Book of Job
by
Anonymous
Job
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[2] Chapter 1
[3]
[4]
[5] 1: There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was
[6] perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
[7]
[8] 2: And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
[9]
[10] 3: His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels,
[11] and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very
[12] great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the
[13] east.
[14]
[15] 4: And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and
[16] sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
[17]
[18] 5: And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that
[19] Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and
[20] offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said,
[21] It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus
[22] did Job continually.
[23]
[24] 6: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves
[25] before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
[26]
[27] 7: And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered
[28] the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking
[29] up and down in it.
[30]
[31] 8: And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that
[32] there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one
[33] that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
[34]
[35] 9: Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
[36]
[37] 10: Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about
[38] all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands,
[39] and his substance is increased in the land.
[40]
[41] 11: But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will
[42] curse thee to thy face.
[43]
[44] 12: And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy
[45] power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth
[46] from the presence of the LORD.
[47]
[48] 13: And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and
[49] drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
[50]
[51] 14: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing,
[52] and the asses feeding beside them:
[53]
[54] 15: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have
[55] slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone
[56] to tell thee.
[57]
[58] 16: While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire
[59] of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the
[60] servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
[61]
[62] 17: While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The
[63] Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried
[64] them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I
[65] only am escaped alone to tell thee.
[66]
[67] 18: While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons
[68] and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's
[69] house:
[70]
[71] 19: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote
[72] the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they
[73] are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
[74]
[75] 20: Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell
[76] down upon the ground, and worshipped,
[77]
[78] 21: And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I
[79] return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be
[80] the name of the LORD.
[81]
[82] 22: In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
[83]
[84]
[85] Chapter 2
[86]
[87]
[88] 1: Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves
[89] before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before
[90] the LORD.
[91]
[92] 2: And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan
[93] answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from
[94] walking up and down in it.
[95]
[96] 3: And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that
[97] there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one
[98] that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his
[99] integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without
[100] cause.
[101]
[102] 4: And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a
[103] man hath will he give for his life.
[104]
[105] 5: But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he
[106] will curse thee to thy face.
[107]
[108] 6: And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his
[109] life.
[110]
[111] 7: So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with
[112] sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
[113]
[114] 8: And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down
[115] among the ashes.
[116]
[117] 9: Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity?
[118] curse God, and die.
[119]
[120] 10: But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women
[121] speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not
[122] receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
[123]
[124] 11: Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon
[125] him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and
[126] Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an
[127] appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
[128]
[129] 12: And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they
[130] lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and
[131] sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
[132]
[133] 13: So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights,
[134] and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very
[135] great.
[136]
[137]
[138] Chapter 3
[139]
[140]
[141] 1: After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
[142]
[143] 2: And Job spake, and said,
[144]
[145] 3: Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was
[146] said, There is a man child conceived.
[147]
[148] 4: Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let
[149] the light shine upon it.
[150]
[151] 5: Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon
[152] it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
[153]
[154] 6: As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined
[155] unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.
[156]
[157] 7: Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.
[158]
[159] 8: Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their
[160] mourning.
[161]
[162] 9: Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light,
[163] but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
[164]
[165] 10: Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow
[166] from mine eyes.
[167]
[168] 11: Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I
[169] came out of the belly?
[170]
[171] 12: Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
[172]
[173] 13: For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept:
[174] then had I been at rest,
[175]
[176] 14: With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places
[177] for themselves;
[178]
[179] 15: Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:
[180]
[181] 16: Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never
[182] saw light.
[183]
[184] 17: There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
[185]
[186] 18: There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the
[187] oppressor.
[188]
[189] 19: The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his
[190] master.
[191]
[192] 20: Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the
[193] bitter in soul;
[194]
[195] 21: Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for
[196] hid treasures;
[197]
[198] 22: Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
[199]
[200] 23: Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged
[201] in?
[202]
[203] 24: For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out
[204] like the waters.
[205]
[206] 25: For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I
[207] was afraid of is come unto me.
[208]
[209] 26: I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet
[210] trouble came.
[211]
[212]
[213] Chapter 4
[214]
[215]
[216] 1: Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
[217]
[218] 2: If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can
[219] withhold himself from speaking?
[220]
[221] 3: Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak
[222] hands.
[223]
[224] 4: Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast
[225] strengthened the feeble knees.
[226]
[227] 5: But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and
[228] thou art troubled.
[229]
[230] 6: Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of
[231] thy ways?
[232]
[233] 7: Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were
[234] the righteous cut off?
[235]
[236] 8: Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap
[237] the same.
[238]
[239] 9: By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are
[240] they consumed.
[241]
[242] 10: The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the
[243] teeth of the young lions, are broken.
[244]
[245] 11: The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps
[246] are scattered abroad.
[247]
[248] 12: Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little
[249] thereof.
[250]
[251] 13: In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on
[252] men,
[253]
[254] 14: Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
[255]
[256] 15: Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
[257]
[258] 16: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was
[259] before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
[260]
[261] 17: Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than
[262] his maker?
[263]
[264] 18: Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged
[265] with folly:
[266]
[267] 19: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation
[268] is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
[269]
[270] 20: They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever
[271] without any regarding it.
[272]
[273] 21: Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even
[274] without wisdom.
[275]
[276]
[277] Chapter 5
[278]
[279]
[280] 1: Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the
[281] saints wilt thou turn?
[282]
[283] 2: For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
[284]
[285] 3: I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his
[286] habitation.
[287]
[288] 4: His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate,
[289] neither is there any to deliver them.
[290]
[291] 5: Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the
[292] thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.
[293]
[294] 6: Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble
[295] spring out of the ground;
[296]
[297] 7: Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
[298]
[299] 8: I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
[300]
[301] 9: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without
[302] number:
[303]
[304] 10: Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:
[305]
[306] 11: To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be
[307] exalted to safety.
[308]
[309] 12: He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot
[310] perform their enterprise.
[311]
[312] 13: He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the
[313] froward is carried headlong.
[314]
[315] 14: They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in
[316] the night.
[317]
[318] 15: But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the
[319] hand of the mighty.
[320]
[321] 16: So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
[322]
[323] 17: Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not
[324] thou the chastening of the Almighty:
[325]
[326] 18: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make
[327] whole.
[328]
[329] 19: He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no
[330] evil touch thee.
[331]
[332] 20: In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power
[333] of the sword.
[334]
[335] 21: Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou
[336] be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
[337]
[338] 22: At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be
[339] afraid of the beasts of the earth.
[340]
[341] 23: For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the
[342] beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
[343]
[344] 24: And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou
[345] shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
[346]
[347] 25: Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring
[348] as the grass of the earth.
[349]
[350] 26: Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn
[351] cometh in in his season.
[352]
[353] 27: Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for
[354] thy good.
[355]
[356]
[357] Chapter 6
[358]
[359]
[360] 1: But Job answered and said,
[361]
[362] 2: Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the
[363] balances together!
[364]
[365] 3: For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my
[366] words are swallowed up.
[367]
[368] 4: For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof
[369] drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array
[370] against me.
[371]
[372] 5: Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his
[373] fodder?
[374]
[375] 6: Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any
[376] taste in the white of an egg?
[377]
[378] 7: The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
[379]
[380] 8: Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing
[381] that I long for!
[382]
[383] 9: Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose
[384] his hand, and cut me off!
[385]
[386] 10: Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow:
[387] let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
[388]
[389] 11: What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I
[390] should prolong my life?
[391]
[392] 12: Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
[393]
[394] 13: Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
[395]
[396] 14: To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he
[397] forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
[398]
[399] 15: My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of
[400] brooks they pass away;
[401]
[402] 16: Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
[403]
[404] 17: What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are
[405] consumed out of their place.
[406]
[407] 18: The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and
[408] perish.
[409]
[410] 19: The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
[411]
[412] 20: They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and
[413] were ashamed.
[414]
[415] 21: For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
[416]
[417] 22: Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
[418]
[419] 23: Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of
[420] the mighty?
[421]
[422] 24: Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand
[423] wherein I have erred.
[424]
[425] 25: How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
[426]
[427] 26: Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is
[428] desperate, which are as wind?
[429]
[430] 27: Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
[431]
[432] 28: Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if
[433] I lie.
[434]
[435] 29: Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my
[436] righteousness is in it.
[437]
[438] 30: Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse
[439] things?
[440]
[441]
[442] Chapter 7
[443]
[444]
[445] 1: Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also
[446] like the days of an hireling?
[447]
[448] 2: As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh
[449] for the reward of his work:
[450]
[451] 3: So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are
[452] appointed to me.
[453]
[454] 4: When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and
[455] I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
[456]
[457] 5: My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken,
[458] and become loathsome.
[459]
[460] 6: My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without
[461] hope.
[462]
[463] 7: O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
[464]
[465] 8: The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are
[466] upon me, and I am not.
[467]
[468] 9: As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to
[469] the grave shall come up no more.
[470]
[471] 10: He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him
[472] any more.
[473]
[474] 11: Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of
[475] my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
[476]
[477] 12: Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
[478]
[479] 13: When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
[480]
[481] 14: Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
[482]
[483] 15: So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
[484]
[485] 16: I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are
[486] vanity.
[487]
[488] 17: What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest
[489] set thine heart upon him?
[490]
[491] 18: And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every
[492] moment?
[493]
[494] 19: How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow
[495] down my spittle?
[496]
[497] 20: I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why
[498] hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
[499]
[500] 21: And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine
[501] iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the
[502] morning, but I shall not be.
[503]
[504]
[505] Chapter 8
[506]
[507]
[508] 1: Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
[509]
[510] 2: How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of
[511] thy mouth be like a strong wind?
[512]
[513] 3: Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
[514]
[515] 4: If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for
[516] their transgression;
[517]
[518] 5: If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to
[519] the Almighty;
[520]
[521] 6: If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and
[522] make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
[523]
[524] 7: Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly
[525] increase.
[526]
[527] 8: For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the
[528] search of their fathers:
[529]
[530] 9: (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon
[531] earth are a shadow:)
[532]
[533] 10: Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their
[534] heart?
[535]
[536] 11: Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
[537]
[538] 12: Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth
[539] before any other herb.
[540]
[541] 13: So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope
[542] shall perish:
[543]
[544] 14: Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
[545]
[546] 15: He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it
[547] fast, but it shall not endure.
[548]
[549] 16: He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his
[550] garden.
[551]
[552] 17: His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
[553]
[554] 18: If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I
[555] have not seen thee.
[556]
[557] 19: Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others
[558] grow.
[559]
[560] 20: Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the
[561] evil doers:
[562]
[563] 21: Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
[564]
[565] 22: They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling
[566] place of the wicked shall come to nought.
[567]
[568]
[569] Chapter 9
[570]
[571]
[572] 1: Then Job answered and said,
[573]
[574] 2: I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
[575]
[576] 3: If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
[577]
[578] 4: He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself
[579] against him, and hath prospered?
[580]
[581] 5: Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them
[582] in his anger.
[583]
[584] 6: Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof
[585] tremble.
[586]
[587] 7: Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
[588]
[589] 8: Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of
[590] the sea.
[591]
[592] 9: Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the
[593] south.
[594]
[595] 10: Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without
[596] number.
[597]
[598] 11: Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I
[599] perceive him not.
[600]
[601] 12: Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him,
[602] What doest thou?
[603]
[604] 13: If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under
[605] him.
[606]
[607] 14: How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason
[608] with him?
[609]
[610] 15: Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would
[611] make supplication to my judge.
[612]
[613] 16: If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that
[614] he had hearkened unto my voice.
[615]
[616] 17: For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without
[617] cause.
[618]
[619] 18: He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with
[620] bitterness.
[621]
[622] 19: If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who
[623] shall set me a time to plead?
[624]
[625] 20: If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am
[626] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
[627]
[628] 21: Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise
[629] my life.
[630]
[631] 22: This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and
[632] the wicked.
[633]
[634] 23: If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the
[635] innocent.
[636]
[637] 24: The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces
[638] of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
[639]
[640] 25: Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
[641]
[642] 26: They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to
[643] the prey.
[644]
[645] 27: If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness,
[646] and comfort myself:
[647]
[648] 28: I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me
[649] innocent.
[650]
[651] 29: If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
[652]
[653] 30: If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
[654]
[655] 31: Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall
[656] abhor me.
[657]
[658] 32: For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should
[659] come together in judgment.
[660]
[661] 33: Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon
[662] us both.
[663]
[664] 34: Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
[665]
[666] 35: Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
[667]
[668]
[669] Chapter 10
[670]
[671]
[672] 1: My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I
[673] will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
[674]
[675] 2: I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou
[676] contendest with me.
[677]
[678] 3: Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest
[679] despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
[680]
[681] 4: Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
[682]
[683] 5: Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,
[684]
[685] 6: That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
[686]
[687] 7: Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver
[688] out of thine hand.
[689]
[690] 8: Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet
[691] thou dost destroy me.
[692]
[693] 9: Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt
[694] thou bring me into dust again?
[695]
[696] 10: Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
[697]
[698] 11: Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with
[699] bones and sinews.
[700]
[701] 12: Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath
[702] preserved my spirit.
[703]
[704] 13: And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is
[705] with thee.
[706]
[707] 14: If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine
[708] iniquity.
[709]
[710] 15: If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not
[711] lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine
[712] affliction;
[713]
[714] 16: For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou
[715] shewest thyself marvellous upon me.
[716]
[717] 17: Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine
[718] indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.
[719]
[720] 18: Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I
[721] had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
[722]
[723] 19: I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been
[724] carried from the womb to the grave.
[725]
[726] 20: Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take
[727] comfort a little,
[728]
[729] 21: Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness
[730] and the shadow of death;
[731]
[732] 22: A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death,
[733] without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
[734]
[735]
[736] Chapter 11
[737]
[738]
[739] 1: Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
[740]
[741] 2: Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of
[742] talk be justified?
[743]
[744] 3: Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall
[745] no man make thee ashamed?
[746]
[747] 4: For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
[748]
[749] 5: But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
[750]
[751] 6: And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double
[752] to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine
[753] iniquity deserveth.
[754]
[755] 7: Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty
[756] unto perfection?
[757]
[758] 8: It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what
[759] canst thou know?
[760]
[761] 9: The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
[762]
[763] 10: If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder
[764] him?
[765]
[766] 11: For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then
[767] consider it?
[768]
[769] 12: For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.
[770]
[771] 13: If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
[772]
[773] 14: If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness
[774] dwell in thy tabernacles.
[775]
[776] 15: For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be
[777] stedfast, and shalt not fear:
[778]
[779] 16: Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that
[780] pass away:
[781]
[782] 17: And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine
[783] forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
[784]
[785] 18: And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig
[786] about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
[787]
[788] 19: Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many
[789] shall make suit unto thee.
[790]
[791] 20: But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and
[792] their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
[793]
[794]
[795] Chapter 12
[796]
[797]
[798] 1: And Job answered and said,
[799]
[800] 2: No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
[801]
[802] 3: But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea,
[803] who knoweth not such