And that from thy hand none can deliver?
Thy hands have formed and fashioned me,
And now wilt thou turn and destroy me?
Remember thou madest me as clay;
Wilt thou turn me again into dust?
Hast thou not poured me out as milk,
And curdled me like cheese?
Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh,
And knit me with bones and with sinews.
Thou hast granted me life and favor,
And thy care has guarded my spirit.
Yet these thou didst hide in thy heart,
But I know that this was thy plan.
If I sin, then thou dost observe me,
And refuse to acquit me of guilt.
Am I wicked? Then woe unto me.
Am I just? I cannot lift my head,
Full of shame and drunk with sorrow!
If I rise, as a lion thou huntest me,
Appalling me with fresh marvels!
Are not my days few enough?
O leave me to smile a little
Ere I go no more to return,'
To the land of the shadow of death,
To the land as dark as midnight,
Where the very light is darkness!
366. ZOPHAR: REPENTANCE WILL AVERT CALAMITY AND BRING PROSPERITY
Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
Should a torrent of words go unanswered?
And should a mere boaster be justified?
Must men hold their tongues while you babble,
And mock, with no one to curb you?
For you say, 'My life is pure,
And I am clean in thine eyes.'
But oh, that God would speak,
And open his lips against you,
And show you the secrets of wisdom,
How wonderfully effective they are!
Then you would know he exacts from you
Less than your guilt deserves.
Can you probe the real nature of God,
Discover the Almighty's perfection?
It is higher than heaven; what can you do?
Deeper than Hades; what can you know?
Its measure longer than earth,
And wider than the sea.
If you would cleanse your heart,
And stretch out your hands to God,
And put away sin from your hand,
And let no wrong dwell in your tent,
You would then lift your face without blemish,
And you would be steadfast and fearless.
Then you would forget your misery,
And recall it as floods that have passed.
And your life would be brighter than noonday,
Your darkness would be like the morning.
You would feel secure, for there is hope;
You would look about you and rest in safety.
You would lie down, with none to frighten you,
And many would seek to win your favor.
367. JOB: SPECIAL PLEADING FOR GOD IS FUTILE
Then Job answered:
Verily you are the people,
And with you wisdom shall die!
But I have a mind as well as you,
And who does not know all this?
With God is wisdom and might;
Counsel and insight are his.
What he ruins can not be rebuilt;
What he imprisons can not be set free;
When he holds back the floods, they dry up; When he sends them on earth, they destroy it. With him is strength and wisdom;
Deceived and deceiver are his.
He deprives the trusty of speech,
Takes away the judgment of elders.
He pours contempt upon princes,
And looses the belt of the strong.
He makes nations great, then destroys them, Expands them, then hems them in.
Earth's chiefs he deprives of their judgment, Makes them wander in trackless wastes,
Where they grope in utter darkness,
And stagger like drunken men.
My eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and noted it.
What you know, I know also;
I am not at all inferior to you.
But I would address the Almighty,
And I long to reason with God;
For you are but forgers of lies,
Each of you worthless physicians !
Oh, that you were but silent!
That would be wisdom on your part.
Now listen to my argument,
And heed the plea of my lips.
Is it for God you speak falsely,
For him that you talk deceitfully?
Will you show him partiality,
Or be special pleaders for God?
Were it well if he searched you out?
Can you trick God, as you trick men?
For he will surely rebuke you,
If you secretly show partiality.
Shall his majesty not overawe you,
And dread of him fall upon you?
Your maxims are proverbs of ashes,
Your defences but works of clay.
Be still that I may speak;
Let come to me what may,
I will take my flesh in my teeth,
And place my life in my hand.
He will slay me; I have no hope,
But I will defend my acts to his face.
This also shall be my salvation,
That no godless man would approach him.
Give careful heed to my words,
As I set them forth in your hearing.
Now I have prepared my case,
I know that I am right.
Who will contend with me?
Then I would be silent and die.
Only do two things for me;
Then from thee I will not hide:
Withdraw thy hand far from me,
And let not thy terror appall me.
Then call, and I will answer,
Or let me speak, and answer me.
How many are my iniquities?
Let me know my guilt and my sin.
Oh, why dost thou hide thy face,
And count me as thine enemy?
Wilt thou harry a wind-blown leaf,
Wilt thou chase the withered stubble,
That thou judgest me so harshly,
And repayest the sins of my youth?
368. IF A MAN DIE, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN?
Man that is born of woman
Is short-lived and full of trouble.
He springs up like a flower, then withers;
He flees like a shadow and stays not.
Dost thou notice such a one,
And bring him to judgment before thee?
Look away and let him have peace,
To enjoy like a hireling his day.
For there is hope for a tree,
Though cut down, it may sprout again,
And may not cease sending up shoots.
Though its root grow old in the earth,
And its stock be dead in the ground,
It may bud at the scent of water,
And send up sprouts like a plant.
But a strong man dies and lies prostrate;
Man breathes his last, and where is he?
Like waters gone from the sea,
Like a river dry and parched,
He lies down to rise no more,
Nor awakes till the heavens vanish,
Nor is ever aroused from his sleep.
Oh that in the abode of the dead thou wouldst hide
Conceal me until thine anger be past,
In thine own set time remember me!
If a man may die, and live again,
I would wait all my days of hard service,
Until my release should come.
|