THE BOOK OF JOB JOB I, II There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away his heart from evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred cattle, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. Now it fell on a day when his sons and daughters were feasting in their eldest brother's house, that there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the cattle feeding; and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away: yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, Fire is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and made a raid upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were feasting in their eldest brother's house; and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped; and he said, Naked came I into the world, and naked shall I return hence: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. And his wife said unto him, Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? renounce God, and die! But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips, nor charge God foolishly. JOB IV, V Now a thing was secretly brought to me, It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; A form was before mine eyes: There was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, Shall mortal man be more just than God? How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust! But as for me, I would bow before the Almighty, Who setteth up on high those that are low, They meet with darkness in the daytime, And grope at noonday as in the night. But the meek he saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty. So the meek hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth. JOB V Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and his hands make whole. Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. At destruction and dearth thou shalt laugh; Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; And thou shalt visit thine habitation, and fail not. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, JOB IX, XI, XXIII Then spake Job, and said: Oh that I knew where I might find him! He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him. Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not. Then answered Zophar, and said unto Job: Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than the abyss; what canst thou know? And though thou say, I behold him not; And stretch out thine hands toward him; Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear. And because there is hope, thou shalt be secure; Yea, thou shalt look about thee, and shalt take thy rest in safety; Thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid. JOB XIV, XVI, XIX Psalms xvi, lxxi, lxxiii If a man die, shall he live again? Oh that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! All the days of my warfare would I wait, Till my release should come. |