3. The measure thereof is longer than the earth, broader than the sea.

4. He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth to light hidden things from the shadow of death- 5. By the decrees of the Almighty the nations of the earth are increased; in his hands is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

6. Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built up again; he shutteth up, and there can be no opening.-7. Behold, he withholdeth the rivers, and they dry up; also he sendeth them out, and they overflow the earth.

8. Hearken unto these things, sider the wondrous works of God.

Job, con

9. Marvellously doth he speak with his voice; great things doth He, which man cannot comprehend.-10. Wilt thou therefore contend with the Almighty, realizing his power? shall be that darkeneth counsel without knowledge, oppose his Maker? or daro he reprove the Most High?

11. Where wast thou when the foundations of the earth were fixed? and the measure thereof assigned ?-12. Knowest thou whereon the line was stretched, or the corner stone was laid? on what centre doth it rest? and how are its parts united ? 13. When the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted for joy.14. Knowest thou who maketh a way for the overflowing of the waters? which satisfieth the desolate and waste ground, and causeth the bud of the tender herb to shoot forth?

15. Or who restraineth the raging of the sea when the billows thereof brake forth, as though issued from the womb?-16. And commanded them, that hitherto they shouldcome and no further: and here shall their proud waves be stayed?-17. Hath the rain a father? or who begat the drops of the dew? from what source came the ice? who scattereth the hoar frost, and prepareth the treasures of the snow and hail ?18. Who bestoweth knowledge in the inward parts, and giveth understanding to the heart? 19. Who in the various seasons instructs the winged creation in their regular courses? 20. Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings towards the south? Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high ?21. Or who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, the universal parent?

22. By whose orders is the whirlwind directed from the west, and cold from the north? who balanceth the clouds whereby the earth is softened by the south wind? 23. Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? or by what means the day spring was caused to know its place?

24. Have the gates of the grave been open to thee? or hast thou explored the mansions of the dead?-25. Cease then thy complaints, and be assured the decrees of the Almighty will be established.-26. Upon earth there is none like him; he beholdeth all things, and from him no thought can be hid, nor the most secret action concealed from

his view:-27. He is wise in counsel and
mighty in work, and all his ways are right.
66 Why give thy tongue a loose so bold and vain,
Censure my conduct and reproves my reign?
Lift up thy thoughts against me from the dust,
And tell the world's creator what is just?

Where didst thou dwell at nature's early birth?
Who laid th' foundations for the spacious earth ?
Who fix'd the corner stone? What hand declare,
Hung it on nought, and fasten'd it in air:
When the bright morning stars in concert sung,
When heav'n's high arch with loud hosannas rung,
When shouting sons of God, the triumph crown'd,
And the wide concave thunder'd with the sound?
Earth's num'rous kingdoms, hast thou view'd them all?
And can thy span of knowledge grasp the ball?
What worlds hast thou produc'd, what creatures fram'd,
What insects cherish'd, that thy God is blam'd ?
Am I a debtor? hast thou ever heard

Whence come those gifts that are by me conferr'd ?
My lavish fruit a thousand vallies fills,

And mine the herds, that graze a thousand bills ;
Earth, sea, and air, all nature is my own,
And stars, and sun, are dust beneath my throne :
Fond man! the vision of a moment made!
Dream of a dream! and shadow of a shade !
Thou know'st me not; thy blindness cannot see
How vast a distance parts thy God and thee."

CHAP. IX.

Job's address to his friends.

66 why should tortur'd Job his sighs refrain!
Or suffering thus, why should he not complain ?
Allow him prostrate then to ask his God,"
Why thus he breaks an animated clod "

1. HEAR again attentively my speech and declaration with your ears.

Lo! mine eyes

have seen all this, and mine ears have heard and understood it; what ye know, the same also I know, I am not regardless of it.

2. Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace, and therein would be your wisdom; my friends accuse me wrongfully, and reason deceitfully; my sincerity they reproach, and my complaints they cast off.-3. Behold, I will now submit my cause, I know I shall be justified; the Lord will be my salvation, my only hope and deliverer, therefore though he afflicts me, yet will I trust in him.4. For all things are with him, and whatsoever he ordaineth will surely come to pass. 5. For what is the life of a man, but of few days and full of trouble? he cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not.

6. Seeing his days are determined, and the number of mouths in which his bounds are fixed.-7. Though the root of the tree wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground, yet there is hope if it be cut down that it will again sprout, and the tender branch thereof will not fail.. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one to bring me into judgment with thee? for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?-9. O my God, turn from me, that I may rest till thy purpose be accomplished. 10. Withhold thy rebukes, and shew me all my error, that I may reclaim my wanderings, and yet walk before thee in the land of the living. 11. For if a man once transgress, shall he not live to repent; but if a man die

he shall live again? All the days of my appointed time, I will wait till my great change come.-12. Suffer me further to speak, and hear me diligently, and after thus speaking, reprove me. As for me, is my complaint to man; if it were so, I should not then be troubled.

13. I know that the hypocrite is as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away? how oft is the candle of the wicked put out, and how oft cometh their destruction, for God distributeth sorrow in his anger. 14. We provoke God by departing from him, and how rash is it to say to the Almighty, Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways; or who is the Almighty, that we should serve him, or what profit if we pray unto him?-15. Do ye presume, that any can teach God knowledge, seeing he judgeth those who are high; can any declare to him his dealings; may any one say unto him, what doest thou?

16. Know ye not, that one dieth in full strength, being in perfect ease and quiet, when his breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow;--17. And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure? They shall lie down alike in the dust and the worms shall cover them.

18. When I consider these things 1 am afraid; fearfulness taketh hold on me; but 1 am assured the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to depart from evil, that is understanding.