The fruits of affliction.

B. C. about 1520.

be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

12 He disappointeth the devices of Or, cannot the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

perform any thing.

i Neh. 4. 15. Ps. 33. 10. Is. 8. 10.

|| Or, run into. k Ps. 9. 15. 1 Cor. 3. 19.

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

14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noon1 Deut. 28. 29. day as in the night.

Is. 59. 10.
Am. 8. 9.

m Ps. 35. 10.

n 1 Sam. 2. 9. Ps. 107. 42.

o Ps. 94. 12. Prov. 3. 11, 12. Heb. 12. 5. James 1. 12. Rev. 3. 19. p Deut. 32. 39. 1 Sam. 2. 6. Is. 30. 26. Hos. 6. 1.

q Ps. 34. 19. &

ות

15 But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.

16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18 P For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

19 He shall deliver thee in six

Job reproveth his friends.

drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

5 Doth the wild ass bray † when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat. 8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for

e

f

I have not concealed the words of Acts 20.20. the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I

10. 13.

1

r Ps. 91. 10.

+ Heb. from the hands.

|| Or, when the tongue scourgeth.

no evil touch thee.

20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death and in war from the power of the sword.

21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt Ps. 33. 19. & thou be afraid of destruction when

37. 19.

t Ps. 31. 20.

it cometh.

22 At destruction and famine thou u 18. 11. 9. & shalt laugh: "neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

35. 9. & 65, 25. Ez. 34. 25.

x Ps. 91. 12. Hos. 2. 18.

1 Or, that peace is thy tabernacle.

|| Or, err.

y Ps. 112. 2. Or, much.

2 Ps. 72. 16. a Prov. 9. 11. & 10. 27.

that I should prolong my life?

f Lev. 19. 2 Is. 57. 15. Hos. 11. 9.

not sin.

25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn +Heb.ascend-† cometh in in his season.

eth.

b Ps. 111. 2.

+ Heb. for thyself, Prov. 9. 12.

a Prov. 27.3.

b Ps. 38. 2.

+ Heb. lifted

up.

2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity + laid in the balances together!

3 For now it would be heavier a than That is, I the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

want words to express my

grief, Ps. 77.

4.

tinguished

18 The paths of their way are turn-Heb. ed aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

Gen. 25. 15. 11 Kings 10. 1.

Ps. 72 10.
Ez. 27.22,23

20 They were confounded because Jer. 14. & they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

ye are like to them. Heb. to it.

21 For now "ye are nothing; ye Or, For now! see my casting down, and are afraid. 22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your sub-Heb.nl

stance?

23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? 26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

n ch. 13. 4. o Ps. 38. 11.

for, a wari.re.

Act. 14, 5, 13,

14. Ps. 99.4 + Heb. gapeth

ater.

See ch. 29. 2.

Deut. 23. 67. 17. 12

• Heb. the mening be messured?

- Is. 14. 11. * 2.9.25 622 & 17.

CHAPTER VII.

Job excuseth his desire of death: 12 and complaineth to God of his dealings with him.

IS there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling? 2 As a servant tearnestly desireth the shadow, and as a hireling looketh for the reward of his work;

3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

4 When I lie down, I When say, shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken,

1. P.90.6. and become loathsome.

& 102 11. & .83. 15. & 144. <1.38. 12. & 4% 6. Jes 4. 14. 'PA. 73. 39. & 247.

• Heb. shall
But return.

see, that is,

teaky
rca 20.9.

! That is, I
in lire no
Longer.
42 Sam. 12.
24

I

ch. 8. 18. & 3.9. P& 2.16.

* Pa. 3, 1, 9. &40.9.

10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish

1 Sam. 1. 10. of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

ach. 9.27.

•H, than my bones.

ch. 10. 1.

ch. 10. 20. & 14.6. P. 39.

PPs. 62.9.

12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through

visions :

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

16 "I loathe it; I would not live alway let me alone; for my days are vanity.

17

est

God's justice vindicante.

What is man, that thou shouldmagnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

B. C.

about 1520.

4 Ps. 8. 4. &

144. 3. Heb. 2.6.

r Ps. 36. 6.

20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark ch. 16. 12. against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine

iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? 4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly in

crease.

Ps. 21. 12. Lam. 3. 12.

a Gen. 18. 25. Deut. 32. 4. 2 Chr. 19. 7. ch. 34. 12, 17. Dan. 9. 14. Rom. 3. 5.

+ Heb. in the hand of their transgression.

b oh. 1. 5, 18.

e ch. 5. 8. & 11. 13. & 22. 23,

&c.

The's justice acknowledged.

B. C. about 1520.

but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden. 17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones. 18 'If he destroy him from his place, 30.9. Ps. 57. then it shall deny him, saying, I have

i ch. 7. 10. &

a Ps. 143. 2. Rom. 3. 20. Or, before God?

b ch. 36. 5.

© Is. 2. 19. 21. Hag. 2. 6, 21. Heb. 12. 26. d ch. 26. 11.

• Gen. 1. 6. Ps. 104. 2, 3.

CHAPTER IX.

Job's answer to Bildad: He acknowledgeth the justice and power of God; 22 but contendeth that man's outward estate determineth not his true character.

Affliction cometh upon all.

B. C.

16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe about 1520. that he had hearkened unto my voice. 17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds m without cause.

18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. 19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me

perverse.

21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, "He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

m ch. 2. 3. &

34.6.

n Ecc. 9. 2, 3. Ez. 21. 3.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces o 2 Sam. 15. of the judges thereof; if not, where,

a

how should man be just with God? 3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. 4 b He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? 5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not; which overturneth them in his anger;

6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble;

7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars; 8 Which alone spreadeth out the Heb.heights. heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

S0. & 19.4. Jer. 14. 4.

25 Now my days are swifter than p ch. 7. 6,7. a post: they flee away, they see no good.

26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that | Or, ships of hasteth to the prey.

27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself;

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

30 "If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Heb. one that should argue. y ver. 19.

1 Sam. 2. 25. z ch. 13, M.2, 22. & S. 7. Ps. 39. 10.

+ Heb, but I
am not so

with myself.

a 1 Kings 19.

4. ch. 7. 16. Jonah 4. 3, &

Or, cut

while I live.

ch. 7. 11.

ps thy kawledge,

P1,2

Heb. took

5 Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,

6 That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin? 7 Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.

8 Thine hands have made me and | país about | fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.

Ps. 119. 73.

10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?

11 Thou hast clothed me with skin Heb hedged and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.

Pa 159. 1.

12 Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.

13 And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.

14 If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; 912, 15, and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore 'see thou mine affliction;

1 Pa. 25. 18.

I. 9. 13. Lam 3. 10.

That is, thy

Bath 1. 21.

ach. 3. 11.

Se ch. 7. 6,

12.9. P. 19. 5.

1.99. 13.

. 7. 16, 19.

P&. 83.12. •Pa 23.4.

m

16 For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me. 17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.

18 "Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

20 Are not my days few? Pcease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,

21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness 'and the shadow of death;

22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

His ways are unsearchable.

CHAPTER XI.

The speech of Zophar: He reproveth Job for justifying himself; 5 sheweth that God's ways are unsearchable; 13 and exhorteth Job to repentance.

mathite, and said,

HEN answered Zophar the Naa

2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? 4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. 5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

B. C. about 1520.

+ Heb. a man of lips. Or, devices.

a ch. 6. 10. & 10. 7.

6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than Ezra 9. 13. thine iniquity deserveth.

7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. 10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then † who can hinder him?

11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

God's wisdom and power.

B. C. about 1520.

+Heb. a heart. + Heb. I fall not lower

than you. + Heb, with

whom are not such as these? a ch. 13. 2.

b ch. 16. 10. & 17. 2, 6. & 21. 3. & 30. 1.

c Ps. 91. 15.

d Prov. 14. 2.

⚫ ch. 21. 7.

Ps. 37. 1, 35. & 73. 11, 12. & 92. 7. Jer. 12. 1. Mal. 3.

15.

AND Job answered and said.

2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. 3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

4 I am as one mocked of his neigh

Job reproveth his friends.

is to scorn.

e

6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

9 Who knoweth not in all these that f Num. 16. 22. the hand of the LORD hath wrought

Dan. 5. 23.

Acts 17. 28. Il Or, life.

+ Heb. all

flesh of man. +Heb. palate,

ch. 6. 30. 8 ch. 34. 3. h ch. 32. 7.

That is,
With God.

i ch. 9. 4. & 36. 5.

k ch. 11. 10.

+ Heb. upon. 1 Is. 22. 22. Rev. 3. 7.

m 1 Kings 8. 35. & 17. 1.

n Gen. 7. 11, &c.

o ver. 13.

P 2 Sam. 15. 31. & 17. 14, 23. Is. 19. 12. & 29. 14.

1 Cor. 1. 19. q ch. 32. 9. Is. 3. 1, 2, 3. + Heb. the lip

this?

10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of tall mankind.

stood it.

a

der.

* Deut. 28. 29. ch. 5. 14.

y Ps. 107. 27.

2 What ye know, the same do Iach. 12. 3. know also: I am not inferior unto you.

31. 35.

3 Surely I would speak to the Al-bch. 25. 3. & mighty, and I desire to reason with God.

16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. 18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. 19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

20 He removeth away the speech of the faith of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

ful.

r Ps. 107. 40. Dan. 2. 21. II Or, looseth the girdle of the strong. Dan. 2. 22. Matt. 10. 26. 1 Cor. 4. 5.

t Ps. 107. 38. Is. 9. 3. & 26. 15.

21 'He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the +Heb. leadeth nations, and straiteneth them again. 24 He taketh away the heart of the

in.

other, do ye so mock him? 10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

e ch. 17. 5 & 32. 21. & 36.

4.

11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? 12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay. 13 Hold your peace, let me alone, Heb. Be si that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

14 Wherefore 'do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

lent from me.

f ch. 18. 4. 81 Sam. 28. 21. Ps. 119. 109. h Pa 23. 4. Prov. 14. $2

maintain + Heb. prove,

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will mine own ways before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him.

17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

k

or, argue. i ch. 27. 5.

18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. 19 Who is he that will plead with ch 5.6. me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

Is. 50. 8.

1 ch. 9. $4. & 33. 7.

20 Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee. 21 Withdraw thine hand far from m Ps. $9. 10. me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

23 How many are mine iniquities