened discussion.

82
CHAP. XXVIII.
But where is wisdom to be found by him 1
And where is the place to find understanding ?(119)
13. Indeed the mortals of earth know not the way of its transfer,
Neither can its place be found in the land of the living ;
The deep darkness saith " It is not in my abyss "
And the sea of waters saith " Neither can it be found in my depths."
Virgin gold cannot obtain it by exchange therefor, 2031
Neither can silver be found to weigh down its price ;
Nay, Ophir's masses of gold cannot equal its value,
Nor precious onyx nor brilliant sapphire secure its possession :
The resplendent gold and crystal cannot compare with it,
Neither can finely-wrought golden vessels be exchanged for it ;
We will not speak of pearls, and the yieldings of the sea,
For the price of wisdom is even far above beautiful rubies:
The sparkling stones of Ethiopia cannot rival its value,
And dyed fabrics from the far-off land* cannot be bartered for it. 2040
SECOND, THE ONLY WAY IT CAN BE FOUND.
20. Then as for wisdom, — whence cometh it 1
As for understanding, — where is its place of abode 1
Seeing that it is hidden from the eyes of the living,
And that it cannot be purchased with treasures that may take flight !
Seeing that Destruction and Death' have said of it,
" We have only heard in our ears the fame thereof !"
23. God understandeth the way of its coming,
And He only is acquainted with the place of its abode.
For He seeth to the very extremities of the world,
And He looketh upon all that may be under the whole heavens. 2050
25. Indeed when He made a scale for the winds,
And had measured the weight of the waters He placed, —
119. It may be seen by referring to L. 474 to 477 that Job knew the answer to these
great questions, and that Elihu in bestowing titles upon those of his hearers referred to in
L. 1495 and 1496 and L. 1511 and 1512 encroached at least upon the rule which he had
marked out for himself in L. 1422 to 1425. And yet Elihu acknowledges the true answer
of these questions. L. 1396.
* The land of India, which was long since famous for its printed or painted fabrics.

83
CHAP. XLH.
When He had established a decree to govern the' rain, 2050
And had made a course for the lightning and its voices, 
Then did He look upon it, and declare it to men,
Then He prepared the way and marked it out ;
Then it was indeed that He said to mankind,
Behold ! to reverence the Almighty that is indeed wisdom !
And to refrain from evil is indeed understanding ! 2059

The Result.
XLII. 9. So Eliphaz the Temanite, and Baldad the Sauchean, and
Zophar the Mininian, went at once, and did according to the com
mand of Jehovah, and Jehovah accepted the offering of Job.
10. And when Job prayed for his friends, Jehovah accepted for
him and turned his captivity, and gave to him all that he had possessed
doubled/120) Then too there came to him all his brethren and his
sisters, and all they who had been associated with him, and they
tasted his bread in his house ; then they sympathized with him
and condoled with him upon all the afflictions which Jehovah had
bestowed upon him ; and then every one gave him an offering for
sacrifice, and a piece of gold also was delivered to him by every one
for himself. Conclusion subsequently added.
12. And so Jehovah blessed the last days of Job more than the
first ones ; for he had then fourteen thousand sheep and six thousand
camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand breeding
asses. He had also seven sons born to him, and three daughters.
The eldest daughter be called by the name of Beautiful Day, and the
second one by the name of Aromatic Flower, and the third by the
name of Delightful Abundance. And in all the region there were no
120. When Job surrendered self and sacrificed for others, he himself was restored.
His friends, too, manifested their obedience and humility by offering sacrifices through
him before his captivity was turned, whilst he was yet unclean according to their ideas.

84
women found so fair as the daughters of Job; and their father
too gave unto them an inheritance among their brethren.
16. And after these afflictions Job lived a hundred and forty years,
and saw his sons, and the sons of his sons, even to the fourth gen
eration, and he died an old man, satiated with life.

S5

THE LIFE OF JOB.

JOB was a real personage. He was born in the midst of afflu
ence. His parents devoted him to the service of God, and he was
educated and trained in the arts and forms and observances of the
priesthood. He was a priest under that patriarchal dispensation of
which the names of Balaam and Melchisedeck and some others have
reached the present day. Abraham was such a priest, and under
the direction of his Guide prepared to make an offering of his only son,
whom his same Guide had declared should be the father of a nation.
These priests were obedient to their receptions. So should all be, and
then their communion would be more spiritual, and their receptions
more abundant and more evident.
Job was a pious and upright servant of the most High God, not
because he was a priest, but because he worked righteousness as a
man. He dwelt in a large city, and had great possessions within and
without it. But his wealth was principally derived from the free
offerings, the people of the regions adjacent, made to him to enlist his
advocacy and secure his prayers on their behalf. His reputation for
holiness and purity, and as a favorite of Divine Majesty, was wide
spread, and secured him the friendship of princes and the respect of
all classes of people. One universal shout of joy saluted him when
ever the occasion admitted of such demonstrations, and when they
believed him struck down by the hand of that Almighty God both he
and they revered, they shrank from him indeed, but they mourned
over him, and because of his calamities. " God," said they, " now
punishes him for some secret sin ; He hath deposed him from his
office, He has rendered him an unclean man."

86
Job withdrew from tho city. He dwelt among the rubbish
without its walls. He needed no force, no advice, to depose him, to
cause him to withdraw from that temple in which he had officiated to
his seventieth year. His dismissal was by the hand of God. He was
not so irreverent as to undertake to perform the priestly function
when unclean. His disease made him unclean, and his temporal losses
reduced him to poverty, and rendered him more fully the object of
pity and of reprehension.
Then was he visited by the three friends — kings in station, sages
in reputation. Boyalty never lacks followers or respect. Those who
would have abandoned Job were furnished with an example they
were glad to follow. A numerous company gathered their tents about
the sufferer, and seated themselves by day and by night, at intervals,
as mourners about their late priest, now apparently condemned to a
lingering but sure death from the incurability of his disease. Seven
days and seven nights, according to the prescribed Oriental form, did
they solemnly wait for the restoration of his health or for his dissolu
tion, for his recovery or his abandonment of hope. Splendid equipages
and brilliant costumes gathered daily. They gazed mournfully upon
the stricken man. The mysterious Providences were canvassed, and
the causes conjectured, till at last Job broke the silence with which
his royal friends had manifested their unspeakable grief.
Job cursed his day. He wished for death ; he longed for rest and
relief. So unexpected a course on the part of one whom they had
supposed contrite and repentant, surprised the audience. Eliphaz
answered, gently at first, with vehemence afterward. The crowds in
creased as the discussion proceeded. Day after day it was reiterated
that Job must confess his sin and ask forgiveness of God. Day after
day Job reiterated his innocence. The discussion grew warmer till
Job triumphed over his first antagonists. They were at last glad to
believe Job innocent, though contrary to all the -precepts they had in
culcated, and, as they feared, striking a blow at morality.
Then a younger man with less outward rank stepped forward, and
took his seat as the speaker. Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite,
attempts to convict Job of irreverence, and the friends of partiality
to Job in thus yielding the argument. Elihu is the representative of
the popular voice, but himself a priest, and divinely inspired at times.
Not that the inspiration was consequent or dependent upon the priest
ly office, but that Elihu was in general careful to observe the Voice
which he so strenuously declares impels him to speak on this occa
sion, as it had on previous ones. Elihu leaves the discussion unclosed,

87
but the voice which had spoken through him re-enters the audience in
a spiritual manifestation, seeming to proceed from a whirling cloud
which portentously appeared in view of the assembled throng from
the City of Ausitis and surrounding regions. The Divine Voice was
heard audibly, and was received as directly from God, or rather as
the voice of His Individuality, whereas in these days we should moro
correctly ascribe it to an agent of that Infinite Being, to His servant
or Son speaking in His name, and by His authority, and as a one
with Him. Such as the voice was though, it was received with sub
mission by all. The miracle was too evident and astounding to be
resisted at once ; and though afterwards captious men asked more
proof, and denied the witnesses of their own senses, the great majori
ty continued to give God the glory of Job's vindication.
But it will be said that the inspired spokesman and the Divine
Voice were not accordant. That the one reprehends Job, the other
commends him ; the one disapproves of the silence of the friends, the
other reproves their speech. This is all reconcilable when you consi
der that Job was not so perfect as to be infallible, that the medium
Elihu was not so perfect as to avoid the exercise of his own will.
Elihu misconceived Job's declarations and positions, he answered to
faults which Job had not committed. Job was presumptuous, but
not irreverent ; he was bold, but not rebellious. The friends were
weak in argument because they had embraced an error, and facts
were but too evidently against them. God does not make outward
prosperity the sole or the chief reward of piety, He does not open
the hearts of men by prosperity so much as by adversity ; and this
does but prove that happiness is independent of externals. If there
were no future, fife would be the more happy for the practice of
virtue, and vice would be a false indulgence to the seeker of peace on
earth. But, when to this latter is joined the retribution of a future
existence, how pale is the light on the brow of selfishness, how pale
is the glow of all who have despoiled or robbed, who have fallen down
to idols of gold, or of vanity, or of folly.
The miracle, by which this judgment upon Job was rendered, was
too evident for immediate denial by its witnesses. The princes hast
ened to obey ; Job offered sacrifices and made intercession for them
when he had complied with requirements of purification. Then when
he prayed for those friends who had deserted his side during the dis
cussion, who had misjudged and traduced him, he was restored to
health and soundness. Offerings for others were not long delayed.
The many love to follow the great. As Job's reputation had been

88
most exalted in all that region, it may well be inferred that it was
greatly increased by these events ; and that votaries came from
greater and greater distances to secure the intercession of one who
had so markedly experienced the care and notice of God. Job was
humbled by his affliction, and ever after trusted more to God and
less to his personal acts. He had found that God indeed cares for
all, and makes His sun and His shower to fall upon just and unjust.
He had himself once felt as sure as his opponents had, that God dis
criminated clearly between the just and unjust, but the conscious in
nocence of his life had secured him from despair, and from believing
himself singled out from other well-meaning men to be afflicted for
venial faults.
Job, then, was humbled, and taught that misfortune and transgres
sion are not allied, that wealth and prosperity are not the legitimate
rewards of serving God. But you will say Job was rewarded at last
outwardly, by having his sons and daughters again around him, and
by experiencing the multiplication of those great possessions which
had before placed him amongst the great as an equal. True, God
does not take from His servants because they are righteous, neither
does He prevent their prosperity. But He holds the balance of jus
tice, and He dispenses the gifts of mercy. He gives continually ; and
bestows upon all so as to secure as far as may be, the eternal happi
ness of every individual. Thus Job's afflictions were beneficial to him
in a temporal and in an eternal point of view ; but the former was
more useful to others than to himself, the latter was hardly known
to the theories of the day.
The immortality of the soul was a theory not generally embraced
in the patriarchal theory of religion or relation to God. Their ideas of
the future were extremely mdeflnite. It was to them, indeed, " that
bourne from which none returned" to visibility, and the messengers
of God were not regarded as men who had withdrawn from earthly
bodies. But though no settled belief existed generally, the future ex
istence of the soul was undoubted by Job and his companions and
associates. But how the wicked were then separated from the right
eous, or what was the real condition of either, was unknown and
unsurmised. It was reserved for a later revelation, even that of
Jesus, to make known the great truth of the eternity of souls, and
the possibility that they could be one with God. God then ceased
to be regarded merely as a friend by the enlightened mind, merely
as a king by individuals composing a nation of worshippers. God was
henceforth a Father of all, a Friend ever present to all, a beneficent

89
Being incapable of error or miscalculation, incapable of malignant ef
fort or furious wrath. The God of Peace became the nominal head
of Christianity.
Such was the patriarchal belief and such scarcely changed was the
belief of worshippers of God under the Mosaic dispensation. There
was just enough revealed to enable men to differ greatly, and find
support in the revelation for either opinion. So Jesus found the
Mosaic worshippers divided into two great parties, and he decided
the contest by a text which neither had before supposed had a
bearing upon the question.* Here is a proof of inspiration in the
author of the primeval history; for that which is from God is found
more complete and perfect as man's powers unfold, whilst the produc
tions of the wisdom of the creature are constantly left behind by the
advancement of knowledge or the discovery of new facts. Tried
by this test, the Book of Job will be found to be new and fresh.
It is unquestionably inspired ! and who could be the author to the
view of men so well as Job himself. Job's desire that an authentic
account should be obtained of his remarkable trial and unheard-of
restoration, was a natural one ; he must ever have retained a vivid
recollection of the scene, of the reproaches, and of the sufferings he
was the object of. The solemn verdict of the Almighty, which
closed the deliberate action of all parties, could scarcely have been
forgotten by any who heard it, and the slow and sententious delivery
of the formal orations of those days afforded ample time to fix them
in the memory of those who were attentive.
Books or records are as ancient as man, for we might as well sup
pose speech acquired by cultivation and invention, as that written
language should be produced by man's reason. God gave speech and
language, alphabet and records, to the first pair ; and revelation was
necessary, in default of instinct or experience, to enable men to
support life.
But Job lived long after that period of time. In the Twelfth Chap
ter is a most evident reference to the reelings to and fro, to the expe
riences of the children of Israel ; and to the calamities inflicted by
His power upon Egypt. This sufficiently marks the period of his
affliction, and enables us to say that Job was a cotemporary of
Moses, and leave good reason to suppose that when such extraordi
nary occurrences as the downfall and restoration of Job occurred in
the neighboring region, Moses could not have closed his receptions to
* Luke xx. 37.

90
it had he desired to. He, more than others, could appreciate its
beauty, and applicability to the instruction of others every where; for
he was learned, and had experienced in his own person some remark
able falls and uprisings. Born a despised Hebrew, he became an
Egyptian by adoption into the reigning family. Educated as the heir
of Pharoah, he was driven from Egypt from the fear of a rival aspir
ant. He returned clothed with power from on High, and led forth an
obedient but fickle people, to become their lawgiver, and their out
ward ruler with unlimited power. The history of Job then could not
fail to secure his attention, and by his interest it became a Hebrew
property. His translation of it rendered it a sacred book in the He
brew records.
Such is Job's history, and so should it be viewed by the reader as
an allegory, as an example. It was an allegory in its prelhnination, a
reality in its poetry, and an example in its result or conclusions. So
it has charmed the seekers of wisdom for more than three thousand
years, and remains the most exalted poem of the earth's library.

91

INDEX.

UNE PAGE
Introduction • ••«*. 8
Job's manner of life ••-«., 3
Job's motives of action tested • • • , 4
Job's endurance of misfortune • • • o * 5
A further trial of Job's motives . , 5
Job is visited by his friends . , q
THE POEM.
Job announces his despair and his extreme Buffering . 16
The Speech of Eliphaz. 8
An attempt to console Job by his own example . . 50 8
Eliphaz declares what had been revealed to him . 72 9
Eliphaz anticipates and answers an objection to his theory . 107 10
He appeals to Job to submit to God's punishment . . 127 11
JoVs Reply. 12
Job justifies his despair, and reproves his friends . . 150' 12
He discusses the nature of man .... 209 14
Baldad speaks on behalf of the friends. 16
He enforces the arguments of Eliphaz by quotations from ancient poems 257 16
Job's Reply to Baldad. 17
Job admits the force of Baldad's quotations, hut sets forth God's great
ness and incomprehensibility . ¦ . 299 17
He resolves to supplicate God as his Judge . « . 368 20

LINE

PAOB

21

410

21

22

451

22

472

23

506

24

556

26

92

Zophar's address to Job.
He accuses Job of hypocrisy and presumption
Job replies to all.
He reproaches his friends for the course of their arguments, and
recurs to his own in continuation .
He shows that he can glorify God as well as they
He warns his friends that they cannot deceive God, and himself
appeals to God ....
He pleads to God man's insignificance and asks compassion
Eliphaz makes his second address. 28
He insists that Job's arguments and discourse show himself to
be in error .....
He rebukes Job's presumption and quotes more ancient authority
Job again answers.
He tells them that were their cases reversed he would be a better
comforter .....
He again appeals to God though he despairs of an answer .
He further addresses God, and calls on the friends' to yield their
argument because he so trusts in God
Baldad again addresses Job.
He is indignant at Job's obstinacy, and sets forth other quotations
Job answers to all. , 34
He insists that their argument has no foundation, and appeals to
their pity  784 34
He warns his friends that they shall have a retribution . . 826 36
Zophar makes another speech. 37
He replies particularly to Job's answer to his former address,
and declares that vengeance will at some time overtake
the wicked, even if they continue long in prosperity
Job makes a more elaborate address.
He begs his friends to review lhe whole matter
He shows that prosperity and adversity follow no rule but God's
special will .
Eliphaz makes his Third Speech.
He accuses Job of irreverence and sin
He quotes higher authority and urges repentance

603

28

613

28

30

669

30

703

31

713

32

33
743
33
841
37
39
902
39
910
40
42
9G6
42
1004
43
50

1175

50

I.

51

1197

51

1292

55

93

LINE PAGE
Job again answers them. 44
He sets forth his desire to be tried hv o„j „„,, •,¦ ,.
ed by God' ™A h,s hopes and his fears 1024 44
Having restated his position, he returns now to show that God
does not, as a rule, visibly punish the wicked . . i058 45
Baldad replies. 48
He rests the case nowupon the known imperfection of every one
but God, showing that Job cannot be innocent . n15 48
JoVs answer. 48
Job admits the premises of Baldad, but insists that they do not
touch the case . t t .-2f- .«
He enlarges upon God's omnipotence, and the inability of man
to comprehend him .... 1131 40
Maintaining that he is innocent he argues that he cannot be a hypocrite 1153 49
Zophar's last address.
Using popular expressions he speaks of Job as an oppressor
Job continues his argument as if undisturbed.
He describes his former prosperous life
He sets forth the suddenness ofthe change he has experience*
He now completes his reply to all accusations that he deserved
punishment, by asseveration and imprecation . 1306 55
Having cleared himself of outward acts of sin, he* sets forth also
that his heart was pure before God . . 1353 67
The triumph of Job ascertained by the silence ofthe three friends.58
The introduction of Elihu. 59
Elihu introduces himself to the three friends . . 1389 59
He apologizes to Job ..... 1410 69
Elihu commences a reply to Job's assertions and arguments,
speaking in the name of God . . 1440 6G
Elihu invokes the attention ofthe whole assembly . . 1495 62
Again addressing Job he rebukes his boldness . . . 1525 63
Elihu argues from God's omniscience . . . 1541 84
Eiihu conclndes Job can only find peace.by humility, but for
himself thinks Job deserves more punishment . 1557 65
Elihu replies to the most objectionable parts of Job's argument . 1574 65
Elihu now undertakes to set forth the great characteristics of the Almighty 1604 66
First, His Justice .... 1610 67
Second, His Power .... 1647 68
Third, His Wisdom . . . 1699 70
Resulting Summary .... 1713 70

M

The manifestation of the Divinity.
The Divine Voice declares the wonders of the inanimate creation
The wonders displayed in the characteristics of various animals
The wisdom manifested by the feathered tribes in their organization
The power displayed by some animals which He made
Job's answer.
Job admits his ignorance, but asks instruction
The Voice again replies to Job.
Job makes entire submission.
The humble reply of Job ....
The Voice conveys to Job the decision upon his appeal
The Voice reproves Job's three friends.
They are directed to submit and make sacrifices
A general direction by which men may find wisdom and
understanding. 81
First, man alone cannot secure it 2001 81
Second, the only way to find the real . • . 2041 82
The Result .... 83
Conclusion ..... 83
The Life of Job ..... 85
Index ....... 01

LINE

PAGE

1724

71

1728

71

1798

73

1845

75

1871

76

79

1955

79

1967

79

79

1985

79

1973

79

80

19S9

80

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