1 24" Distress and anguish fill him with dread ; "They prevail against him like a king ready for the battle. 25 "Because he stretched forth his hand against God, "And bade defiance to the Almighty, 26" And ran against him with outstretched neck, 28 "Therefore shall he dwell in desolate cities, "That are ready to become heaps. 29" He shall not be rich; his substance shall not endure, "And his possessions shall not be extended upon the earth. 30 "He shall not escape from darkness, 31 "And the flame shall dry up his branches; "Yea, by the breath of His mouth shall he be taken away. "Let no man be deceived, and trust in vanity, “For vanity shall be his recompense. 32 "He shall come to his end before his time, "And his branch shall not be green. 33" He shall cast his unripe fruit like the vine, "And shed his blossoms like the olive-tree. 34 "The house of the unrighteous shall be desolate, "And fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. 35 "They conceive mischief, and bring forth misery, "And their breast deviseth deceit." 2. Of such things as these I have heard enough! Miserable comforters are ye all! 3 Shall there be no end to words of wind? What emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? 4 I also might speak like you, If ye were now in my place; I might string together words against you, 5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the consolation of my lips should assuage your grief. And if I forbear, it doth not leave me. 7 For now He hath quite exhausted me ;— Thou hast desolated all my house! 8 Thou hast cast me into fetters, which bear witness against me; My leanness riseth up and testifieth against me to my face. 9 His anger pursueth, and teareth me in pieces; He gnasheth upon me with his teeth; 10 They gape for me with their jaws; 11 God hath given me a prey to the unrighteous, And delivered me into the hands of the wicked. 12 I was at ease, but he hath crushed me; He hath seized me by the neck, and dashed me in pieces; He hath set me up for his mark. 13 His arrows encompass me around; He pierceth my reins, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground. 14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He rusheth upon me like a warrior. 15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, 16 My face is red with weeping, And upon mine eyelids is the shadow of death; 17 Yet is there no injustice in my hands, And my prayer hath been pure. 18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, 19 And let there be no hiding-place for my cry! Yet now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that knoweth me is on high. 20 My friends have me in derision, But mine eye poureth out tears unto God. 21 O that one might contend with God, As a man contendeth with his neighbour! 22 For when a few years shall have passed, I shall go the way whence I shall not return. XVII.1 My breath is exhausted; My days are at an end; The grave is ready for me. And doth not mine eye dwell upon their provocations? 3 Give a pledge, I pray thee; put me in a surety with thee; Who is there that will strike hands with me? 4 Behold, thou hast blinded their understanding; Therefore thou wilt not suffer them to prevail. 5 He that delivers up his friend as a prey, 6 He hath made me a byword for the people; 7 Mine eye, therefore, is dim with sorrow, 8 Upright men will be astonished at this, And the innocent will rouse themselves against the wicked. 9 The righteous will also hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands will gather strength, 10 But as for you all, return, I pray, 11 And I shall not find one wise man among you. My days are at an end ; My projects are broken off, Even the best hopes of my heart. 12 Night hath become day unto me; My light bordereth on darkness. 13 Yea, I look to the grave as my home; I have made my bed in darkness. 14 I say to corruption, Thou art my father! And to the worm, My mother! and my sister! 15 Where then are my hopes? Yea, my hopes, who shall see them? 16 They must go down to the bars of the grave; Yea, we shall descend together into the dust! When will ye make an end of words? 4 Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger! 5 And the rock removed from its place? Behold! the light of the wicked shall be put out, And the flame of his fire shall not shine. 6 Light shall become darkness in his tabernacle, And his lamp over him shall be extinguished. 7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, And his own counsel shall cast him down. 8 He is brought into the net by his own feet, And he walketh upon toils. 9 The springe layeth hold of him by the heel, And the snare holdeth him fast. 10 A net is secretly laid for him on the ground, And a trap for him in the pathway. 11 Terrours assail him on every side, And pursue him at his heels. 12 His strength is wasted by hunger, And ruin is present at his side. 13 His limbs are consumed; Yea, his limbs are devoured by the first-born of death. 14 His confidence is torn away from his tabernacle, And he is brought before the king of terrours. 15 Terrour dwells in the tabernacle, no longer his; Brimstone is scattered upon his habitation. 16 His roots below are dried up, And his branches above are withered. 17 His memory perisheth from the earth, And he hath no name in the street. 18 He is thrust from light into darkness, And driven out of the world. 19 He hath no son, nor kinsman amongst his people, Nor survivor in his dwellingplace. 20 They, that come after him, shall be amazed at his fate, As they of his own time were struck with horrour. 21 Such is the dwelling of the unrighteous man ; Such is the place of him that feareth not God. CHAP. XIX. 1 But Job answered, and said : 2 How long will ye vex my soul, |