the womb to the grave, and escaped these calamities. 14. Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort, and have a little respite, 15. Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness, and the shadow of death. What sullen star rul'd my untimely birth? That would not lend my days one hour of mirth. My hamper'd life; then should my soul be bless'd CHAP. VIII. Job reproved. "Be humble Job, presume not God to scan, Nor doubt his justice to his creature man. Who did the soul with her rich pow'rs invest, 1. CANST thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection ? 2. It is high as heaven, what canst thou do? deeper than hell, what canst thou know? 3. The measure thereof is longer than the earth, broader than the sea. 4. He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth to light hidden things from the shadow of death. 5. By the decrees of the Almighty the nations of the earth are increased; in his hands. is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. 6. Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built up again; he shutteth up, and there can be no opening. 7. Behold, he withholdeth the rivers, and they dry up; also he sendeth them out, and they overflow the earth. 8. Hearken unto these things, O Job, conider the wondrous works of God. 9. Marvellously doth he speak with his voice; great things doth He, which man cannot comprehend. 10. Wilt thou therefore contend with the Almighty, realizing his power? shall he that darkeneth counsel without knowledge, op. pose his Maker? or dare he reprove the Most High? 11. Where wast thou when the foundations of the earth were fixed? and the measure thereof assigned? 12. Knowest thou whereon the line was stretched, or the corner-stone was laid? on what centre doth it rest? and how are its parts united? 13. When the morning stars sang togeth er, and the sons of God shouted for joy. 14. Knowest thou who maketh a way for the overflowing of the waters? which satisfieth the desolate and waste ground, and causeth the bud of the tender herb to shoot forth. 15. Or who restraineth the raging of the sea, when the billows thereof brake forth, as though issued from the womb? 16. And commanded them, that hitherto they should come, and no further: and here shall their proud waves be stayed? 17. Hath the rain a father? or who begat the drops of the dew? from what source came the ice? who scattereth the hoar frost. and prepareth the treasures of the snow and hail? 18. Who bestoweth knowledge in the inward parts, and giveth understanding to the heart? 19. Who in the various seasons instructs the winged creation in their regular courses 20. Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings towards the south? Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? 21. Or who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, the universal parent? 22. By whose orders is the whirlwind directed from the west, and cold from the north? who balanceth the clouds whereby the earth is softened by the south wind?. 23. Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? or by what means the day spring was caused to know its place? 24. Have the gates of the grave been open to thee? or hast thou explored the mansions of the dead? 25. Cease then thy complaints, and be assured the decrees of the Almighty will be established. 26. Upon the earth there is none like him ; he beholdeth all things, and from him no thought can be hid, nor the most secret action concealed from his view: 27. He is wise in counsel and mighty in work, and all his ways are right. Why give thy tongue a loose so bold and vain, Censure my conduct and reproves my reign? ift up thy thoughts against me from the dust, And tell the world's Creator what is just ? Where didst thou dwell at nature's early birth? Who laid th' foundations for the spacious earth? Who fix'd the corner stone? What hand declare, [ung it on nought, and fasten'd it in air : When the bright morning stars in concert sung, What insects cherish'd, that thy God is blam'd[? Whence come those gifts that are by me conferr❜d! And mine the herds, that graze a thousand hills; Earth, sea, and air, all nature is my own, And stars, and sun, are dust beneath my throne: Fond man! the vision of a moment made! Dream of a dream! and shadow of a shade! Thou know'st me not; thy blindness cannot see How vast a distance parts thy God and thee.” CHAP. IX. Job's address to his friends. "O why should tortur'd Job his sighs refrain! 1. HEAR again attentively my speech and declaration with your ears. Lo! mine eye have seen all this, and mine ears have hear and understood it; what ye know, the sam also I know, I am not regardless of it. |