69. If his loins have not blessed me, And he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 70. If I have lifted my hand against the fatherless, Because my power was great in the gate: 71. Then let my shoulder fall from its blade, And mine arm be broken from the bone. 72. If I have made gold my hope, And have said to fine gold, Thou art my confidence ; 73- If I rejoiced that my wealth was great, Because mine hand had gotten much; 74. If my land cry out against me, And its furrows weep together; 75. If I have eaten its fruit without pay, Or caused its owners to lose their life: 76. Let thistles grow instead of wheat, And cockle grow instead of barley. 77. If I beheld the sun when it shined, Or the moon that walketh in brightness; 78. And my heart have been secretly enticed, And my hand have kissed my mouth; 79. This were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For then had I denied the God that is above. 80. I rejoiced not at the destruction of him that hated me, Nor was glad when evil befell him; 81. Yea, I suffered not my mouth to sin By asking his life with a curse. 82. Surely the men of my tent have said, Who can he found that he hath not entertained? 83. The stranger did not lodge in the street; But I opened my doors to the wanderer. 84. I covered not my transgression like some, Hiding my sin in my bosom, 85. Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of the nobles dismayed me. 86. Oh that I had one to hear me ! (Here is my mark, let the Almighty answer me!) 87. Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; 88. I would show him the very tale of my steps; (Chapters XXIX and XXXI.) XXII. DIVINE OMNISCIENCE. AN APPENDIX TO THE BOOK OF JOB. The LORD answers Job. Creation of the earth. Formation of the sea. Beauties of dawn. Terrors of the underworld. Light and darkness. The wonders of ice. Celestial marvels. God's The war horse. Birds of prey. Job's sub 1. Ruler of the storm. mission. The LORD's reply. Can Job right the wrong. Job's retractation. THEN the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: 2. Who is so bold that he stirreth up Me up ? And who is he that standeth before Me? 3. Who attacketh Me unpunished? All beneath the heavens is Mine. 4. I will not leave his prating unanswered, And I will ask thee, and teach thou Me.. 7. Where wast thou when when I founded the earth? Tell Me, if thou knowest wisdom. 8. Who fixed its measures, that thou knowest? Or who stretched a measuring line upon it? 9. Whereupon were its pillars fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof; 10. When the morning stars sang together, All the sons of the lights shouted aloud? 11. Who shut up the sea with doors, What time it issued forth from the deep; 12. When I made the clouds its covering, Dense clouds its swaddling band; 13. When I enjoined My law upon it, and set it bolts and bars; 14. And said, Thus far and no farther thou comest, And here the pride of thy waves shall be stayed? 15. Hast thou ordered the morn since days of yore, Or made the dawn to know its place, 16. To take hold on the corners of earth, That the wicked be shaken thereout; 17. While the earth changeth like clay that is sealed, 19. Hast thou entered unto the springs of the sea? Or explored the inner rooms of the deep? 20. Have the gates of death been opened to thee? Or canst thou see the doors of death's shadows? 21. Dost thou comprehend the breadth of the earth? Declare if thou knowst all this. 22. Where is the way to the dwelling of light? Or darkness-where is its place? 23. That shouldst lead them to their realm, And shouldest perceive the paths to their house? 24. Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And great is the tale of thy days. 25. Hast thou entered the treasury of snow, 26. Who cleft for the pouring rain a channel, 28. To satisfy the waste and sterile, And cause the tender grass to sprout? 29. Dost thou bind the knots of Pleiades ? Or loose the cords of Orion? 30. Dost thou bring out the Signs in their season? Or guide the Bear with her young? 31. Knowest thou the laws of heaven? Or fixest its sway upon earth? 32. Does thy voice thunder in the clouds, That torrents of water cover thee? 33. Sendest thou thy lightnings that they go, And say to thee, Behold us here? 34. Who counteth the clouds in wisdom, And who poureth out the bottles of heaven, 35. When the clay is baked into blocks, And the clods cleave fast together? 36. Wilt thou hunt for the lion his food, When they lie in their lairs in wait? 38. Who provideth at even their food, When their young cry out unto God, When they roam for lack of their meat? 39. Dost thou give strength to the charger, Or clothe his neck with quivering mane? 40. Dost thou make him bound like the locust? And the noise of his snorting is awful. 41. He paweth the ground, exulting in strength, He goeth to meet the weapons. 42. He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed, And turneth not back from the sword. 43. Upon him rattleth the quiver, Flashing spear, and the javelin 44. With furious leaps he swalloweth the ground, The Captains' shouts, the soldiers' cries. 49. Thence he espieth the prey, his eyes behold it from far; 50. His young ones suck up the blood, And where the slain are, there are they 51. Will the caviller strive with the Almighty? Let him that reproveth God answer this! 53. Lo, I am too mean, what shall I answer Thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth. 54. Once I spake, I will do so no more; 55. Twice, but I will not repeat it. Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: 56. Gird up thy loins like a mighty man. I will ask, and thou shalt show Me. 57. Wilt thou then disannul My right, Condemning Me that thou mayst be justified? 58. Hast thou an arm like the arm of God? With a voice like His canst thou thunder? 59. Deck thyself with glory and pride, array thee in honor and majesty; 60. Pour out the floods of thy wrath, And behold all the proud and abase them, 61. Behold all the proud and bring them down low, Tread down the wicked where they stand. 62. Hide them in the dust together, bind their faces out of sight. 63. So will I praise thee, for that thine own right hand doth save thee. 64. Then Job answered and said: 65. I know that thou canst do all things, No purpose of Thine may be restrained. 66. Verily I uttered what I understand not, Things too wonderful, which I know not, 67. By the hearing of the ear I heard of thee, But now mine eye hath seen Thee, 68. Therefore I retract and repent In dust and in ashes. (Chapters XXXVIII, XL and XLII.) 1. THE EPILOGUE. "Mine AND it came to pass after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: anger is kindled against thee, and thy two friends, for ye spake 2. not rightly for Me as my servant Job. And now take you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job and ye shall offer them as a sacrifice for yourselves; and Job my servant shall intercede for you, for only his person will I accept not to deal with you, according to your folly, for ye spake not rightly for Me as my servant Job." 3. 4. Then went Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, and did according as the LORD spake to them, and the LORD accepeed Job's person. And the LORD turned the captivity of Job when he interceded for his friends, and the LORD added to Job double his former 5. possessions. Then came to him all his brethren and all his sisters and all his former acquaintance, and ate bread with him and sympathized with him, and comforted him on account of all the evil which the LORD had brought upon him; and they gave him each a coin and each a golden ring. 6. And the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than the 7. beginning. And he had seven sons and three daughters; and he called the name of the first daughter Jemima, the second 8. Kezia and the third Keren happuk; nor were any women in the whole land found so beautiful as the daughters of Job, and their father gave them an inheritance as well as their brethren. 9. And Job lived afterwards 140 years and saw his sons and 10. decendants to four generations. Then Job died, old and at a (Chap. XL; 7-17.) great age. |