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A. C. 2130.

SECTION XVI.

Reply of Job to Zophar.

JOB XXI.

1 Job sheweth that even in the judgment of man he hath reason to be grieved. 7
Sometimes the wicked do so prosper, as they despise God. 16 Sometimes their
destruction is manifest. 22 The happy and unhappy are alike in death.
The judgment of the wicked is in another world.

1 But Job answered and said,

27

2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so,

* Heb. short- why should not my spirit be * troubled?

ened.

+ Heb. look unto me.

a Ps. xvii. 10. 14. & lxxiii.3.

5+Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

7 a Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are 12. Jer. xii. 1. mighty in power?

Hab. i. 16.

+ Heb. are peace from fear.

Or, in mirth.

b Ch. xxii. 17.

Il Or, lamp.

8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

13 They spend their days § in wealth, and in a moment go down to the

b

grave.

14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

for

15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out? and how oft cometh their destruction upon them? God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that * Heb. steal the storm * carrieth away.

eth away.
+ That is, the
punishment of
his iniquity.

19 God layeth up this iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink A.C. 2130. of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when

the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth

those that are high.

23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease * Heb. in his and quiet.

very perfec tion, or, in the strength of his

24 His +breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moist- perfection. ened with marrow.

25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. 31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?'

+ Or, milk pails.

+ Heb. the tent of the ta

bernacles of

the wicked.

e

Prov. xvi. 4.

Heb. the day of wraths.

32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall | Heb. graves * remain in the tomb.

33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth + falsehood?

SECTION XVII.

The Third Controversy between Job and his Friends-begun by

Eliphaz.

JOB XXII.

1 Eliphaz sheweth that man's goodness profiteth not God. 5 He accuseth Job of
divers sins. 21 He exhorteth him to repentance, with promises of mercy.
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise
may be profitable unto himself?

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

4 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

*Heb. watch in the heap.

+ Heb. transgression.

tor, if he may

be profitable, doth his good success de

pend thereon?

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5 Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for * Heb. strip- nought, and * stripped the naked of their clothing.

ped the clothes of the naked.

+ Het. the man of arm.

7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and Heb. emi the honourable man dwelt in it.

nent, or, accepted for

countenance.

Heb. the

head of the stars.

|| Or, what.

* Heb. a flood was poured upon their foundation.

d Ch. xxi. 14.

9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;

11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.

12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold § the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 And thou sayest, || How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

15 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

16 Which were cut down out of time, *whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what

+ Or, to them. can the Almighty do + for them?

e Ch. xxi. 16.

f Ps. cvii. 42.

+ Or, estate. § Or, their excellency.

|| That is, with God.

g Ch. viii. 5, 6.

* Or, on the dust.

+ Or, gold.

18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19 The righteous see it, and are glad : and the innocent augh them to scorn.

20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but § the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shall be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy + defence, and thou Heb silver shalt have plenty of silver.

of strength.

26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be esta

blished unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy A.C. 2130.

ways.

29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

* Heb. him that hath low

30+ He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it eyes. is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

SECTION XVIII.

Reply of Job.

JOB XXIII.

1 Job longeth to appear before God, 6 in confidence of his mercy. 8 God, who is invisible, observeth our ways. 11 Job's innocency. 13 God's decree is immutable.

1 Then Job answered and said,

+ Or, the innocent shall deliver the island.

2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is Heb. my heavier than my groaning.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

hand.

that is with

10 But he knoweth § the way that I take: when he hath Heb. the way tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; || I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me :

me.

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Heb. I have

hid, or, laid up.

Or, my appointed portion. h Ps. cxv. 3.

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17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

i Deut. xix. 14. & xxvii. 17. * Or, feed them.

+ Heb. mingled corn, or,

dredge.

Heb. the wicked gather

JOB XXIV.

1 Wickedness goeth often unpunished. 17 There is a secret judgment for the wicked.

1 Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?

2 Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and *feed thereof.

3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.

4 They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.

6 They reap every one his + corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.

7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that

the vintage. they have no covering in the cold.

his face in secrct.

8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.

10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;

11 Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 14 The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.

15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, Heh, setteth saying, No eye shall see me and § disguiseth his face. 16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.

17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.

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