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upon his house, but it shall not endure; he shall hold it fast but it shall not stand. 16. He is as a green tree before the scorching sun; whose branches shoot forth in its greenness. 17. Its roots are wrapped even about the heaps of stones. if God root him out of his place, then it shall not be known that he was there. 19. Lo, this is all the joy of his way, (to be cut off); and out of the earth shall others (as it were) grow, (to possess his riches). 20. Lo, God will not cast away a perfect man, nor succour the evil doers, 21. Till he fill thy mouth, (if sincere), with smiling, and thy lips with rejoicing. 22. They that hate thee shall then be clothed with shame, and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nothing,

CHAP. IX.

GOD'S JUSTICE IN MAN'S TROUBLES.

THEN Job replied, 2. I know it is so indeed: but how should man be just before God? 3. If he contead with him, he could not answer him for one of a thousand faults. 4. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him and prospered? 5. Who removes mountains suddenly, and they are not aware of it? who overturns them in his anger? 6. Who shakes the earth out of its place, and its political pillars trem ble? 7. Who commands the sun, and its light springs not out, and seals up the stars (in darkness)? 8. Who alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea? 9. Who makes Arcturus, (the north constellation), Orion, and Pleiades, and the constellations of the south? 10. Who doeth great things past comprehension, yea, even wonders without number? 11. Lo, he goeth by me, (in his oper ations), and I see him not (therein); he passeth on also (in Providence), but I perceive him not (in his works). 12. Lo, he taketh away, and who can hin

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der him? who will say to him, What doest thou? 13. If God withdraw not his anger, the proud tyrants stoop under him: 14. How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him! 15. Whom I would not answer, tho' I were righteous, but I would make supplication to him as my Judge. 16. If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe (for astonishment), that he had hearkened to my voice. 17. For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds, without my knowing the cause. He will not suffer me to take my breath, (or rest from sorrow); but fills me with bitterness. 19. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of justice, who shall be able to plead my cause? 20. If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me; if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. 21. Tho' I were perfect, yet my soul would not boast of it: I would despise my life. 22. This one thing I said, He trieth the perfect and the wicked. 23. If the scourge slay the wicked suddenly, he will not regard the trial of the innocent. 24. The earth is given to the power of the wicked: he covers the judges' faces by bribes; if not, where and who is he that can deny it? 25. Now my days are swifter than a post; they flee away, they enjoy no good. 26. They are passed away as the ships of Ebeh: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. 27. If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my heaviness, and comfort myself; 28. 1 am afraid still of all my sorrows, I know thou wilt not hold me guiltless. 29. If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain to be good? 30. If I as it were wash myself as with snow-water, and make my hands never so clean, (thou wilt still tay me by trouble), 31. And as it were plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall make me to be abhorred. 32. For he is not a man as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come to

gether into judgement. 33. Neither is there any arbiter betwixt us, that might decide between us both. 34. Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me; 35. Then would I speak without terror of him; but it is not so with me.

CHAP. X.

JOB COMPLAINS OF LIFE.

My soul is weary of my life; I cannot refrain my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2. I will say to God, Do not condemn me; shew me why thou contendest with me. 3. Is it good to thee to distress, to depress the work of thine hands, and give success to the wicked? 4. Hast thou eyes (partial as) of flesh? or seest thou as man sees? 5. Are thy ways as those of changeable man? are thy years as man's days, 6. That thou enquirest after mine iniquity (by correction), and searchest after my sin? 7. Thou knowest I am not wicked, and none can deliver from thine hand. S. Thine hands formed me, and fashioned me together around; yet thou dost distress me. 9. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as of the clay, and thou wilt reduce me to dust again. 10. Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese? 11. Thou hast clothed me with flesh and skin, and fenced me with bones and sinews. 12. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy providence hath preserved my spirit; 13. And these purposes thou hast hid in thine heart: 14. If I sin, thou markest me; and wilt not acquit me from it. 15. If I be wicked, wo to me; and if I be righte ous, yet I will not lift up my head: I am full of confusion; therefore regard thou mine affliction, 16. For it encreaseth. Thou pursuest me as a fierce lion; and again thou showest thyself marvellous to me. 17.Thou renewest (thy plagues) thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon

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me; the changes of war are against me. then hast thou brought me forth into the world? Oh that I had expired in the birth, and no eye had seen me! 19. I should have been as tho' I had not been, being carried from the birth to the grave. 20. Are not my days few? cease from me, let me alone, to 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 of the shadow of death, without any distinction, and as darkness itself.

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CHAP. XI.

GOD'S WISDOM IS UNSEARCHABLE.

THEN Zophar the Naamathite replied, 2. Should not the multitude of words be answered; and should a man full of talk be justified? 3. Should thy de vices make men silent? and when thou deridest others, shall no man controvert thee? 4. For thou saidst, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. 5. But oh that God would speak against thee; 6. And shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to what is shewn! Know, therefore, that God exacts of thee less than thine iniquity deserves. 7. Canst thou by searching find out the ways of God? canst thou find out the Almighty to 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 much, who can hinder him? 11. For he knows vain men; and seeth wickedness; will he not then consider it? 12. For vain man would be wise, tho' he be born like a wild ass's colt, (stupid and stubborn). 13. If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands towards him, (he will regard); 14. If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. 15. For then shalt thou lift up thy face

without spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear; 16. Because thou shalt forget thy misery, or remember it only as waters that pass away. 17. And the rest of thine age shall be clearer than the noon-day; thou shalt shine forth as the morning, 18. And be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt pitch thy tabernacle, and rest in safety. 19. Thou shalt lie down, and none make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit to thee. 20. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the expiring breath.

CHAP. XIII.

JOB DEFENDS HIMSELF.

THEN Job replied, 2. No doubt but ye are the wise people, and wisdom shall depart with you. 3. But I have understanding as well as you, I am not inferior to you: yea, who knows not such things as these? 4. I am as one mocked by his neighbour, who calls on God that he may answer him: the just upright man is derided. 5. He whose foot is ready to slip is despised, as a lamp extinct, by him that is at ease. 6. The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are now secure; to whom he gives 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 the shrub of the earth shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee. (Rom. i. 20.) 9. Who observes not in all these that the Eternal's hand hath made them; 10. In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. 11. Doth not the ear try words, as the mouth tasteth meat? 12. With the ancient is wisdom; and with old age understanding. 13. With God is wisdom and strength; he hath council and understanding. 14. Lo he pulleth down, and it shall not be built; he shutteth up a man in trouble, and none can open to get out.