CHAP. X. Eliphaz's reproof to Job. "Eliphaz again engag'd in the dispute, And strove the sufferer's reason to confute. 1. ELIPHAZ again sharply reproached Job, and said, Should a wise man utter vain knowledge? Should he reason with unprofitable talk, or with speeches wherewith he can do no good? 2. Should he make void the fear of God, and restrain prayer before him? Are the consolations of God small with thee? Is there any secret thing with thee ?3. Art thou the first man who was born? or wast thou made before the hills? Dost thou know the council of God, and claim his knowledge to thyself? Are his councils only known to thee?4. What knowest thou, that we know not? Or what understandest thou, that we are ignorant of? With us alike are the grey-headed and very aged. 5. Why dost thine heart carry thee ? And why turnest thou thy spirit away against God, and lettest out words from thy mouth? And why are thy repinings against the ways of the Almighty? 6. For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty, covering thy principles and opinions with vain pretences of piety and respect for God. 7. For what is man, that he should be clean? or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous, as in a little time all his thoughts will perish ?-8. Behold God putteth no trust even in his saints, and the heavens are not clean in his sight; how much more abominable and vain is man, who drinketh iniquity like water. 9. The wicked man travelleth with pain; trouble and anguish make him afraid all his days, and the number of his years are perplexed; a continual sound is in his ears, for destruction surely awaits him. 10. For he strengtheneth himself against the Almighty; he stretcheth out his hand against God; let him not then be deceived, that trusteth in vanity, as that shall be the recompence of all those who depart from the living God. 11. Disquietude of mind, therefore, awaits the profligate; yea, the light of the impious shall be put out; no joy shall shine in their tabernacles; their roots shall be dried up, and their branches cut off. 12. Those that beheld this were astonished, as they who went before were afraid, saying, Such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, and such are the places that know not God. 13. But God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers. CHAP. XI. “The mourner answer'd, in lamenting strain; Alas! the mountain's weight of woes I feel, 1. THEN Job answered and said, I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are ye all; these reflections are of little use, and do but increase, instead of lessening. my pains. 2. Shall vain words ever have an end? But what emboldeneth ye to answer? or for what cause do ye thus oppress me ? 3. But now ye make me weary, and tire me out with idle repetitions, smiting me reproachfully and treating me with scorn. 4. Wherefore do ye write bitter things against me, striving to make me suffer for the errors of my past life.-5. Why chase a withered leaf, that's driven to and fro ? why pursue the dry stubble ? : And 6. Why hold ye my feet in the stocks, and observe ye so narrowly my paths, and count me for your enemy ?--7. Should I speak as ye do, and thus multiply words, and censure your conduct, ye would become a byword, and a scorn amongst the people. 8. O that your soul was in my soul's stead, and ye knew how to feel for my sorrows. 9. Alas! my enemies have gathered themselves against me; they afflict me on every side; they have stript me of my glory, and have taken the crown from my head, and laid snares for my destruction. 10. By your example, my brethren go far from me, and my acquaintance are verily estranged from me.-11. Even those who dwell in my house, count me a stranger. If I call my servants, no answer is given; I am even thought an alien in their sight. 12. My situation is dreary and desolate indeed; those who in my prosperity were friends, now forsake me; those whom I loved, are turned against me; I am deserted and alike distressed. 13. Have pity on me, have pity on me, O ye my friends, for the hand of God hath touched me, not to scourge, but to try me; not to chastise, but to improve me. 14. O that my words were now written! O that they were recorded in a book; that they were engraven with an iron pen in the rock forever; that others may be instructed by my speech, and instructed by my example. 15. Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; and though I forbear, wherein do I find comfort? 16. I was at rest, but am now rent asunder; mine eyes are dim by reason of sorrow, and all my thoughts are as a shadow.-17. 1 have put on sackcloth, and prostrated myself in the dust; my face is foul with weeping, and on my eye-lids is the shadow of death. 18. Alas! I am disconsolate, am broken; breach upon breach, my days are posting; the grave is ready for me. 17* 19. I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; to the worms, ye are my brethren; and where is my hope, and who shall behold it, for my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. 20. And though my friends forsake me, my witness is in heaven, and my record on high, my pleading is with God, as a mortal pleadeth for his friend.-21. But a great cause of my grief arises from a consciousness of having sinned against so much goodness, and provoked such tender mercy.-22. Mine iniquities deserve his righteous displeasure, but his goodness reacheth from heaven to earth.-23. May the remorse which I now feel, be the only punishment of my sin, from him who hath kept mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 24. But this I am assured, that my Redeemer liveth, and that he will stand at the latter day on earth, and though my reins be consumed within me, I shall not fear. 25. Though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold him, who will surely vindicate my cause, and re-. store to me comfort. "There holy souls perpetual Sabbaths keep, While tuned harps with louder trumpets sound. love? |