8. Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly. 9. What then are those that dwell in houses of clay; whose foundation is in the dust; who are crushed before the moth?

10. Great is the Lord, who doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number.

11. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

12. They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope in the noon day, as in the night.

13. He saveth the poor from the sword, and from the hand of the mighty, and causeth iniquity to stop her mouth.

14. Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Lord.

15. For he maketh sore and bindeth up; he woundeth and his hands make whole. 16. He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven there shall no evil happen thee. 17. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of slander, and shall not be troubled at destruction and famine.

18. Thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth, and the blessings of peace shall be upon thy tabernacle.

19. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in season.

20. Behold we have searched into the matter, and are fully convinced of the truth of it; hearken and receive instruction, and apply it for thy good.

'CHAP. IV.

Job's Reply.

When will my long protracted troubles cease,
And this tormented sufferer be at peace ?
Each lingering night in agonies I lie,
And often wish, but wish in vain to die.
To me no friendly respites e'er return,

Nor gives the evenings ease, nor joy the morn."

1. THEN Job answered and said, O! that my grief were th roughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together.

2. I want words to express my sorrow, for the arrows of the Almighty are within me! the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit, and the terrors of God do set themselves in ar. ray against me.

3. When I lie down, I say when shall I arise, and the night be gone? wearisome nights are appointed unto me, and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

4. When I say my bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints, then am I scared with dreams and terrified with visions.

5. To him who is afflicted, pity should be shewed from his friend; but now you are nothing; you see my casting down and are afraid.

6. How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

7. Teach me and I will hold my tongue;

and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

S. Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

9. Is there not an appointed time for man upon earth? are not his days as the days of an hireling, who looketh for the end and reward of his work?

10. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope; mine eye shall no more see good.

11. The eye of him who hath seen me, shall see me no more; for as the cloud is consumed, and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave, shall come up no more.

12. He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. 13. Therefore I will not refrain my mouth, I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, and complain in the bitterness of my soul.

14. My soul chooseth death rather than a life which has become loathsome; I would not live alway; let me alone, for my days are vanity.

15. What is man, O Lord, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

16. And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment ?

17. I have sinned; what shall I say unto thee, O thou Preserver of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

18. Why withdraw not thy displeasure, and attend to my supplication? I am broken

as in a tempestuous sea, and my wounds are increased without cause.

19. If therefore I seek for strength, it is subdued by my weakness; if I speak of judgment, who will allow me to plead ?

20. O that I could have my request, and that God would grant me the thing I long for! 1 21. Even that it would please God to let loose his hand, and cut me off, that I might sleep in the dust and be at rest.

“Job's words were daring, and displeas'd his friends,
His conduct they reprove, and he defends.
And now they kindled into warm debate,
And sentiments oppos'd with equal heat;
Fix'd in opinion, both refuse to yield,
And summon all their reason to the field.
So high at length their arguments were wrought,
They reach'd the last extent of human thought."

CHAP. V.

Bildad remonstrates with Job.

.?

Then Bildad his opinion spoke: How long,
How far will rage this tempest of thy tongue
Can the great source of justice and of pow'r,
Who darts the lightning, and bestows the shower,
Pervert his judgment, and his good apply,
And bless and punish by a rule awry ?"

1. THEN answered Bildad, (another of Job's visitors,) and said,-2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall thy words be like a strong wind?

3. Doth God pervert judgment, as thy

words seem to imply; or doth the Almighty pervert justice ?--4. Dominion and fear are with him; he maketh peace in his high places.

5. Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise ?

6. How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean, who is born of a woman?-7. Behold he looketh-uponthe moon, and it shineth not? yea, the stars are not pure in his sight -8. How much less is man, that is a worm, and the son-of man, who is the offspring of such a reptile. 9. We are of yesterday and know nothing: because our days upon earth are a shadow. 10. Wherefore, inquire, I pray thee, of former ages; and prepare thyself to search of the fathers

11. Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of thine heart, for thy conviction.-12. Though God should cast away thy children for their transgression ;yet do thou seek unto him betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty, instead of complaining.-13. Surely if thou wert pure and upright, he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness pros-perous.

14. Though thy beginning was small; yet thy latter end will greatly increase; though thou art reduced very low, yet thy prosperity. will be greater than ever it was.

15. He will fill thy heart with gladness, and thy lips with rejoicing, till thou shall be so remarkably blessed, as not to be able to