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5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. 6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?

8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son

of man.

9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

3 Chap. 22. 3. Psal. 16. 2. Rom. 11. 35.

11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

13 'Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

15 But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:

16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge. 4 Chap 27. 9. Prov. 1. 29. Isa. 1. 13. Jer. 11. 11. 6 That is, Job.

5 That is, God.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

24 God's works

1 Elihu sheweth how God is just in his ways. 16 How
Job's sins hinder God's blessings.
are to be magnified.

ELIU also proceeded, and said,

2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee 'that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any he is mighty in strength and 'wis

dom.

6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the "poor.

7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

Heb. that there are yet words for God.

14 "They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

16 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: "judgment and justice take hold on thee.

18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

12

19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? 24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be

searched out.

27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

4 Psal. 34. 15.

2 Heb. heart.
3 Or, afflicted.
7 Heb. their soul dieth.
8 Or, sodomites.
11 Or, judgment and justice should uphold thee.

6 Heb. they shall pass away by the sword, 10 Heb. the rest of thy table.

5 Chap. 21. 13. Or, afflicted.

12 Heb. turn thee aside.

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CHAPTER XXXVII.

1 God is to be feared because of his great works. 15 His wisdom is unsearchable in them.

Ar this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

2 'Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

3

3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

12 And it is turned round about by his counsels that they may do whatsoever he

:

1 Heb. hear in hearing.

commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

13 He causeth it to come, whether for 'correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of

darkness.

20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

22 10Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

2 Heb. light. 5 Heb. and to the shower of rain, and to the showers of rain of his strength. 8 Heb. the cloud of his light.

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Verse 6. He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth.'-Some readers, regarding Job and his friends as emirs of the region bordering on Palestine, will, from the ideas they form of hot regions, be surprised at their familiarity with snow. We collect the following notices from the History of the Months, in the Introduction (forming the Natural History) of our own Pictorial History of Palestine. Under January it is stated,The mountains of Lebanon are covered all the winter with snow, which, when the winds are easterly,

3 Heb. wings of the earth. Heb. out of the chamber. 9 Heb. a rod. 10 Heb. gold.

4 Psal. 147. 16, 17. 7 Heb. scattering winds.

affects the whole coast from Tripoli to Sidon with a more piercing cold than is known even in this northern climate. But the other maritime and inland places, whether to the north or south of these mountains, enjoy a much milder temperature, and a more regular change in the seasons. Le Bruyn, travelling along the maritime coast in January, found the whole country around Tripoli covered with deep snow. On the same coast, more to the south, between Tyre and Acre, on the 9th, Buckingham found the

cold great, and the thermometer at 45° in the open air, before sunrise. Brown takes notice of snow at Jaffa on the 24th of this month. Major Skinner, who states that he traversed the country in a season unusually severe, speaks much of snow and cold. He mentions a village under Mount Carmel, in which many houses had been destroyed by the great quantities of snow which had fallen. He spent a night in that village, and on the morning of the 28th found the court-yard full of snow, which had fallen during the night. Snow was then resting on the ridge of Mount Carmel. Penetrating to the interior of the country, the same traveller reached Nazareth on the 30th. The heights around the town, and many of the houses in it, were covered with snow, large heaps of which were piled up in the court-yard of the convent. Many of the smaller houses had been destroyed by it; and, the next day, he found that the deep snow in the streets rendered it impossible to quit the city, and difficult to move about in it. A thaw had, however, commenced. The snow falls thick and lies long on the mountains and high intervening plains and valleys of Jebel Hauran, which may be said to bound eastward the country beyond Jordan. Madox found it so at the end of this month. The same traveller, on the 13th, found Damascus covered with snow as well as the mountains and plain around it. From its peculiarly low level and enclosed situation, the plain of Jericho, and indeed the whole valley of the Jordan, enjoys a remarkably mild winter climate. Mariti adduces and confirms the statement of Josephus, who reports that the winter of the plain of Jericho resembled spring, and that the inhabitants were clothed in linen garments at the same time that it snowed in other parts of Judæa. Correspondingly, Burckhardt takes notice that snow is almost unknown on the borders of the lake of Tiberias. It appears, indeed, generally, that when the sun is not obscured the day is often exceedingly warm when the night has been frosty. The Scriptures allude to this, as do various travellers. La Roque was much incommoded by the heat of the sun when travelling near Tyre on the 29th of this month.'

But

In the same work it is stated, under February,—' At the beginning of this month, dazzling snow on all sides met the view of Major Skinner in departing from Nazareth. He saw the snow firm on the sides of Mount Tabor. after his return to the coast, he takes no further notice of snow, which had so much engaged his attention before he departed for the interior of the country. Snow usually falls this month in the southern parts of Palestine; and Shaw reports that it is an observation at and near Jerusalem that, provided a moderate quantity of snow falls in the beginning of February, whereby the fountains are made to overflow a little afterwards, there is the prospect of a plentiful year; and that the inhabitants on such occasions make similar rejoicings to those of the Egyptians on cutting the dikes of the Nile. Southward, in the higher region of the Sinai mountains, Thevenot met with snow, and even with ice which no stick could break, in the beginning of February; and even at Suez, his inability to obtain admittance into the town gave him occasion to experience that the night air was severely cold.

'As might be expected, the cold is this month more severe in the high country beyond Jordan, on the east, than in the other parts of Palestine. As late as the 22nd, Buckingham found the snow lying on the high range of hills at Gilead, called Jebel es-Szalt, which became thicker the higher he ascended. On the summit the cold was excessive, and the snow, presenting one unbroken mass, was hardened into solid ice. This is not surprising, if, as he thinks, by a comparative estimate, the height was 5000 feet above the level of the sea. The same day he reached the town of Szalt. The whole of the town was filled with snow, the streets being in some places almost impassable; and the terraces of the houses, which, from

the steepness of the hill on which it stood, rose one above another, like steps, presented a number of square and snow-like masses, like sheets exposed on the ground to dry. The inhabitants, including men, women, and children, were clothed in sheep-skin jackets, with the skin, looking like red leather, turned outside, and the wool within: while the florid complexions and light-brown hair of the people gave to the whole an appearance of a scene in the north of Europe, rather than one in the southern part of so hot a region as Syria, and bordering too upon the parched deserts of Arabia-Petræa. Buckingham was detained at this place till the 28th by the weather, which was reported to have caused great destruction among the flocks and herds of the surrounding country; and two persons were reported to have died on the night of the 27th from exposure to the cold at a short distance from the town. In the country more to the east, about the mountains which bound the Hauran plain, the weather in this month must be severe, judging from the series of daily observations which Mr. Madox has given. He was detained no less than nine days (10th-19th) at el-Hait, on the lower slope of the Hauran mountains, by snow and bad weather. From an analysis of the observations made by him in this quarter, and extending from near the beginning towards the end of this month, it appears that there are often heavy falls of snow, chiefly by night, but sometimes by day. The snow occasionally lies several feet deep on the ground in the morning. Sometimes, on the same night, falls of snow alternate with showers of sleet and rain. Frost frequent, and sometimes very severe. Cold, sometimes intense, at night, when the north wind blows. The winds often blow strongly and keenly at night, generally abate as the day grows, and sometimes rise again in the afternoon. The higher mountains covered with thick snow. Snow in the plain around the mountains also, till about the 19th; but not so much. Even on approaching Damascus (20th) this traveller had often to make his way through water and ice. At the same time the Lebanon mountains were impassable from snow, and the post from Damascus to Beirut had been obliged to return. It is right to add, that this winter (1825) appears to have been more than usually severe for snow and cold. Nevertheless in this month, and especially in the latter half of it, the sun shines out brightly by day, and the air is mild and genial, especially in the country west of the Jordan.'

7. ‘He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know,' etc.-We remember to have seen this passage presumptuously cited in old books, as affording a sanction to the fooleries of chiromancy. The obvious meaning is no more or less than this: that during the deep snows and heavy rains, mentioned in the preceding verse, the hand of man is restrained from the usual labours of the field. The effect is the same if, with Schultens and others, the restraint be understood to proceed from the frosts of winter, rather than from rain. It is immediately after said, that then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places;' which well explains what is meant in the present text, and that sealing up the hand' means an intermission of customary pursuits. Beasts withdraw in this manner when there are rain and snow, but not necessarily in frosty weather: and this fact furnishes another explanation, confirming the view already taken.

18. A molten looking-glass.'-See the note on Exod. xxxviii. 8.

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CHAPTER XXXVIII.

God challengeth Job to answer. 4 God, by his mighty works, convinceth Job of ignorance, 31 and of imbecility.

THEN the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and 'answer thou me.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the 'foundations thereof 5fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13 That it might take hold of the 'ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the scal; and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Iast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

20 That thou shouldest take it to the 1 Heb. make me know.

5 Heb. made to sink. 10 Or, at.

bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is

no man;

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep "is frozen.

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of 12 13 Pleiades, or loose the bands of "Orion? 32 Canst thou bring forth "Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

16

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, "Here we are?

36 18Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

19.

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, 38 20When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

21

39 22 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 "Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

3 Heb. if thou knowest understanding.
it.
upon
8 Heb. the pride of thy waves.
13 Heb. Cimah.

2 Psal. 104. 5. Prov. 30. 4.
7 Or, established my decree
12 Or, the seven stars.

6 Psal. 104. 9. 11 Heb. is taken.

16 Heb. guide them.

17 Heb. Behold us. 20 Or, when the dust is turned into mire. 23 Heb. the life.

15 Or, the twelve signs. 19 Heb. who can cause to lie down, 22 Psal. 104. 21.

4 Heb. sockets. 9 Heb. wings. 14 Heb. Cesil. 18 Chap. 32. 8. Eccles, 2. 26. 21 Heb. is poured.

24 Psal. 147. 9. Matt. 6. 26.

Verse 14. It is turned as clay to the seal.'-Mr. Landseer, in his Sabaan Researches, has some curious speculations upon this passage. He understands that the seal alluded to was one of such cylinders, revolving upon an axis, which we have noticed under 1 Kings xxi. Then he apprehends that the turning' applies to the revolution of the cylindrical seal upon the clay that received the impression. Or, as the clay seems rather to be represented as turning to the seal, than the seal to the clay, he observes, that the whole verse might be explained by the operation of impressing one of these ancient cylindrical signets on clay, which bends as the cylinder revolves in delivering its impression, stands round it curvedly as a garment (till you flatten it while in a moist state), and renders conspicuous to view the dark contents of the intaglio engraving.' This last explanation we can by no means admit, whatever be said of the other; for there can be no idea of any use for such impressions as it supposes. It is a useful observation, made by him, however, that of all the substances to which he had applied these cylin drical signets, he found clay to be the best adapted both for receiving and retaining the impression. We think the text certainly states that impressions were for some purposes made by seals (of whatever kind) upon clay; and can by no means agree with Dr. Good, that the idea is derived from the operations of the potter. Seals are still applied to clay in the East, probably for the same purposes as in the time of Job: this is for the sealing of doors. We have often, in Eastern caravanserais, been struck by observing this process as applied to apartments in which valuable property has been deposited. In such cases, the lock, which is easily picked, is considered an inadequate safeguard, a mass of clay is daubed over it, and

impressed with a wooden seal. This of course does not prevent robberies; but it serves at once to make the fact known if any one has contrived or forced an entrance by the door, through which alone access can be obtained. As to the general signification of the verse, we incline to understand that the word en tithhappek (in conj. Hithp. from 7) denotes change rather than literal revolution; and, consequently, that the passage compares the change which the day-spring produces on the face of nature, to that which the seal produced upon clay, impressing its blank and disagreeable mass with character and beauty. [APPENDIX, No. 60.]

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22. The treasures of the snow.'-This has not been clearly understood, nor do we profess to understand it. But the comparison of snow to treasure,' might suggest a reference to the extremely diversified and very beautiful forms of the crystals of which the flakes of snow are composed. When the air is calm and the cold intense, as in the Arctic regions, these crystals are observed in the most extensive variety, and the most regular and beautiful forms; and as the extreme north was considered as the great storehouse, so to speak, of cold and of all the phenomena which cold produces, one might venture to suspect a reference to the polar regions as to the 'treasures of the snow. Captain Scoresby, who gave much attention to this and other Arctic phenomena, has figured ninetysix varieties of these crystals, and we have caused part of his representation to be copied. He divides all the forms into five principal classes, for the description of which we may refer to his work. If we might venture to suppose that the Almighty referred Job to such things as affording evidence of His wisdom and power, we should perceive a

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