Chap.
Give security for me [in the controversy] with thee; Who is he that will strike hands with me 1
4 Behold, thou hast hid their heart from understanding; Therefore thou shall not exalt them.
5 He who discloses his friends to the prey, The eyes of his children shall fail.
6 Me he has placed for a by-word among the people; I am an object of scorn before their face.
8 The upright shall be amazed at this;
9 The righteous will hold on his way.
10 As for you all, return, and come, I pray, And I shall not find among you one wise man
11 My days are passed;
14 To corruption I say, ' Thou art my father;' To the worm, * My mother, and my sister.'
15 And where now is my hope?
16 To the bars of Sheol they must descend, Yea, we shall descend together to the dust.
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 How long will it be ere you make an end of words? Use sound arguments, and then we will speak.
3 Why are we regarded as brutes, And reputed vile in your sight?
4 O Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger! Must the earth be deserted for thee,
5 Behold, the light of the wicked shall be put out; The flame of his fire shall not shine.
The second series of the controversy continued.
6 Light shall turn to darkness in his tent. And his lamp over him shall be extinguished.
7 His strong steps shall be straitened, And his own plans shall cast him down.
8 For he is brought into the net by his own feet. And into the pitfall he walks.
9 The snare takes him by the heel. And the gin takes fast hold of him.
10 A net is secretly laid for him in the ground, And a trap for him in the pathway.
11 Terrors alarm him on every side. And harass him at his heels.
12 His strength shall be exhausted by hunger. And destruction shall seize upon his side.
14 His hope shall be rooted out of his tent,
The first-born of death shall devour his limbs.
15 [Terror] shall dwell in his tent — for it is no longer his; Sulphur shall be scattered upon his habitation.
16 His roots below, are dried up; Above, his branches are withered.
17 His memory shall perish from the earth, And no name shall he have in public places.
18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, And they shall drive him out of the world.
19 He shall have no son or kinsman among the people, And there shall be no survivor in his dwelling-place.
20 The dwellers in the East shall be astonished at his day j They in the West shall be struck with horror.
21 Such are the dwellings of the impious man, And this the place of him that knows not God.
1 Then Job answered, and said •
2 How long will ye vex my soul. And crush me with words?
3 These ten times have ye reviled me,
4 And be it, indeed, that I have erred; My error remaineth with myself
6 Know now that it is God who has overthrown me; He hath encircled me with his net.
7 Lo, I complain of violence, but I receive no answer; I cry aloud, but there is no justice.
8 My way he hath hedged up so that I cannot pass,
And in my paths he hath placed darkness. 9 He hath stripped me of my glory, And taken the crown from my head.
10 He destroys me on every side — and I am gone; He uprooteth my hope as a tree.
11 His anger burneth against me, And he regardeth me as an enemy.
12 His troops advance together against me, They throw up their way against me, And they encamp round about my dwelling.
13 My brethren he hath put far from me,
14 My neighbors have failed,
15 The foreigners in my house.
Yea, my own maid-servants regard me as a stranger — I am an alien in their view.
16 I call my servant — and he gives me no answer; With my own mouth do I entreat him.
17 My breath is offensive to my wife —
18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
19 All my intimate friends abhorred me. And they whom I loved turned against me.
20 My bone cleaves to my skin and my flesh,
21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O my friends For the hand of God hath smitten me!
22 Why do ye persecute me as God does. And are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 O that my words were now written!
24 That with an iron graver, and with lead, They were engraven upon a rock for ever!
25 For I know that my Avenger liveth,
26 And though after my skin this [flesli] be destroyed, Yet even without my flesh shall I see God;
And mine eyes shall behold, and not another — Though my vitals are wasting away within me.
28 Therefore you should say, ' Why do we persecute him? ' Yea, the substance of piety is found in him.'
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 My distracted thoughts urge me to reply;
3 I have heard thy injurious rebuke,
4 Knowest thou not that from the most ancient times, From the time when man was placed upon the earth,
5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short,
6 Though his greatness mount up to the heavens, And his excellency unto the clouds,
7 Yet he shall perish forever as the vilest substance. They who have seen him shall say. Where is he?
8 He shall flee away as a dream, and not be found; Yea, he shall vanish as a vision of the night.
9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more. And his place shall never more behold him.
10 His sons shall seek the aid of the poor^
11 His bones are full of his secret sins,
And they shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,
13 Though he retain it, and will not part with it, And keep it long in his mouth,
14 His food shall be changed within him;
15 He hath glutted himself with riches, And he shall vomit them up again God shall expel them from him.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps; The viper's tongue shall destroy him.
17 He shall never look upon the rivulets —
18 The fruits of his labor shall he give back, and shall not enjoy
19 Because he hath oppressed, and then abandoned the poor, And seized upon the house which he did not build,
20 Surely he shall not know internal peace, He shall not save that in which he delights.
21 Nothing of his food shall remain; Wherefore, his prosperity shall not endure.
22 In the fulness of his abundance he shall be in want; The whole power of wretchedness shall come upon him.
23 Enough indeed shall there be to fill himself — God shall send upon him the fury of his anger, And rain it down upon him while he is eating.
24 He shall flee from the iron weapon.
25 One draws out [the arrow], and it cometh through his body The glittering steel cometh out of his gall —
26 Every kind of calamity is treasured up for him; A fire not kindled shall consume him;
27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity; And the earth shall rise up against him.
28 The property of his house shall disappear — Flowing away in the day of the wrath of God.
29 This is the portion of the wicked man from God;
1 But Job answered and said;
2 Hear attentively my speech; And let this be your consolation.
5 Look on me, and be astonished! And lay your hand on your mouth 1
6 When I think on it, I am confounded; And trembling seizes on my flesh.
7 Why is it that the wicked live. Grow old, yea, are mighty in wealth?
8 Their children are established before them, and with them, And their posterity before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from alarms, And the rod of God is not upon them,
10 Their cattle conceive and fail not;
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children sportively play.
12 They exhilarate themselves with the tabor and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
13 They spend their days in [the enjoyment of] good, And in an instant they go down to the grave.
14 And they say to God, ' Depart from us;
' We desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15 ' Who is the Almighty that we should serve him, ' And what will it profit us if we pray unto him V
16 ' Lo, their good' [you say] ' is not in their own hand' — (Far from me be the defence of the wicked;)
17 [But] how often does it occur that the light of the wicked is put out, And that destruction cometh upon them, And that God distributeth to them sorrows in his wrath?
18 How often are they as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
19 [You say] * God layeth up his iniquity for his children, ' He rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
20 ' His eyes shall see his destruction,
' And he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 ' For what is his happiness in his family after him,
22 [But I reply] Who shall impart knowledge to God, To him who judgeth the highest!
24 His watering-places for flocks abound with milk. And his bones are moist with marrow;
25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul. And never tasteth pleasure.
26 Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worm covereth them.
28 For ye say, ' Where is the house of the prince? ' And where the dwelling-place of the wicked 1'
29 Have ye not inquired of the travellers, And will you not admit their testimony,
30 That the wicked man is kept for the day of destruction, And that he shall be brought forth in the day of fierce wrath
31 Who charges him with his way to his face?
32 And he shall be borne [with honor] to the grave; And [friends] shall watch tenderly over his tomb.
33 Sweet to him shall be the clods of the valley; Every man shall go out to honor him.
34 And why then do you offer me vain consolations — Since in your responses there is error 1
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said.
CHAPTER XXH TTie third series in the controversy. Ch. xxii.-xxxi.
4 Will he contend with thee because he feareth thee — With THEE will he enter into judgment?
6 For thou hast taken a pledge of thy brother unjustly. And stripped off the clothing of the destitute.
7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, And from the hungry thou hast withholden bread.
8 But the man of power had the land; The man of rank dwelt in it.
9 Thou hast sent widows away empty,
And the arms of the fatherless thou hast broken.
10 Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear troubleth thee
12 Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the stars, how high they are!
13 And [hence] thou sayest, ' How doth God know? ' And can he judge behind the thick darkness 1
lEV/ TRANSLATION,
i4< ' Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he cannot see, * And he walketh upon the arch of heaven.'
15 But hast thou marked the ancient way Which wicked men have trodden 1
16 Who were huddled together [by the waters] in a moment, And whose foundations the flood swept away?
17 Who said unto God, ' Depart from us;'
And [who asked] what the Almighty could do for them? IS And yet he filled their houses with good things! Far from me be the counsel of the wicked!
19 The righteous see it, and rejoice;
21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and thou shalt have peace* And thus shall good 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 shalt be built-up; ^ If thou put away iniquity from thy tabernacle,
24 And cast to the dust thy precious treasure.
25 Then shall the Almighty be thy precious treasure. And shall be to thee piles of silver.
26 For then shalt thou have delight in the Almighty, And shalt lift up thy face unto God.
27 Thou shalt pray unto him, and he shall hear thee, And thou shalt perfect [the object of] thy vows.
28 Thou shalt form a purpose and it shall be accomplished, And upon thy ways shall the light shine.
30 Thou shalt deliver even the guilty man — He shall be saved by the purity of thy hands
1 Then Job answered and saidl
2 Even to-day is my complaint bitter
3 O 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 Tie would answer me. And understand what he would say unto me.
CHAPTER XXHI
6 Would he contend with me with his mighty power? No: he would give me strength.
7 There the righteous man might argue the case before him; And I should be delivered for ever from him who would judge
8 But, behold, I go to the East, and he is not there, And to the West, but I cannot perceive him;
9 To the North, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him.
When he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. ] 1 On his steps my foot hath seized;
12 The commandment of his lips I have not neglected;
13 But he is of one [purpose], and who can turn him? And what he desireth, that he doeth.
14 He performeth the thing that is appointed for me j And there are many such purposes in his mind,
15 Therefore I am troubled before him; When I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For God maketh my heart faint, And the Almighty troubleth me;
17 Because I was not taken away before darkness came, And he hath not hidden the cloud from mine eyes.
1 Why, since no events are hidden from the Almighty, Do not his friends see his judgments?
2 They [the wicked] remove the landmarks; They drive off the flock and pasture it.
3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless; They take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 They push the needy from the way;
The poor of the earth hide themselves together.
5 Behold, like wild asses of the desert, they go forth to their em-
ployment. Rising early in the morning to plunder; The desert furnishes food to them and their children.
6 They reap their grain in the field [of others], And they gather the vintage of the oppressor.
7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing.
8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, And embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9 They tear away the fatherless from the breast, And of the poor they exact a pledge.
10 They cause him to go naked without clothing; And they are made to carry the sheaf hungry.
1 1 They cause them to express oil within their walls; They tread their wine-presses, and yet suffer thirst.
And the soul of the wounded crieth out; But God does not lay this guilt to heart.
14 At early dawn rises the murderer; He kills the poor and the needy; In the night he is as a thief
15 The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, ' No eye will see me,'
16 In the dark they dig through houses;
17 For the morning is to them the very shadow of death;
18 They are like a light boat on the face of the waters; Accursed is their lot in the earth;
19 Drought and heat steal away the snow waters; The grave, in like manner, those who have sinned.
Like a decayed tree the wicked man [gently] falls. 21 He oppresseth the barren, that hath not borne,
22 He destroys also the mighty by his power; He rises up, and no one is secure of life;
23 God gives to him security, and he is sustained; Yea, his eyes are upon his ways.
24 They are exalted for a little time — and then are not —
They are brought low, and are gathered [to their fathers] like others; And like the ripe ears of grain they are cut off.
25 If it be not so, who will confute me, And show my speech to be worthless?
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said:
3 Is there any numbering of his armies? And upon whom doth not his light arise?
4 And how then can man be righteous before God? And how can he be pure that is born of a woman?
5 Behold, even the moon is not bright; And the stars are not pure in his sight.
6 How much less man that is a worm! And the son of man that is a reptile!
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 How hast thou helped the weak, And strengthened the feeble arm?
3 How hast thou counselled the ignorant, And declared wisdom in abundance 1
5 The Shades tremble from beneath, The waters, and their inhabitants.
7 He stretcheth out the North over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.
8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds. And the cloud is not rent under them.
9 He withdraweth the face of his throne, And spreadeth his cloud upon it.
10 He hath drawn a circular bound upon the waters. To the confines of the light and darkness.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble. And are astonished at his rebuke.
12 By his power he stilleth the sea,
13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; His hand hath formed the fleeing serpent.
The third series in the controversy concluded.
And how faint the whisper which we hear of him! [Should he speak with] the thunder of his power, who could understand him?
1 Moreover, Job continued his discourse, and said: 3 As God liveth, who has rejected my cause,
4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit.
5 Far be it from me that I should acknowledge you to be correct; Till I die I will assert my integrity.
6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not loose my grasp; My heart shall not reproach me for any part of my life.
7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked.
And he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite when [God] cuts him off; When he taketh away his life?
10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? Will he call at all times upon God '^
11 I will teach you by the operations of God;
12 Behold, ye yourselves have all seen it;
13 ' This is the portion of a wicked man from God;
14 ' If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword; ' And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15 * His survivors shall be buried by Death, ' And his widows shall not weep.
16 ' Though he heap up silver as the dust, ' And prepare raiment as the mire,
17 ' He may prepare it, but the just shall wear it, ' And the innocent shall share the silver.
18 * He buildeth his house like the moth, *Or like a shed which a watchman maketh.
19 ' The rich man lieth down, and is not buried; ' In the twinkling of an eye he is no more.
21 'The East wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; ' And it sweeps him away from his place.
22 * For God shooteth at him, and does not spare; ' He would gladly escape out of his hand.
4 He sinks a shaft far from a human dwelling; They, unsupported by the feet, hang suspended; Far from men they swing to and fro.
5 The earth — out of it cometh bread;
7 The path thereto no bird knoweth, And the vulture's eye hath not seen it.
8 The fierce wild beasts have not trodden it; And the lion hath not walked over it.
9 Man layeth his hand upon the flinty rock;
10 He cutteth out canals among the rocks, And his eye seeth every precious thing.
1 1 He restraineth the streams from trickling down. And bringeth hidden things to light.
12 But where shall wisdom be found 1
14 The deep saith, It is not in me; And the sea saith, It is not with me.
15 The pure gold cannot purchase it;
16 It cannot be estimated by the gold of Ophir; By the precious onyx, or the sapphire
17 Gold and the crystal are not to be compared with it. And jewels of fine gold cannot buy it.
18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal, For the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Cush cannot equal it; Nor can it be purchased with pure gold.
21 Since it is concealed from the eyes of all the living, And hidden from the fowls of the air.
23 God causes its way to be understood, And he knows its place.
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth; [All] that is under the whole heavens he seeth.
25 When to the winds he gave weight, And when he measured out the waters;
26 When he prescribed laws for the rain. And a path for the thunder-flash;
27 Then he saw it, and he made it known; He prepared it, and he also searched it out
28 And he said to man —
' Lo! the fear of the Lord — that is wisdom; * And departure from evil is understanding *
1 Moreover, Job continued his discourse, and said:
2 O that I were as in months past,
3 When his lamp shone over my head,
And when by his light I walked through darkness]
4 As I was in the days of my strength, When God abode in my tent as a friend!
5 When the Almighty was yet with me. And my children were round about me!
6 When I washed my steps in cream,
And the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
7 When I went forth to the gate through the city, And prepared my seat in the public place,
8 The young men saw me, and respectfully retired before me And the aged arose, and stood.
9 The princes refrained from speaking, And laid their hand upon their mouth.
10 The voice of counsellors was silent.
And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 For the ear heard, and it blessed me;
12 For I rescued the poor when they cried.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, And I caused the heart of the widow to sing with joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; And justice was my robe and diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame;
17 And I broke the teeth of the wicked,
18 Then said 1, ' I shall die in my nest;
' I shall multiply my days as the sand.'
19 My root, was exposed to the waters, The dew lay all night on my branches.
20 My glory was fresh in me.
21 To me men gave ear and waited, And were silent at my counsel.
22 After my words they made no reply, And my speech dropped upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain;
And they opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.
24 Did I smile upon them, they confided not [in their plans], And the light of my countenance they could not cast down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as a chief;
1 But now they who are younger than I have me in derision, Whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of
3 On account of hunger and famine they are wholly emaciated; Gnawing in the wilderness —
4 Who pluck up the salt-wort among the bushes, And the root of the Retem is their food.
5 They were driven from among men;
'I'liuu ciiiiscst iiir lo null fuviiy, tlmii Icrnlic;l mn. '2'>\ For I know lliiit llioii will Itriii^ iiin lo ilriitli;
Anil to llii) iiouKO appoiiilrd lor <ill living *2i Nrvortholo^N ovrr tlio riiiiiH lio will not Btrrlcli out Ins liiiiid,
If when lie (Irsfroys (lirrc in priiyrr iiinon^ iIkmii 2r» Did not I wrrp lor liiiii lliiil wiim in troiiMr?
Was not my soul ({ricvoil for the poor f '2(\ W'lirn I lookrd for jjood, tlirii rvil cniiKi;
Tlie days of anj^nisli have ••.oinr upon iinv '2H I am heconie hlaek, hiil not hy tlnr biiii;
1 I inadi^ n covrnanl with tiiiiio (tyvif; How tlieii roiild I think upon a virgin?
2 For what portion Hlioidd i havn from (Jod ahove,
CiiAi. XX
And what would he. my iiih(^ritani'.e from the Almighty on hi({li P;{ Is not di^struction for tin? wicknil,
And Htraujje pniiiHlimeiit for the workiirs of iniipiily? 4 Does he not see iny ways,
And if my foot hath hasted alter deception, it Lri Ilim wcigii mn in nii even hnlnnco,
And let (lod know my intej^rity. 7 Ffiiiy steps have turiie«l aside IVoin the way,
8 Then may I sow, and another reap, And then may my harvests be rooted up '
9 If my heart have been enticed by a woman; Or if I have laid wait at my neighbor's door,
10 Then let my wife be a mill-wench to another. And let others bow down upon her.
1 1 For this is a heinous crime;
12 For it is a fire that would burn to destruction. And root out all my increase.
13 If I have refused justice to my man-servant or maid-servant When they had a cause with me,
14 What shall I do when God riseth up?
And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not He that made me in the womb make him? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire. Or caused the eyes of the widov/ to fail
17 If I have eaten my morsel alone
19 If I have seen any one perishing for want of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his loins have not blessed me,
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw that I had help in the gate;
22 Then may my shoulder fall from the blade, And mine arm be broken from the upper-bone!
23 For destruction from God was a terror to me; And before his majesty I could not do it.
24 If I have made gold my trust,
Or said to the fine gold. Thou art my confidence;
25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great. And because mine hand had found much;
26 If I beheld the sun when it shnied,
27 And my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand —
28 This also would have been a crime to be punished by the judge, For I should have denied the God who is above.
29 If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me- And exulted v/hen evil came upon him —
30 But no! I have not suffered my mouth to sin By imprecating a curse on his soul; —
31 If my domestics could not at all times say,
* Who will show an instance when we have not been satisfied from his hospitable table?'*
32 The stranger did not lodge in the street, My doors I opened to the traveller;
33 If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By concealing my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Then let me be confounded before a great multitude! Let the contempt of families crush me!
35 O that He would hear me!
Behold, my defence! May the Almighty answer me! Would that He who contends with me would write down his charge!
36 Truly upon my shoulder would I bear it; I would bind it upon me as a diadem!
37 I would tell the number of my steps to him; Like a prince would I approach him!
38 If my land cry out against me, And the furrows likewise complain;
39 If I have eaten its fruits without payment, And extorted the living of its owners;
* This translation is more paraphrastic than I have made in any other insjtari^e, but it was not easy to express tlie sense by a literal rendering.
40 Let thistles grow up instead ol wheat, And noxious weeds instead of barley.
1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was
2 righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the anger of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram; against Job was his anger kindled, because he vindicated him-
3 self more than God. Also against his three friends was his anger kindled, because they had not found an answer, and yet
5 spoken, because they were older than himself. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three
6 men, then his anger was kindled. Then Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
I am young, and ye are very old;
8 But there is a Spirit in man;
11 Behold, I waited for your words; I listened for your arguments. While ye searched out what to say.
13 Lest ye should say, ' We have found out wisdom;' — God only can subdue him; not man.
14 Now, he did not direct his discourse against me; And I will not answer him with speeches like yours.
15 They were confounded; they answered no more; They put words far from them.
16 And I waited, although they did not speak; Although they stood still, and answered no more.
17 Even I will answer now on my part. Even I will show mine opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
19 BehoM I am as wine which has no vent; I am ready to burst like new bottles.
20 I will speak that I may breathe more freely, I will open my lips and reply.
22 For I cannot flatter —
2 Behold now I open my mouth,
3 My words shall be in the uprightness of my heart, And my lips shall speak knowledge in its purity.
4 The Spirit of God hath made me.
And the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5 If thou art able, answer me;
Set [thy words] in array before me; stand firm! - 6 Lo! I, according to thy request, am in the place of God: — Yet from clay am I also formed.
And my hand shall not be heavy upon thee. S Surely thou hast said in my hearing,
And I have heard the voice of thy words, 9 ' I am pure, and without transgression;
10 ' Behold, He seeketh causes of enmity against me, ' He regardeth me as his enemy,
1 1 * He putteth my feet in the stocks; ' He watcheth all my paths.'
12 Behold, in this thou art not right — T will answer thee-:— For God is greater than man.
13 Why dost thou strive against him?
14 For God speaketh once.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men. In slumberings upon the bed,
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth instruction unto them;
17 That He may turn man from his purpose, And hide pride from man.
18 He keepeth him back from the pit,
19 He is also chastened with pain upon his bed.
20 So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul the choicest food.
21 His flesh is consumed so that it cannot be seen, And his bones that were invisible are naked.
22 And his soul draweth near to the pit. And his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be with him a messenger [of God], An interpreter — one among a thousand — To announce to man his uprightness,
24 Then will he be gracious unto him, and say,
* Deliver him from going down to the pit;
25 His flesh shall become fresher than a child's; He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray unto God and he will be merciful to him; And he shall see his face with joy,
27 He looketh attentively on man. And when he says,
28 Then he delivers his soul from going down to the pit, And his life beholds the light.
30 That he may bring him back from the pit, To enjoy the light of life.
32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to do thee justice.
33 But if not, do thou listen to me; Attend, and I will teach thee wisdom.
1 And Elihu proceeded, and said:
2 Hear my words, ye wise men;
3 For the ear trieth words. As the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose to ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is good.
6 In respect to my cause I am regarded as a liar,
7 What man is like Job,
8 Who keepeth company with the workers of iniquity. And walketh with wicked men 1
9 For he hath said, ' It is no advantage to a man
10 Wherefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding. Far be iniquity from God!
11 For he will render to man his work.
12 Surely God will not do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Who hath committed to him the charge of the earth? Or who hath arranged the whole world 1
14 If lie form such a purpose in regard to man,
15 All flesh will expire together And man will return to the dust.
16 If thou hast understanding, hear this; Hearken to the voice of my words!
Wilt thou condemn him that is supremely just? IS Is it proper to say to a king, ' Thou art wicked V Or to princes, ' Ye are unrighteous?'
19 How much more to him that shows no partiality to princes Nor regards the rich more than the poor 1
20 In a moment they die,
And at midnight are the people shaken and pass away; — Yea, the mighty are destroyed without hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of men. He seeth all their steps.
22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he needeth not long to regard man To bring him before God in judgment.
24 He dasheth in pieces the mighty without inquiry, And setteth others in their stead.
25 For he knoweth their works,
26 On account of their being wicked he smiteth them In the presence of beholders,
27 Because they turned away from him. And had no regard to his ways,
28 And caused the cry of the poor to come before him; — For the cry of the oppressed he heareth.
29 When he giveth rest, who then can make trouble?
And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? And this in respect to a nation and an individual alike,
30 That the wicked should no more reign, Nor be snares to the people.
31 Surely it is proper to say to God,
' If I have done iniquity, I will do so no more.'
because thou dost refuse? For thou must choose, and not 1, And what thou knowest, speak.
35 ' Job hath spoken without knowledge, ' And his words are without wisdom.'
On account of his answers for wicked men. 37 For he hath added rebellion to his sin;
1 And Elihu proceeded and said:
3 For thou hast said [to thyself] ' What advantage will it be to
6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against Him?
7 If thou art righteous, what dost thou give Him?
8 Thy wickedness can injure only a man like thyself. And thy righteousness profit only a son of man.
10 But none saith, " Where is God my maker, " Who in the night of calamity giveth songs?
11 " Who would teach us more than the beasts of the earth, " And make us wiser than the fowls of heaven."
12 Then they cry aloud, but he giveth no answer. On account of the pride of [such] wicked men
13 For God will not hear vain supplication. Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 Although thou sayest that thou canst not see him. Yet justice is with him; only wait thou for him.
15 But now the visitations of his anger are almost as nothing; And he has not taken cognizance with strictness of transgression.
16 Job hath opened his mouth without understanding. He hath multiplied words without knowledge.
2 Bear with me a little farther, and I will show you. For there is much yet to be said for God.
3 I will bring my knowledge from afar,
4 For truly my words shall not be false; One perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5 Behold, God is great, and despiseth not any; Great is he in strength of understanding.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked; He doeth justice to the oppressed.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous; But with kings are they upon the throne,
8 And if [the righteous] are bound in fetters, And holden in the cords of affliction,
9 Then he showeth them their deeds.
10 He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth them to turn from iniquity.
1 1 If they obey and serve him they spend their days in prosperity And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they will not obey they perish with the sword, And they die without knowledge.
13 But the hypocrites in heart treasure up wrath; They cry not [to God] when he bindeth them.
14 They die in their youth;
15 He delivereth the afflicted in their distress, And openeth their ears in their trials.
IG In like manner he would have removed thee from a pent-up way To a broad place where there is no straitness. And the provision of thy table would have been full of fatness.
17 But if thou dost fully hold the sentiments of the wicked, Such sentiments and justice will be close together.*
18 For there is wrath; beware lest he take thee away with his
stroke; Then a great ransom cannot save thee.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power; Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who hath appointed him his way?
25 All men see it;
26 Lo, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he draweth up the drops of water, They distil rain in its vapor,
28 Which the clouds pour down;
29 Who also can understand the outspreading of the clouds, And the fearful thunderings in his pavilion 1
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it; He also covereth the depths of the sea.
31 By these he executeth judgment upon the people; By these also he giveth food in abundance.
32 With his hands he covereth the lightning. And commandeth it where to strike.
33 He pointeth out to it his friends —
2 Hear, O hear the thunder of his voice!
3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, And his lightning to the ends of the earth
4 After it, the thunder roareth;
6 For he saith to the snow, ' Be thou on the earth,'
To the pouring forth of the rain, also; even the pouring forth of his mighty rains.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man,
8 Then the beasts go into their dens, And abide in their caverns.
9 Out of the South cometh the whirlwind. And cold out of the North.
10 By the breath of God the frost is produced, And the broad waters become compressed.
12 And it is turned about by his direction.
13 Whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy, He causeth it to come.
16 Dost thou understand how the clouds are suspended, The wondrous works of Him that is perfect in wisdom?
17 How thy garments become warm,
18 Hast thou aided him in spreading out the firmament, That stands strong, like a molten mirror
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him;
20 Shall it be told him that I have presumed to speak T Surely if a man should speak to him, he would be destroyed.
21 And now — men cannot look upon the bright splendor that is on
22 Golden splendor approaches from the North: — How fearful is the majesty of God!
23 The Almighty! — we cannot find him out!
24 Wherefore men should be filled with awe; The wise in heart he does not regard.
1 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the storm, and said:
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man;
5 Who then fixed the measure of it 1 For thou knowest! Who stretched the line upon it? '
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Who slmt up the sea with doors
9 When I made the cloud its garment, And swathed it in thick darkness?
10 I measured out for it my limits, And fixed its bars and doors;
11 And said. Thus far shalt thou come, but no further, And here shall thy proud waves be stayed!
12 Hast thou, in thy life, given commandment to the morning, Or caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it may seize on the far corners of the earth. And scatter the robbers before it?
15 But from the wicked their light is withheld. And the high arm is broken.
17 Have the gates of death been opened to thee,
18 Hast thou observed the breadths of the earth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way to the dwelling-place of light? And the darkness — where is its place —
20 That thou couldst conduct it to its limits,
21 Didst thou know this because thou wast then born. Or because the number of thy days is great?
22 Hast thou been into the store-houses of snow. Or seen the store-houses of hail,
23 Which I have reserved until the time of trouble, To the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light distributed.
25 Who hath divided for the shower a channel, And who hath made a path for the thunder-flash,
26 To give rain to a land where there is no man, Upon the desert where no one dwells;
And to cause the bud of the tender herb to germinate?
30 The waters are hid as under a stone;
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season, Or lead forth the Bear with her young?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds,
35 Canst thou send forth the lightnings, so that they shall go, And shall say to thee, ' Here we are?'
36 Who hath imparted understanding to thy inward parts? Or given intelligence to thy mind?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? And who can empty the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust flows into a molten mass, And the clods cleave fast together?
40 When they crouch in their dens, And lie in wait in the thicket?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food, When his young cry unto God, And wander for lack of food?
1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth?
Or canst thou observe the birth-throes of the hind? '2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil?
3 They bow themselves; they give birth to their young; They cast forth their sorrows.
4 Their young ones increase in strength; ^ They grow up in the wilderness;
5 Who hath sent forth the wild ass free?
Or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, And his dwellings the barren land.
7 He scorneth the uproar of the city; The cry of the driver he heedeth not.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture; He searcheth after every green thing.
9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee? Will he abide through the night at thy crib?
10 Wilt thou bind him with his band in the furrow? And will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11 Wilt thou trust him because his strength is great Or wilt thou commit thy labor to him?
12 Wilt thou have confidence in him to bring in thy grain. And to gather it to thy threshing-floor?
14 She leaveth her eggs upon the ground, And upon the dust she warmeth them,
15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, And that the wild beast may break them.
16 She is hardened towards her young, as if they were not hers; In vain is her travail, and without solicitude;
17 Because God hath withheld wisdom from her, And hath not imparted to her understanding.
18 In the time when she raiseth herself up on high She laugheth at the horse and his rider.
19 Hast thou given the horse his strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
20 Dost thou make him leap as the locust? How terrible is the glory of his nostrils!
21 He paweth in the valley; he exulteth in his strength; He goeth forth into the midst of arms.
22 He laugheth at fear, and is nothing daunted; And he turneth not back from the sword.
23 Upon him rattleth the quiver, The glittering spear and the lance
24 In his fierceness and rage he devoureth the ground, And will no longer stand still when the trumpet sounds.
25 When the trumpet sounds he saith ' Aha 1' ' And from afar he snuffeth the battle —
26 Is it by thy understanding that the hawk flieth, And spreadeth his wings toward the South?
27 Is it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up, And that he buildeth his nest on high?
28 He inhabiteth the rock, and abideth there — Upon the crag of the rock, and the high fortress
29 From thence he spieth out his prey; His eyes discern it from afar
30 His young ones greedily gulp down blood; And where the slain are, there is he.
1 Moreover Jehovah answered Job, and said:
3 Then Job answered Jf.hovah and said:
4 Behold, I am vile! What can I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.
5 Once did I speak; but I will not answer again: Yea, twice; but I will add no more.
6 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
7 Gird up now thy loins like a man!
Or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
10 Adorn thyself now with grandeur and majesty, And array thyself with splendor and glory.
11 Let loose the fury of thy wrath!
Look upon every one that is proud and abase him!
12 Look upon every one that is proud and bring him low! Yea, tread down the wicked in their place!
13 Hide them in the dust together! Bind them in the dungeon!
14 Then will I also give thee praise,
15 Behold now Behemoth which I have made, a.s well as thyself; He feedeth on grass like the ox.
16 Behold now his strength is in his loins; And his vigor in the muscles of his belly.
17 He bendeth his tail like the cedar;
18 His bones are like strong pieces of brass: His bones are like bars of iron.
19 He is chief among the works of God;
20 For the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the beasts of the field play.
21 He lieth under the lotus-trees,
22 The lotus-trees cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook compass him about.
23 Lo! should a river rush upon him, he is not alarmed, He is unmoved should the Jordan rush upon his movuh.
24 Who can take him when he is on his guard?
1 Canst thou draw forth Leviathan with an hook Dr press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw with a ring?
3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? Will he speak soft words unto thee?
4 Will he make a covenant with thee? Canst thou take him for a servant forever?
5 Canst thou play with him as with a bird? Or canst thou bind him for thy maidens?
6 Do men in company make a banquet of him? Do they divide him among the merchants?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? Or his head with fish-spears?
8 Lay thine hand upon him; remember the fierce conflict Thou wilt not do it again.
9 Behold the hope of [taking] him is vain;
10 None is so courageous that he dare arouse him; — And who then is he that can stand before me?
11 Who can come upon me by surprise that I should recompense
12 I will not be silent concerning his parts,
13 Who can strip off the surface of his garment? Who can come near to the doubling of his jaws?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? The rows of his teeth are terrible.
15 His strong shields are his pride — Shut up together as with a close seal.
16 They are joined one to another.
17 They cleave fast to each other;
18 In his sneezing light is caused to shine,
And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go forth torches; Sparks of fire leap forth.
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke. As from a boiling pot or caldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals.
22 In his neck dwelleth strength; Before him danceth Terror.
23 The dewlaps of his flesh cleave fast together; They are firm upon him; they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is solid like a stone;. _ Yea, solid like the nether millstone.
25 When he riseth up the mighty are afraid; Yea, they lose themselves from terror.
26 The sword of him that attacks him will not adhere; Nor will the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
27 He regardeth iron as straw, And brass as rotten wood.
28 The arrow will not put liim to flight;
29 (Jlubs are regarded by him as stubble; He laugheth at tiie shaking of a spear.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; He maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 After him he leaves a shining path —
So that one would think the deep to be hoary.
34 On every high thing he looketh down, King over all the sons of pride.
1 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said:
2 I know that thou canst do every thing,
3 ' Who is he [indeed] that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?' I have indeed uttered what I understood not; Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear then, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will ask thee, and do thou instruct me.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, But now mine eye seeth thee;
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.
7 And it came to pass after Jehovah had spoken these words to Job, that Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ' My wrath is kindled against thee and thy two friends, for ye have not spoken concerning me that which is right, as my servant Job
8 hath. Therefore take for yourselves seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job and offer for yourselves a burntoffering; and Job my servant shall pray for you — for to him will I have regard — lest I should recompense to you your folly. For ye have not spoken concerning me that which is right, as
9 my servant Job hath.' So Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, went and did as Jehovah commanded them; and Jehovah had respect to
10 Job. And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends, and Jehovah gave him double of what he had
11 before. Then came to him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all his former acquaintances, and ate bread with him in his house; and they condoled with him and comforted him over all the evil that Jehovah had brought upon him; and every one
12 gave him a piece of money, and every one a ring of gold. So Jehotah blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a
13 thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. He had also
14 seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemima, of the second Kezia, and of the third Keren*
15 happuch. And in all the land were no women found so beautiful
as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inherit-
16 ance among their brethren. And Job lived after this an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even
17 four generations. And Job died, being old and full of days