31 of his indignation. Who shall tell him his way to his face, and 32 who shall retribute to him what he hath done? Even when he

should be carried to the burying place, he had caused a watch 33 to be kept over his tomb. The flints of the torrent have been sweetened for him, and every man shall go after him, as innu34 merable have gone before him. How then do ye comfort me with vanity? There is nothing from you to give me consolation.

XXII.

Upon this, Eliphaz the Thaimanite answered, and said, 2 Is it not the Lord who teacheth wisdom and understanding? 3 What! Is it any advantage to the Lord, if thou, in works, art irreprehensible? or any profit, that thou shouldst keep a straight 4 course? Or will he, instituting a suit against thee, argue and 5 come to a trial with thee? Is not thy wickedness great, and thy 6 sins innumerable? Thou hast taken pledges of thy brethren for 7 nought, and hast stripped the naked of their cloathing. Thou hast not given drink to the thirsty: but hast robbed the hungry 8 of their morsel. Thou hast respected the persons of some and settled them in the land; but hast sent widows away empty, 10 and done injustice to orphans. Therefore snares have beset thee, and an unexpected war hath made thee shudder. The light hath become darkness to thee, and water hath overwhelm12 ed thee when asleep. "Doth not he who dwelleth on high, 13 observe; but hath he humbled the haughty?" Yes, thou hast said, How can the Almighty know? Can he judge in dark

ness?

14 A cloud is his covering, so that he cannot be seen, though 15 he traverse the circuit of heaven. Thou wilt not keep the an

cient way, which righteous men trod, who were borne aloft, 17 and whose foundations were the surgy stream. As for them

who said, What can the Lord do to us, or what can the Al18 mighty bring upon us? (He, who had indeed filled their houses with good things, though the counsel of the wicked is 19 far from him.) When the righteous saw them, they smiled, 20 and he who was blameless laughed them to scorn. Had not the whole of them disappeared, a fire would have consumed the residue.

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Become hardened now, if thou remainest; and shalt thou be rewarded with good things?

22

Receive, I pray thee, from his mouth, the terms of deliver23 ance, and lay up his words in thy heart. If thou wilt return and

humble thyself before the Lord, having removed iniquity far from thy dwelling, thou shalt be placed on a mount, founded 25 on a rock, and be like the rock of the torrent Sophir. Then will the Almighty be thy defence from enemies; and he will 26 make thee pure as silver tried by fire. Then indeed thou shalt have confidence before the Lord; and mayst look up to heaven 27 with cheerfulness. And when thou prayest to him, he will hearken to thee, and will enable thee to pay thy vows; and he will assign thee an habitation of righteousness, and light shall shine upon thy ways.

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Because thou hast humbled thyself, thou wilt say, Such a one was insolent-but he will save him whose eyes are lowly. 30 He indeed will save the innocent. Save thyself therefore, with clean hands.

XXIII. In reply to this, Job said, I know very well, this trial 2 is not in my disposal. And that his hand is made heavy by my 3 groaning. But O that some person would let me know, that I 4 might find him, and come to an issue; that I might order the trial of myself, and that he would stop my mouth with argu5 ments. That I might know what remedies he will prescribe for 6 me, and understand what he will announce to me! Though he

may come against me with great majesty, he will not employ 7 it in threatening me. For truth and argument proceed from 8 him; and he would bring my cause to an issue. For if I am to go first and am no more, how do I know what will be at the 9 last? When he wrought on my left, I comprehended not; he 10 may encompass my right and I not see. For he already know11 eth my way and hath tried me like gold. And I will come out 12 at his commands; for I have kept his ways, and will not turn

aside from his commands, nor transgress in my bosom: indeed 13 I have hid his words. But if he hath judged thus, who can 14 gainsay him? For he hath done what was his pleasure. For

this cause my shuddering is at him; and on being chastened, 15 I thought of him. For this cause I am to be awed at his pre16 sence-I am to meditate on and be in dread of him. It is the

Lord indeed who hath softened my heart. It is the Almighty 17 who hath made me shudder. For I had no knowledge of dark

ness coming upon me; and he had hid from my view thick darkness before me.

XXIV.

But why have set times escaped the notice of the Lord; and the wicked transgressed all bounds; and ravaged 3 both the flock and the shepherd? They have driven away the ass of the fatherless; and taken the widow's cow for a pledge. 4 They have turned the weak out of the right way; and with one consent the meek of the land are hidden and are gone away like asses in a field. They are sprung up above me in their own order.

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To one, bread is sweetened for his children: others have reaped before dawn a field not their own-exhausted of strength have worked the vineyards of the wicked without wages and without food.

They have caused many to sleep naked without covering— 8 they have stripped them of clothing necessary for life. These are wet with the dew of the mountains: and having no shelter they cling to a rock.

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They have torn the orphan from the breast: and him who had fallen they have pressed down.

They have by injustice caused some to be naked; and robbed the hungry of their morsel.

They have entrapped some unjustly in straits, and the path of justice they did not know.

Some are expelled from the city and their own houses: and the soul of babes heave heavy groans.

Now why hath he not called these to account while on earth? Though they did not acknowledge-though they did not know the way of justice; did they not still go on in their 14 courses? And hath he who knew their works delivered them up to darkness? And will he be as a thief in the night?

15

When the eye of the adulterer watched for darkness; saying, No eye shall discover me when he having put a mask 16 on his face digged through houses in the dark: (during the day they had shut themselves up-they had no acquaintance 17 with light) because the morning is to all these as the shadow of death-because the terror of the shadow of death should 18 acknowledge them; is it swift on the face of the water?

The portion of these on the earth should be cursed and

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24.

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their plants exposed dry on the ground: for they plundered the sheaf of orphans. Now was such a one's sin brought to remembrance?

Though he was dark as the darkness of night; retribution should be made for what he hath done: and every wicked man should be broken; like a tree which cannot be healed.

Because he did not treat the barren with tenderness; and had no compassion for a poor weak woman. But overthrew the 'helpless with wrath: therefore when he riseth he should have no security for his own life: when sick, he should have no hopes of recovery: but should perish by his disorder.

As his exaltation afflicted many: he should wither like mallows by heat or like an ear of corn which fell of itself from the stalk.

Now if this is not the case; who can say I have spoken falsehoods: and set my words at naught?

XXV. Hereupon Baldad the Sauchean answered and said, 2 What! Is there any apology, or fear with him; who made 3 the universe and is supreme? For let none suppose, because

robbers have a respite; that snares shall not come from him on 4 any. For how can a mortal be just before the Lord or any off5 spring of woman make himself clean? If he setteth the moon

beside him, it shineth not: and the stars are not pure in his 6 sight. Grant then that man is rottenness and that the son of man is a worm.

XXVI. To this Job replied,

2

Whom dost thou assist, or whom art thou going to help? Is it not him, who hath mighty power and whose arm is 3 strong? For whom hast thou been acting as counsellor? Is it

not for him who hath all wisdom? Whom art thou about to 4 follow? Is it not him, whose army is beyond compare? For

whom hast thou announced dictates? And whose breath is it 5 which proceeded from thee? Are giants going to rise up from

7

beneath the water and the places in its neighbourhood? The mansion of the dead is naked before him: and destruction hath no covering.

He it is, who stretcheth out Boreas over empty space8 who suspendeth the earth upon nothing-who bindeth up 9 water in his clouds; and the cloud under it is not rent-who

taketh possession of the front of his throne and over it spread10 eth his cloud. His decree hath drawn a circle on the face of 11 the water; at the confines of light and darkness. The pillars of

heaven flutter and are struck with consternation at his rebuke. 12 By his power he calmed the sea; and by his knowledge the 13 monster was overthrown. The bars of heaven were terrified at him; and by a decree he doomed to death the apostate dragon.

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2

Behold these are parts of his ways. But let us hear the least breath of reason for him. As for the strength of his thunder; who knoweth when he shall employ it? XXVII. Furthermore Job proceeded and by way of preface said, As God liveth, who hath thus condemned me; even the Almighty who hath made my life bitter: while I have the power of breathing and the breath of God is in my nostrils; my lips shall not speak wickedness, nor shall my soul contrive mischief. Far be it from me to acknowledge you to be right; for till I die, I will not give up mine innocence. And for asserting my righteousness I make no apology; for I am not conscious to myself of having done amiss.

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8.

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Should not mine enemies then be as the overthrow of the wicked? And they who rise up against me as the destruction of transgressors?

Now whatever hope a wicked man hath, that he persisteth; shall he who hath trusted in the Lord be indeed safe? Or will God hear his prayer? Or when trouble cometh upon him, hath he any assurance before him? Or upon his calling, will he hearken to him?

But now let me tell you what is by the hand of the Lord. 12 What are from the Almighty I will not falsify. Behold you all know that you heap vanity on vanities, saying,

"This is the portion of a wicked man from the Lord: and the possession of oppressors, which shall come to them from 14 the Almighty. If their children be many they shall be for

slaughter; and if they grow up to men, they shall be beggars. 15 Those who are about him shall die by pestilence: and their 16 widows none shall compassionate. Though he heap up silver

as dust; and store up gold as clay: the righteous shall take 18 charge of all these; and men of truth shall enjoy his wealth. His