BS 
 
 1413 
 1897 
 
THE LIBRARY 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
THE 
 
 POEM OF JOB 
 
 RENDERED IN ENGLISH METRE 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN TATTEESALL 
 
 LONDON 
 
 BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY 
 
 MDCCCXCVII 
 
THE LIBRARY 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
Digitized 
 
 by the Internel 
 
 : Arch 
 
 ive 
 
 
 
 
 in 2014 
 
 
 
 
 https://archive.org/details/poemofjobOOunse 
 
THE 
 
 POEM OF JOB 
 
 RENDERED IN ENGLISH METRE 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN TATTEESALL 
 
 WitA Mopnmxl Sllimrii^b ' 's Compliments, 
 
 LONDON 
 
 BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY 
 
 MDCCCXCVIT 
 
LONDON 
 
 G. NORMAN AND SON, PRINTERS, FLORAL STKEET 
 COVENT GARDEN 
 
\ 
 
 A few years ago Professor Bickell discovered, in the library of the 
 Propaganda in Kome, an ancient MSS. of the Book of Job which 
 enabled him to reconstruct the text of the Septuagint, The basis 
 of the following metrical rendering is his recension of the text (Das 
 Buch Job, nach Anleitung der Strophik nnd der Septuaginta. 
 Wien, 1894), with which I have compared the translations of Ewald, 
 Kenan, and others. I wonld refer those who are interested in the 
 history of the Book of Job to Professor Dillon's "The Sceptics of 
 the Old Testament " (Isbister & Co., 1895), to which work I also 
 wish to acknowledge my indebtedness. The chief differences between 
 Professor Bickell' s text and the A. V. are briefly as follows : — 
 
 The omission of about four hundred verses which are not found 
 in the Septuagint text. 
 
 The omission of the long speech of Elihu, which, by consent 
 of the best critics, is an interpolation composed before the translation 
 of the book by the LXX; in whose version, however, it comprises 
 only about three-fifths of the present Hebrew text. 
 
 The excision of the descriptions of the Hippopotamus and the 
 Crocodile for the same reason; and also of chap. xxiv. 5-24; xxx. 4-7, 
 which are written in a different metre to the rest of the poem. 
 
The ascription to Zophar of verses formerly put in Job's mouth, and 
 which made him contradict his own arguments (chap, xxvii. 7-10, 14-20). 
 
 The result is a version which appears to add considerably to the 
 clearness of the drama, and to its symmetry as a work of art : — 
 
 "Io non so s'ei piii disse, o s'ei si tacque, 
 Tant' era gia di la da noi trascorso : 
 Ma questo intesi, e ritener mi piacque." 
 
 Dante, Purg. XVIII. 
 
PROLOGUE 
 
 There was a man in the land of JJz, whose name was Job; and 
 that man ivas perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and 
 eschewed evil. 
 
 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 
 
 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand 
 camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, 
 and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all 
 the men of the east. 
 
 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day ; 
 and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with 
 them. 
 
 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, 
 that Job sent and sanctified them,, and rose up early in the morning, and 
 offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all : for Job said, 
 It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. 
 Thus did Job continually. 
 
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves 
 before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 
 
 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan 
 answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from 
 walking up and down in it. 
 
 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, 
 that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one 
 that fear eth God, a,nd escheweth evil? 
 
 Then Satan answered the Lord, amd said, Doth Job fear God for 
 nought ? 
 
 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and 
 about all that he hath on every side ? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, 
 and his substance is increased in the land. 
 
 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will 
 curse thee to thy face. 
 
 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy 
 power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth 
 from the presence of the Lord. 
 
 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and 
 drinking wine in their eldest brother's house : 
 
 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, 
 and the asses feeding beside them : 
 
 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away ; yea, they have 
 slain the servants with the edge of the sword ; and I only am escaped alone to 
 tell thee. 
 
 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The 
 -fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the 
 
servants, and consumed them ; and I only am escaped alone to tell 
 thee. 
 
 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The 
 Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried 
 them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword ; and I only 
 am escaped alone to tell thee. 
 
 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons 
 and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's 
 house : 
 
 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote 
 the four comers of the house, and it fell upon the young men 3 and they are 
 dead ; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 
 
 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down 
 upon the ground, and worshipped, 
 
 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I 
 return thither : the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the 
 name of the Lord. 
 
 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly . 
 
 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves 
 before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before 
 the Lord. 
 
 And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou ? And Satan 
 answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from 
 walking up and down in it. 
 
 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, 
 that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright 
 man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil ? and still he holdeth fast 
 
his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him 
 without cause. 
 
 And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Shin for shin, yea, all that a 
 man hath ivill he give for his life : 
 
 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his hone and his flesh, and he 
 will curse thee to thy face. 
 
 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand ; but save 
 his life. 
 
 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with 
 sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 
 
 And he tooh him a potsherd to scrape himself withal ; and he sat down 
 among the ashes. 
 
 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity ? 
 curse God, and die. 
 
 But he said unto her, Thou speahest as one of the foolish women speaheth. 
 What ? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ? 
 In all this did not Job sin with his lips. 
 
 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon 
 him, they came every one from his own place ; Eliphaz the Temanite, and 
 Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite : for they had made an 
 appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 
 
 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and hnew him not, they lifted 
 up their voice, and wept ; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled 
 dust upon their heads toward heaven. 
 
 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven 
 nights, and none spake a word unto him : for they saw that his grief 
 was very great. 
 
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. And Job 
 spake, and said, 
 
 i. 
 
 Let that day perish wherein I was born, 
 
 The night which gave a man child to the morn ! 
 
 That God had not beheld it from above, 
 And that it had been of the light forlorn ! 
 
 ii. 
 
 Would that the shadow of Death had been its doom, 
 And that thick clouds had swathed its dawn with gloom ; 
 
 That it had ne'er been numbered in the year, 
 Nor found among the months disastrous room ! 
 
 in. 
 
 That blessed with barrenness had been that night, 
 Made void of joyful voices and delight ! 
 
 That the magicians' malison had veiled 
 The stars of that sad eve from all men's sight ! 
 
 IV. 
 
 That it had longed for light but found no ray, 
 Nor seen the eyelids of the dawning day ! 
 
 Because it did not close my mother's womb, 
 Nor sorrow from mine eyes did hide away. 
 
V 
 
 Wherefore when born did I not straightway die ? 
 Why did I not expire with my first sigh ? 
 
 Why was I dandled on my father's knees ? 
 And wherefore were my mother's breasts not dry ? 
 
 VI. 
 
 Then I had been at rest, for ever still' d ; 
 Had with the quietness of sleep been fill'd ; 
 
 With ancient kings and counsellors of Earth, 
 Who habitations desolate did build. 
 
 VII. 
 
 With bygone potentates, once rich in gold, 
 Who filled their palaces with wealth untold ; 
 
 I had been then as an untimely birth, 
 And as a child who ne'er saw light unfold. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 There where the wicked can no more molest, 
 And where the weary-hearted are at rest ; 
 
 Where prisoners repose from all their toil, 
 No more by the oppressor's task distressed. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Wherefore to the afflicted gives He light, 
 And life to him whose soul is dark as night ? 
 
 Who long for Death, for Death who still delays, 
 As men seek treasures buried from their sight ? 
 
X. 
 
 Happy the mortal who hath found a grave ! 
 Him only from life's misery God doth save ; 
 
 For sighing hath become my only meat, 
 And weeping overwhelms me like the wave. 
 
 XI. 
 
 That thing befalleth me which I did dread, 
 And that at which I trembled is my bread ; 
 
 I have no safety, no, nor any rest ; 
 And sorrow is the pillow for my head. 
 
 ELIPHAZ. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Behold, thy wisdom many men hath taught, 
 
 He that was stumbling strength with thee hath sought ; 
 
 Thou faintest now, when trouble toucheth thee, 
 And thou with care and terror art distraught. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Was not thy confidence in fear of God ? 
 
 Thy hope the upright path thy footsteps trod ? 
 
 Bethink thee, who e'er perished, free from guile ? 
 When were the righteous smitten with His rod ? 
 
 XIV. 
 
 They who sow evil reap the seed they sow, 
 And from iniquity doth sorrow grow ; 
 
 The wicked perish by the blast of God, 
 Before His nostrils they consume like snow. 
 
XV. 
 
 A word was wafted to me from the deep, 
 Into mine ear there did a whisper creep ; 
 
 In thoughts from visions of the stilly night, 
 Which come to men upon the wings of Sleep. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Then terror came upon me like a flood, 
 It made my body tremble, froze my blood ; 
 
 A fearful spectre sped before my face, 
 Each hair upon my creeping flesh upstood. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 It stayed, but of its form I was not sure, 
 And on the silence did these words endure : 
 
 " Shall mortal man be juster than his God ? 
 " The creature than his Maker be more pure ? " 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 E'en in His servants He doth not confide, 
 Behold, His angels He doth charge with pride ; 
 
 Then how much more whose houses are of clay, 
 Whose frail foundations in the dust abide ? 
 
 XIX. 
 
 They are destroyed between the dawn and eve : 
 They perish utterly and no men grieve ; 
 
 The tent-pole of their life is taken down, 
 And Death of wisdom doth their minds bereave. 
 
XX. 
 
 Call now, but who will answer to thy cry ? 
 To which of all the angels wilt thou fly ? 
 
 His own wrath doth destroy the angry man. 
 Thro' his own envy doth the foolish die ! 
 
 XXI. 
 
 His children are from safety far away ; 
 Crush' d in the gate, and there is none to stay ; 
 
 The hungry eat the harvest which they sowed, 
 And strangers with their milk their thirst allay. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Not in the dust affliction's seed is found, 
 Nor is the germ of sorrow in the ground : 
 But mortal Man is unto trouble born, 
 Even as sparks from fire do upward bound. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 To the Eternal God my soul would fly, 
 And find in Him my cause's sure ally : 
 
 He doeth great things and unsearchable, 
 Yea, marvellous things unseen by mortal eye. 
 
 xxiv. 
 
 Unto the thirsty Earth He giveth rain, 
 He sendeth water to the parched plain : 
 
 That they may be exalted which are low, 
 And that the mourners may rejoice again. 
 
XXV. 
 
 The wise in their own craft He doth confound, 
 With their own cunning are the froward bound ; 
 
 Wherefore they meet with shadows in the sun, 
 And at the noonday are in darkness drown'd. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 He saves the poor man from their mouth's sharp sword, 
 The needy from the hand of the great lord ; 
 
 So that the miserable once more hath hope, 
 And Evil's voice is silenced and abhorr'd. 
 
 xxvu. 
 
 Happy the man who G-od's correction feels ! 
 Disdain not thou the way in which He deals 
 
 With His own handiwork ; He smites, and binds ; 
 With the same hand with which He wounds, He heals. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 He in six troubles shall assist and save, 
 
 Yea, seven shall not overwhelm thee with their wave ; 
 
 In famine He will snatch thee back from death, 
 The sword shall never bring thee to thy grave. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 By the tongue's scourge thou never shalt be flay'd, 
 Nor of misfortune shalt thou be afraid ; 
 
 At famine and destruction thou shalt laugh, 
 Thou shalt not by Earth's monsters be dismay'd. 
 
XXX. 
 
 In thy glad tent shall quiet Peace abide, 
 And nothing shall be stolen from thy side ; 
 
 Thou shalt know also that thy seed will grow 
 As numerous as the grasses far and wide. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 In fulness of thy days thou shalt be borne 
 Unto thy grave, like a ripe shock of corn ; 
 
 ho, this have we searched out, and so it is ! 
 The truth which we have heard thou shalt not scorn. 
 
 JOB. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 that my righteous wrath were throughly weighed, 
 My woe against it in the balance laid ! 
 
 It would be heavier than the ocean's sands, 
 For to express it words refuse their aid. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 The Almighty's arrows are within my heart, 
 My fainting spirit feels their venomed smart j 
 
 His terrors move against me in array, 
 And He is now my foe who took my part. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 When the wild ass hath pasture doth he bray ? 
 Or doth the stalled ox low o'er his hay ? 
 
 Who would eat meat insipid without salt ? 
 Or with the white of eggs his hunger stay ? 
 
XXXV. 
 
 that the one boon which. I crave were mine ! 
 That God would grant me that for which I pine ! 
 
 That He would loose His hand and cut me off, 
 My swift annihilation His design ! 
 
 xxxvi. 
 
 Then should I find some comfort in my bane, 
 Yea, pride myself on my relentless pain ; 
 
 Let Him not spare His hand — it is my due, 
 For I have never held His judgments vain. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 Alas, what is my strength that I should long 
 For life ? or patiently endure my wrong ? 
 
 What ! is my strength as great as that of stones, 
 Or is my flesh than solid brass more strong ? 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 Hath not all help been taken from my side, 
 And is not rescue to my life denied ? 
 
 A friend should show some sympathy in pain ; 
 Can God who is my foe be still my guide ? 
 
 xxxix. 
 
 My brethren whom I trusted are my foes, 
 They fly my sorrow as a stream which flows 
 Blackish, by reason of the winter's ice, 
 And by the melting of the mountain snows. 
 
XL. 
 
 The caravans of Sheba searched it out, 
 The companies of Tema strayed in doubt ; 
 
 But they were quite confounded, when they saw 
 It had been dried up by the summer's drought. 
 
 XLI. 
 
 Did I demand a portion of their gold ? 
 
 Or claim a bribe which they would fain withhold ? 
 
 Ask them, to save me from a foeman's hand ? 
 Or pay a ransom for me to the bold ? 
 
 XLII. 
 
 Instruct me, and my tongue shall not be stirred ; 
 Show me my fault, and wherein I have erred ; 
 
 Ay me, how cutting is your righteous speech ! 
 What is the mark of your reproving word ? 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 What ! do ye think a fit rebuke to find 
 For hopeless speeches, spoken to the wind ? 
 
 Will ye assail your friend, the innocent ? 
 And dig a pitfall for his feet designed ? 
 
 xliv. 
 
 Vouchsafe awhile to listen to my case ! 
 Ye will perceive if falsehood stain my face ; 
 
 Keturn, I pray you ; let no wrong be done, 
 Justice still in me holds her judgment-place. 
 
XLV. 
 
 Doth foul iniquity my speeches fill ? 
 Or hath ray palate lost the taste of ill ? 
 
 Hath not Man warfare ever on the Earth ? 
 And are his days not like an hireling's still ? 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 Lo ! as a poor slave panteth for the shade, 
 And as an hireling waits till he be paid, 
 
 So months of misery are made my lot, 
 And nights of weariness to me are weighed. 
 
 XLVII. 
 
 When I lie down I cry " When shall I rise ? " 
 I toss from side to side till darkness flies ; 
 
 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust, 
 My skin is loathsome to my fellow's eyes. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 Far swifter than a shuttle fly my days, 
 And without hope my shred of life delays ; 
 
 Remember that my life is as the wind, 
 That good shall never more refresh my gaze ! 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 As thin clouds vanish in the morning skies, 
 He who goes to the grave shall never rise ; 
 
 He shall no more unto his house return, 
 The place shall be forgotten where he lies. 
 
Now therefore I my words will not restrain, 
 I will speak out my bitterness and pain ; 
 
 Why dost Thou set a watch upon my path ? 
 Am I a sea, or monster of the main ? 
 
 LI. 
 
 Lo, when I look for comfort on my bed, 
 
 And say " My couch shall ease my aching head ! " 
 
 Thou scarest me with visions of the night, 
 And I am terrified with dreams I dread. 
 
 LII. 
 
 So that my soul, which longs for quiet, saith 
 
 " 'Twere better by my hand to haste my death ! " 
 
 Yet to what end ? I shall not live for aye ; 
 Ah, let me be ! my days are but a breath ! 
 
 Lin. 
 
 Ah what is Man, that Thou should' st make him great, 
 That Thou should' st set Thine heart upon his state ? 
 
 That Thou should'st every morning visit him, 
 And weigh him in the balance of Thy fate ? 
 
 L1V. 
 
 Why wilt Thou not awhile from me depart, 
 
 Nor, while my throat hath breath, make calm my heart ? 
 
 Why for Thy arrows am I made a butt, 
 And as a target for Thy dreadful dart ? 
 
LV. 
 
 All wherefore from my sin not set me free, 
 And take away my foul iniquity ? 
 
 Behold, I soon shall slumber in the dust, 
 Thou shalt seek for me, but I shall not be ! 
 
 BILDAD. 
 
 LVI. 
 
 How long wilt thou speak foolishly ? How long 
 Shall thy wild words be as the storm-wind strong ? 
 
 Shall justice be perverted by our God ? 
 Or shall the Judge of all the Earth do wrong ? 
 
 LVII. 
 
 Lo ! if to God thou wouldst commend thy state, 
 And the Almighty Hearer supplicate, 
 
 He would to thy petition bend His ear, 
 And make thy blameless habitation great. 
 
 LVIII. 
 
 Enquire, I pray thee, of the times gone by, 
 And search the sayings of Antiquity ; 
 
 Behold ! shall they not teach and tell thee truth, 
 And from the heart speak words of verity ? 
 
 LIX. 
 
 Is the papyrus without marshes made ? 
 
 Or without moisture shoots the Nile-reed's blade ? 
 
 Before men in its greenness cut it down, 
 Earlier than any grass His seen to fade. 
 
LX. 
 
 Such is the end of all who God forget. 
 And even thus the wicked's star shall set ; 
 
 His hope is fleeting as the gossamer, 
 And far more feeble than the spider's net. 
 
 LXI. 
 
 He in his habitation dwells serene, 
 Which doth upon a firm foundation lean ; 
 
 His life is like a branch in sunshine bathed, 
 Whose shady leaves are in his garden green. 
 
 LXII. 
 
 Yet his dry roots are wrapped about the stone, 
 And from a rocky soil his strength hath grown ; 
 
 So at the last he shall be rooted out, 
 He shall be soon forgot where he was known. 
 
 LXIII. 
 
 This is the joy the wicked man doth know — 
 Out of his own dust shall his fellows grow ; 
 
 Lo ! God will not cast off a perfect man, 
 Nor to the wicked will He mercy show. 
 
 LXIV. 
 
 Lo ! He will fill thy mouth with laughter yet, 
 Thy lips with Joy's glad wine shall soon be wet ; 
 
 And they who hate thee shall be clothed with shame, 
 And men their habitation shall forget. 
 
JOB. 
 
 LXV. 
 
 How truthful are thy words ! Can mortal wight 
 Against his Maker e'er be in the right ? 
 
 If Man with the Almighty would contend, 
 To answer Him would be beyond his might. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 For God is wise of heart, exceeding strong ; 
 What man against His might hath prospered long ? 
 
 God, who o'erturneth mountains in His ire, 
 And kuoweth not He hath removed their throng ? 
 
 LXVII. 
 
 The Earth to her strong pillars He doth shake, 
 So that the dwellers on her plains do quake ; 
 
 He bids the sun stand still, and it obeys ; 
 He stays the stars which travel in its wake. 
 
 LXVIII. 
 
 'Tis He who doth the starry heavens outspread, 
 And on the stormy waves of ocean tread ; 
 
 He doeth wonders far past finding out, 
 Yea, marvels which may ne'er be numbered ! 
 
 LXIX. 
 
 Lo ! He glides by me, but my feeble sight 
 Cannot perceive the passage of His flight ; 
 
 Lo ! when He taketh, who can hinder Him, 
 Or dare to say " What dost Thou?" to His might ? 
 
LXX. 
 
 Will God the fierceness of His ire withdraw ? 
 Before Him the sea-dragons crouch in awe : — 
 
 How much the less then shall I answer Him, 
 Or sift my arguments against His law ? 
 
 LXXI. 
 
 His judgments when I pray Him to make plain, 
 Tho' I am just, He doth no answer deign ; 
 
 But breaks me with the tempest of His wrath. 
 And multiplies my painful wounds in vain ! 
 
 LXXII. 
 
 He will not suffer me e'en to inhale 
 
 My breath, but fills with, bitterness and bale ; 
 
 If strength be something, He is strong indeed ; 
 Who shall arraign Him, if: His judgments fail ? 
 
 LXXIII. 
 
 Tho' I were just, my guilt would yet be great, 
 
 And God would make me crooked, tho' I were straight; 
 
 Lo ! I am faultless ! I set life at nought ! 
 I will speak out, for I my being hate. 
 
 LXXIV. 
 
 He kills alike the wicked and the just, 
 And unawares He brings them both to dust ; 
 
 He scorns the trial of the innocent, 
 And gives the Earth into the tyrant's trust. 
 
LXXV. 
 
 days far swifter than a runner fly, 
 Ho^nd I have seen no good, before I die ; 
 
 They haste like eagles pouncing on their prey, 
 And swifter than the river-boats pass by. 
 
 LXXVI. 
 
 Lo, if I say " I will my woe forget, 
 
 " My cheeks no more with weeping shall be wet ! " 
 
 I shudder at remembrance of my griefs, 
 Sure that Thou still dost hold me in Thy debt. 
 
 LXXVII. 
 
 If I should wash myself with snow — If I 
 
 Should cleanse my hands with water and with lye, 
 
 Thou yet wouldst plunge me in the miry ditch, 
 And make my very garments from me fly ! 
 
 LXXVIII. 
 
 Ah would that He were like myself ! Could stand 
 With me before the judges of the land ! 
 
 Ah would there were an umpire 'twixt us both, 
 Who upon both our heads could lay his hand ! 
 
 LXXIX. 
 
 Ah let Him from me but His rod withdraw, 
 And of His judgments take away my awe, 
 
 Then would I speak, not fearing His reply ; 
 For I am conscious I have kept the law. 
 
LXXX. 
 
 My soul is sick of life. For death I seek. 
 I in my bitterness of soul will speak : — 
 
 I will demand of God : Do not condemn ! 
 And show me wherefore Thou Thy wrath dost wreak ? 
 
 LXXXI. 
 
 What ! is it meet that Thou shouldst Man oppress, 
 And scorn the feeble work Thy hands did dress ? 
 
 Are the Eternal eyes of mortal flesh ? 
 And do Thy days know human helplessness ? 
 
 LXXXII. 
 
 Thou dost make inquisition of my ill, 
 And searchest after my transgression still ; 
 
 Altho' Thou knowest I am not unjust, 
 That there is none can free me from Thy will. 
 
 LXXXIII. 
 
 Thy hand did form me ere my natal day, 
 And now Thou hast returned to mar and slay ; 
 
 Bethink Thee, that Thou madest me of dust ! 
 Wilt Thou re-knead me as the potter's clay ? 
 
 LXXXIV. 
 
 Like milk hast Thou not poured me on the Earth, 
 And curdled me like cheeses from my birth ? 
 
 Hast Thou not fashioned me of skin and flesh, 
 And fenced with bones and sinews all my girth ? 
 
LXXXV. 
 
 Thou didst endue me once with health and grace, 
 And with Thy care Thou didst my soul embrace ; 
 
 Yet Thou didst hide these woes within Thy heart, 
 When Thou didst show the favour of Thy face ! 
 
 LXXXVI. 
 
 If I had sinned, Thou wouldst have laid in wait, 
 And hadst not held me guiltless in Thy gate ; 
 
 Woe unto me, if I had wicked been ! 
 Though righteous, I dared not exalt my state. 
 
 LXXXVII. 
 
 Lo ! as a lion Thou dost hunt me, drowned 
 In misery : Thy terrors do confound ; 
 
 Thy plagues against my life Thou dost renew, 
 And makest Thy fierce anger to abound. 
 
 LXXXVIII. 
 
 Ah wherefore didst Thou bring me from the womb ? 
 Would I had given up the ghost in gloom ! 
 
 I now should be as tho' I had not been, 
 If carried from the cradle to the tomb ! 
 
 LXXXIX. 
 
 My days of life are ill and few. Thy grace 
 Grant me a little, and a breathing-space ! 
 
 Before I go whence I shall not return, 
 To that dark bourne of all the human race, 
 
ZOPHAB. 
 
 xc. 
 
 Shall not the multitude of words be blamed ? 
 Shall babblers as just persons be acclaimed ? 
 
 Because thou prattlest, shall men hold their peace ? 
 And for thy mockery shalt thou not be shamed ? 
 
 xci. 
 
 But that Grod against thy lies would speak ! 
 Open His lips against thee, make thee meek ! 
 
 That He would show thee Wisdom's secret things, 
 Marvels the mind of Man doth vainly seek ! 
 
 xcn. 
 
 Wisdom is high as heaven ; what canst thou do ? 
 Deeper it is than hell ; what canst thou know ? 
 
 The measure of it broader than the Earth, 
 And wider than the ocean- waves below ! 
 
 XCIII. 
 
 He knoweth well deceitful men and vain, 
 And needeth none their evil to make plain ; 
 
 Thus the wild-ass's colt is born as Man, 
 And fools to wisdom at the last attain. 
 
 XCIV. 
 
 If thou wilt only make thy heart sincere, 
 
 And stretch thy hands out humbly to His sphere. 
 
 Then without blame thou shalt lift up thy face, 
 And in affliction's hour thou shalt not fear. 
 
xcv. 
 
 The memory of thy grief shall pass away, 
 
 As waters which o'er- whelmed, but did not stay ; 
 
 Thine age shall brighter than thy noonday be, 
 Thy darkness shall be turned into day. 
 
 xcvi. 
 
 Thou shalt be safe and Hope make glad thy face, 
 Thou shalt repose in a sure restiug-place ; 
 
 Thou shalt lie down and none make thee afraid, 
 Yea, many suitors shall implore thy grace. 
 
 xcvu. 
 
 The impious shall fail and lose their sight : 
 And refuge shall before their feet take flight ; 
 
 Their hope is fleeting as a man's last sigh ; 
 With God alone is wisdom and is might ! 
 
 JOB. 
 
 XCVIII. 
 
 That ye are clever folk I do not doubt — 
 Yea, wisdom at your death shall be put out ! 
 
 But I am upright, I am wise as ye ; 
 Therefore my righteous words ye should not flout. 
 
 xcix. 
 
 The man who is at ease scorns God's reproof, 
 And laughs in time of trial, far aloof ; 
 
 The tents of the blasphemers prosper well, 
 And safety houses 'neath the robber's roof. 
 
c. 
 
 Go, ask the beasts which thro' the forest flee, 
 Enquire of fowls, and they shall tell it thee ; 
 
 Speak to the Earth, and it shall teach thee truth., 
 Or learn it of the fishes of the sea. 
 
 ci. 
 
 Is not the life of creatures 'neath His feet ? 
 Doth not the breath of Man blow from His seat ? 
 
 Doth not the ear assay the truth of words, 
 Even as a man's palate tasteth meat ? 
 
 en. 
 
 There is no wisdom with the ancient seer, 
 Nor can the aged man make knowledge clear ; 
 
 With God alone is counsel and is might, 
 And He alone is wise without a peer. 
 
 cm. 
 
 When He destroyeth none can build again, 
 The man who is His prisoner hopes in vain ; 
 
 He doth withhold the waters of the sea, 
 And overwhelms the mountains with the main. 
 
 civ. 
 
 Yea, God alone hath wisdom and is strong, 
 The sinner and his sin to Him belong ; 
 
 He makes the counsellors of kings go bare, 
 And proves the sentence of the judges wrong. 
 
cv. 
 
 He to destruction mighty princes brings. 
 
 And to their tombs leads back the greatest kings ; 
 
 He takes away the speech of trusty lips, 
 And gives the wisdom of the aged wings. 
 
 cvi. 
 
 Upon the princes' heads He poureth scorn, 
 By Him the girdle of the strong is torn ; 
 
 He bringeth deep things out of gloom to light, 
 And turns the hours of darkness into morn. 
 
 cvn. 
 
 The hearts of mightiest potentates He steals, 
 And to the light of day their eyelids seals ; 
 
 So that they wander in a pathless way, 
 And stagger like a drunken man who reels. 
 
 cvm. 
 
 Lo, this have I perceived verily ! 
 
 This also have I heard in days gone by ; 
 
 That which ye know, the same I also know ; 
 And not more foolish than yourselves am I. 
 
 cix. 
 
 But now with the Almighty I would deal, 
 And reason with the Eternal for my weal ; 
 
 For ye are all artificers of lies, 
 Ye are physicians with no power to heal. 
 
ex. 
 
 that ye would at last your words restrain, 
 And that should be your wisdom and my gain ! 
 
 hearken to the pleadings of my lips, 
 
 1 pray you, do not hold my reasons vain ! 
 
 CXI. 
 
 What ! wickedly for God will ye entreat, 
 And plead on His behalf with foul deceit ? 
 
 By force of trickery will ye contend 
 That men should bow before His mercy-seat ? 
 
 cxn. 
 
 If He should search you out, what would He find ? 
 Can ye dupe God, as ye deceive mankind ? 
 
 Surely He will rebuke you in His wrath, 
 If ye contend for Him with reasons blind ! 
 
 CXIII. 
 
 Shall His great majesty not make you quake, 
 And shall His dread your confidence not shake ? 
 
 Will not your wisest saws become as dust, 
 Your arguments like rotten bulwarks break ? 
 
 cxiv. 
 
 Hold now your peace and for awhile be stilled ! 
 Whatever is destined for me be fulfilled ! 
 
 Behold, I take my life within my teeth ! 
 And care not if for Truth my soul be killed. 
 
CXV. 
 
 Lo, let Him kill me, I have lost my trust. 
 I only live to prove my way is just. 
 
 Lo ! this shall be my triumph in the end ; — 
 The hypocrite shall from His face be thrust. 
 
 cxvi. 
 
 Behold, I would my cause were truly tried, 
 For I am sure I should be justified : 
 
 Where is the man who now will plead with me 
 And not deal doubly with me in his pride ? 
 
 cxvn. 
 
 Let God withdraw His terrors from my head, 
 And take His hand far from me which I dread ! 
 
 Then let Him call, and I will make reply ; 
 Or He shall answer to the words I said. 
 
 cxvni. 
 
 Of my transgressions let Him tell the tale, 
 And make me know the deeds in which I fail ; 
 
 Ah wherefore hidest Thou Thy face from me ? 
 And keepest me without Thy mercy's pale ? 
 
 cxix. 
 
 What, wilt Thou scare a leaf driven by the blast ? 
 Wilt thou pursue dry stubble, flying fast ? 
 
 Thou writest bitter things within Thy book, 
 And dost impute the errors of my past ! 
 
cxx. 
 
 Thou dost observe the paths of all my pain, 
 My feet within Thy stocks Thou dost restrain 
 
 Ay me, how heavily they weigh on me ! 
 And how my feet are wounded by Thy chain ! 
 
 cxxi. 
 
 Lo ! Man that comes forth of a woman's womb 
 Hath poverty of days and wealth of gloom ; 
 
 He blossoms as a flower and fades away, 
 He fleeth as a shadow to the tomb. 
 
 cxxn. 
 
 And upon such an one dost deign to look, 
 
 And write against him judgments in Thy book ? 
 
 Who can a pure thing bring from the impure ? 
 Who e'er a sound thing from a rotten took ? 
 
 cxxiii. 
 
 Seeing His days on Earth Thou hast made fast, 
 And life beyond Thy term can never last : — 
 
 Turn Thou awhile from him, that he may rest, 
 Till, like an hireling's, all his toil be past ! 
 
 cxxiv. 
 
 There is a future for the tree cut down, 
 
 A hope remaineth for the palm's tall crown ; 
 
 It may be, it will sprout again in Spring, 
 Its tender fronds may yet refresh the town. 
 
cxxv. 
 
 Altho' its roots within the Earth wax old, 
 And its dry stock lie buried in the mould. 
 
 If it scent water it may bad again, 
 And its green leaves may to the light unfold. 
 
 cxxvi. 
 
 But Man gives up the ghost, and outstretched lies ; 
 And who knows where he goeth, when he dies ? 
 
 He lieth down and riseth not again, 
 Till heaven shall be no more, he shall not rise. 
 
 cxxvu. 
 
 If Thou wouldst hide me in the silent grave, 
 Safe till Thy wrath had passed me like a wave ! 
 
 That Thou wouldst set a term, then think on me ! 
 If Man might die, and yet his being save ! 
 
 CXXVIII. 
 
 How patiently I would await my turn, 
 If, after warfare, I a rest might earn ! 
 
 Then Thou wouldst call^ and I would answer Thee, 
 And for Thy handiwork Thou then wouldst yearn ! 
 
 CXXIX. 
 
 But now Thou numberest the steps I tread, 
 And hast no pardon for my guilty head ; 
 
 Thou sealest up my sins as in a bag, 
 And mak'st the load of my transgressions lead ! 
 
ELIPIIAZ. 
 
 cxxx. 
 
 What ! should a wise man utter knowledge blind, 
 And till his belly with the cold east wind ? 
 
 Should he defend himself with bootless talk, 
 Or for his reasons useless speeches find ? 
 
 cxxxi. 
 
 Thou mak'st the fear of God of none effect. 
 And dost diminish thus His due respect ; 
 
 Behold, thine own mouth doth declare thy guilt ; 
 Thou for thy lips dost crafty words elect ! 
 
 cxxxn. 
 
 Wast thou the first man ever brought to birth ? 
 Or wast thou made before the solid Earth ? 
 
 Wast thou to God's most secret council called ? 
 And is all wisdom centred in thy girth ? 
 
 CXXXIII. 
 
 What knowest thou we also know not well ? 
 Or doth thy understanding ours excel ? 
 
 Do not God's solaces suffice to thee ? 
 And hast thou secrets which we caimot tell ? 
 
 cxxxi v. 
 
 Ah whither hurrieth thee thy foolish heart, 
 And wherefore do thy wild eyes roll and start ? 
 
 That thou dost turn thy spirit against God, 
 And lettest foolish words thy mouth depart ? 
 
cxxxv. 
 
 Behold, He doth not in His saints confide. 
 The very heavens before Him must be tried ; 
 
 Then how much more corrupt and wicked Man, 
 Man, who like water lappeth up his pride ? 
 
 cxxxvi. 
 
 That which the wise unto our sires have told, 
 Their fathers from their ears did not withhold ; 
 
 To them alone the patriarchs' land was given, 
 Thro* them a stranger never passed of old. 
 
 cxxxvn. 
 
 The wicked man spends all his days with fears, 
 And few and evil are the oppressor's years ; 
 
 In peace, the spoilers fall upon his tent ; 
 A dreadful sound is ever in his ears. 
 
 CXXXVIII. 
 
 No hope hath he to 'scape from gloom abhorred, 
 And ever o'er his head there hangs a sword ; 
 
 Distress and anguish shall lay hold on him, 
 And shall assail him like a robber's horde. 
 
 cxxxix. 
 
 Because his arm 'gainst God he did uprear, 
 Boasted himself against Him without fear,— - 
 
 Running upon Him, his proud neck outstretched 
 'Neath bosses of his buckler, with his spear : — 
 
CXL. 
 
 His verdant branches shall by heat be dried, 
 His blossoms by the storm be scattered wide ; 
 
 Let him not trust in vanity — fool ! 
 The same shall be the payment for his pride. 
 
 CXLI. 
 
 Withered shall be his fruit before its hour, 
 His branch shall never flourish in its bower ; 
 
 He, like the vine, shall cast his unripe grape ; 
 And, like the olive, shed his budding flower. 
 
 CXLII. 
 
 For barrenness shall curse the wicked's nest, 
 And fire the tents of bribery shall molest ; 
 
 They conceive mischief, and bring forth dismay ; 
 And foul deceit is bred within their breast. 
 
 JOB. 
 
 CXLIII. 
 
 Lo ! often have I heard the selfsame tale, 
 Ye are consolers fickle as the gale ! 
 
 What spurs ye on to answer to my words, 
 And shall your windy speeches never fail ? 
 
 CXLIV. 
 
 Words like your own could on my lips find place, 
 If only your souls were in my soul's case ! 
 
 Yea, I would strengthen you with maxims wise, 
 Nor from you turn the solace of my face. 
 
CXLV. 
 
 But He hath, made me wearied and forlorn, 
 By His whole host of evils I am torn ; 
 
 His wrath hath mangled me — He still persists 
 To crush me with the terror of His scorn. 
 
 CXLVI. 
 
 The arrows of His hosts are on me pour'd, 
 He frowns upon me as He whets His sword; 
 
 Keproachfully they smite me on the cheek, 
 And glut their fury like a robber's horde. 
 
 CXLVII. 
 
 God hath delivered me to godless bands, 
 Hath made me over to the wicked's hands ; 
 
 Smote me asunder, when I was at ease, 
 And shook me with His waves, as ocean's sands. 
 
 CXLVIII. 
 
 I am the butt on which His arrows fall, 
 His archers come about me like a wall ; 
 
 He cleaves my reins asunder, pitying not ; 
 And on the ground He doth pour out my gall. 
 
 CXLIX. 
 
 Breach upon breach in my defences made, 
 He rushes on me with a giant's blade ; 
 
 Sackcloth and ashes are upon my skin, 
 And in the dust my horn of honour's laid. 
 
CL. 
 
 In weeping have I found a bootless cure, 
 And darkness on my eyelids doth endure ; 
 
 Tho' on my hands there is no stain of ill. 
 And my petition unto Him is pure. 
 
 CLI. 
 
 righteous Earth, conceal not my blood's trace ! 
 And let my just cry find no resting-place ! 
 
 Lo ! even now my witness is in heaven, 
 And to the heights I do commit my case ! 
 
 cm. 
 
 Even my friends pursue me with their scorn, 
 But unto God I turn my gaze forlorn ; 
 
 Oh would that one could judge 'twixt Man and God, 
 As between men of the same household born ! 
 
 CLIII. 
 
 Alas ! the swift years pass and will not stay, 
 And I shall tread the unreturning way ; 
 
 My spirit is exhausted, and the grave 
 Waits even now for its predestined prey. 
 
 CLIV. 
 
 Is not the pledge of all my life with Thee ? 
 But who as surety strikes his hand with me ? 
 
 Their fountains failing in a thirsty land, 
 The children of the faithless man shall see. 
 
CLV. 
 
 I am a proverb of the people made. 
 They spit upon my face — sorry trade ! 
 
 My eyes by dint of sorrow are grown dim, 
 And all my limbs are wasted to a shade. 
 
 CLVI. 
 
 At this the upright are appalled with fear, 
 The hypocrites are scorned by the sincere ; 
 
 But still the righteous holds his forth-right course, 
 The cause of the clean-handed waxeth clear. 
 
 CLVII. 
 
 But as for ye, my friends ! awhile return ! 
 Not one wise man amongst you I discern ; 
 
 My days are past, my purposes have fled, 
 And for my heart's desires I vainly yearn. 
 
 CLVIII. 
 
 If I still hope it is but for the grave, 
 Darkness shall overwhelm me with its wave ; 
 
 I have said " Mother ! " to the gaping tomb, 
 And called upon my sister-worm to save. 
 
 CLIX. 
 
 My hope, can any tell me where it is ? 
 
 Ye promised joy — but who shall see my bliss ? 
 
 For both shall rest together in the dust, 
 When I shall soon descend to the abyss. 
 
BILDAD. 
 
 CLX. 
 
 When wilt thou of thy vain words make an end ? 
 Consider first, and then let us contend ! 
 
 Dost think that we are silenced by thy speech, 
 And must we as the beasts before thee bend ? 
 
 CLXI. 
 
 Shall Earth become a desert at thy call ? 
 From its eternal seat the great rock fall ? 
 
 Surely the wicked's lamp shall be put out, 
 And darkness shroud his hearth- stone like a pall. 
 
 CLXII. 
 
 The light shall be as darkness in his tent, 
 The oil within his lamp shall soon be spent ; 
 
 The strides of his proud strength shall straitened be, 
 And he of his own counsel shall repent. 
 
 CLXI1I. 
 
 By his own feet he's tangled in the net, 
 A snare upon his pathway shall be set ; 
 
 The hidden toils shall catch him by the heel, 
 And many terrors shall his footsteps threat. 
 
 CLXIV. 
 
 Hunger behind his steps shall ever bide, 
 Destruction lie in ambush at his side ; 
 
 Death's fearful firstborn on his limbs shall prey, 
 And sap his strength from morn till eventide. 
 
CLXV. 
 
 Dragged from the tent wherein was all his trust. 
 Before the King of terrors he is thrust ; 
 
 His memory shall perish from the Earth, 
 His lamp be soon extinguished in the dust. 
 
 CLXVI. 
 
 Among his people he shall have no seed, 
 
 No child or grandchild to keep fresh his deed ; 
 
 None shall remember where his tent was pitched, 
 The strangers' flocks upon his fields shall feed. 
 
 CLXVI i. 
 
 They of the West shall wonder at his day, 
 His fate the Sons of Morning shall dismay ; 
 
 Such is the dwelling of the wicked man, 
 So he who knows not God shall waste away. 
 
 JOB. 
 
 CLXVTII. 
 
 How long will ye oppress my soul with care, 
 And crush me with the speeches ye prepare ? 
 
 Ten times have ye reproached me with your words, 
 And without shame ye drive me to despair. 
 
 CLXIX. 
 
 If from my shame ye would jour glory win, 
 And prove that blasphemy has been my sin, — 
 
 Know then, that God hath surely done me wrong, 
 Unjustly caught my footsteps in His gin ! 
 
CLXX. 
 
 Lo ! I protest my wrongs but no man hears ; 
 I cry aloud, but Justice stops her ears ; 
 
 He hath set darkness in the paths I tread. 
 And a strong fence against my footsteps rears. 
 
 CLXXI. 
 
 He hath deprived me of the crown I wore, 
 And stripped me of the glory which I bore ; 
 
 I am undone, and on all sides destroyed ; 
 Like an uprooted tree my hope is o'er. 
 
 CLXXII. 
 
 He hath against me His fierce wrath unpent, 
 Against my head His cruel bow hath bent ; 
 
 His bands encompass me on every side, 
 His squadrons pitch their camps about my tent. 
 
 CLXXIII. 
 
 He hath estranged my brethren from my side, 
 By those who knew me I am now defied ; 
 
 My kinsfolk fail me — my familiar friends 
 Forget the friendship which was once their pride. 
 
 CLXXIV. 
 
 To the retainers which I had of late 
 I am become a stranger in my gate ; 
 
 I call my servant — he deigns no reply, 
 And I am forced his aid to supplicate. 
 
CLXXV. 
 
 My voice is strange to her I held most dear, 
 Even my brothers my entreaty fear ; 
 
 Yea, the mere lads do scorn me when I rise, 
 And rail upon my state when they come near. 
 
 CLXXVI. 
 
 All my most cherished friends my state abhor, 
 And they who once I loved are friends no more ; 
 
 My skin is dry, and cleaveth to my bones ; 
 My teeth are falling out ; my hope is o'er. 
 
 CLXXVII. 
 
 Have pity, pity on me, my friends ! 
 
 The hand of God hath smitten me, and rends ; 
 
 Why will ye still pursue me like my God, 
 Not satisfied with all the woes He sends ? 
 
 clxxviii. 
 
 Would that my righteous words at which ye mock 
 Could be writ down, altho' your laughing-stock ! 
 
 With a sharp stile of iron, upon lead, 
 Or be for ever graven on the rock ! 
 
 CLXXIX. 
 
 I know that my Avenger liveth still, 
 He on my dust my vengeance will fulfil ; 
 
 My Witness will avenge my unjust wrongs, 
 His curse will light upon my foes and kill. 
 
CLXXX. 
 
 My reins within me are consumed away, 
 Because your wrath against me ye display ; 
 
 Fear, lest the sword should fall upon your heads ! 
 For the unjust there is a judgment day. 
 
 ZOPHAR. 
 
 CLXXXI. 
 
 Not thus my thoughts inspire me on my bed, 
 Not this the eternal law which I have read ; 
 
 The triumph of the wicked is but brief, 
 The ungodly' s joy is in a moment sped. 
 
 CLXXXII. 
 
 Altho' his head tower upward to the sky, 
 Altho' his height the heaven of heavens defy, 
 
 His neighbours shall enquire his resting place, 
 And like vile ordure he shall surely die. 
 
 CLXXXIII. 
 
 He passeth as a dream from all men's sight, 
 Forgotten like a vision of the night ; 
 
 His hands, which crushed the needy, shall restore 
 Their substance which he robbed, and do them right. 
 
 CLXXXIV. 
 
 Kiches he swallowed down shall pass away, 
 And G-od shall force him to disgorge his prey; 
 
 He hath sucked in the poison of the asp, 
 But him the viper's tooth shall surely slay. 
 
CLXXXV. 
 
 Upon the river's peace he shall not gaze, 
 Honey and milk shall ne'er refresh his ways ; 
 
 He shall restore his evil-gotten gain, 
 Nor shall his lucre e'er make glad his days. 
 
 CLXXXVI. 
 
 Because he crashed the poor man who had need, 
 The house he robbed shall never hold his seed ; 
 
 His wealth shall be as fleeting as the wind, 
 Because there was no limit to his greed. 
 
 CLXXXVII. 
 
 When he is full of goods he then shall fail, 
 
 The hate of wretched men shall make him quail ; 
 
 God shall destroy him with His fury's wrath, 
 And rain down terrors on his head like hail. 
 
 CLXXXVI1I. 
 
 When from the iron weapon he shall fly, 
 He by the dart of steel shall surely die ; 
 
 The shaft shall strike him and shall pierce his back, 
 And in his gall its glittering blade shall lie. 
 
 CLXXXIX. 
 
 Terrors shall trample on him in the night, 
 Darkness o'ertake him and prevent his flight ; 
 
 A fire not lit by Man shall burn his tent, 
 And shall consume the remnant of his might. 
 
cxc. 
 
 The heavens shall reveal his evil deed. 
 The very Earth rise up against his greed ; 
 
 This is the portion of a wicked man, 
 The gift which God shall give him as his meed. 
 
 JOB. 
 
 CXCI. 
 
 let my speech attentively be weighed, 
 And, if ye cannot comfort, give that aid ! 
 
 Listen at least to that which I would speak, 
 And let not then your mockery be delayed. 
 
 CXCII. 
 
 Bethink you, is't to Man that I complain ? 
 Is not impatience pardonable in pain ? 
 
 Nay, look upon my state and be afraid ! 
 Your unconsidered answers then restrain. 
 
 cxcm. 
 
 When I consider I with fear am cold, 
 And trembling on my body taketh hold ; 
 
 Why do the wicked prosper, full of days, 
 And in their time wax mighty, uncontrolled ? 
 
 cxciv. 
 
 Their tents are safe from fear of any foe, 
 The rod of God doth never bring them low ; 
 
 Their herds bring forth in safety, and their flocks 
 Never unfruitful in their season grow. 
 
cxcv. 
 
 Their seed is stablished firmly as a rock, 
 Before their eyes they see their fruitful stock ; 
 
 Their little children dance before their tents, 
 And multiply before them like a flock. 
 
 cxcvi. 
 
 The timbrel and the harp with them are found, 
 They take delight in the loud hautboy's sound ; 
 
 They spend their days in wealth and happiness, 
 And in a moment go beneath the ground. 
 
 cxcvn. 
 
 Altho' they say to God " From us depart, 
 
 We wish no knowledge of Thee in our heart ! " 
 
 Yet see — how lasting is their happiness ! 
 For God doth not destroy them with His dart. 
 
 cxcviii. 
 
 How often is put out the wicked's light ? 
 How oft doth ruin seize him in the night ? 
 
 How oft is he as chaff before the storm, 
 As stubble which the whirlwind puts to flight ? 
 
 cxcix. 
 
 Ye say, " God will destroy the wicked's seed." 
 Let him requite the doer of the deed ! 
 
 The wicked's eyes should his own downfall see, 
 Himself should drink God's righteous wrath decreed ! 
 
cc. 
 
 His children honoured, shall the dead man know ? 
 Or if dishonoured, shall it cause him woe ? 
 
 In his own flesh, alone a man feels pain, 
 Only his own soul suffers from God's blow. 
 
 cci. 
 
 Doth God teach wisdom to the foolish man ? 
 Or is the tyrant put beneath His ban ? 
 
 Ah no ! his bones with marrow are well filled, 
 With milk and honey God overfills his can. 
 
 ecu. 
 
 Bitter in soul the good and guiltless dies, 
 Pleasure he ne'er enjoyed before him flies ; 
 
 Worms cover both the good and evil man, 
 When low within his grave the righteous lies. 
 
 CCTII. 
 
 Behold I know the wrongful thoughts ye weave, 
 And the devices wherewith ye deceive ! 
 
 I have found falsehood only in your words, 
 Wherefore your useless comfort makes me grieve. 
 
 ELIPHAZ. 
 
 CCIV. 
 
 Hath the Eternal gain from mortal Man ? 
 Only himself the wise helps by his plan ; 
 
 What doth it profit God that thou art just, 
 Or that thy feet upon a straight path ran ? 
 
ccv. 
 
 Because thou fearest Him doth He torment, 
 Or would He judge thee if thou wouldst repent ? 
 
 Are thine iniquities not numberless ? 
 And is not wickedness within thy tent ? 
 
 ccvi. 
 
 Thou hast a pledge from thine own brother ta'en 
 For nought : hast left the naked in their pain ; 
 
 Thou gav'st no water to the weary man, 
 And from the hungry hast withheld thy grain. 
 
 CCVII. 
 
 Thou hast not driven the tyrant from the land, 
 But he in honour did before thee stand ; 
 
 Thou hast sent widows weeping from thy tent, 
 The orphan from thee with an empty hand. 
 
 CCVIII. 
 
 Therefore thou art encompassed with a snare, 
 And sudden fear hath filled thy soul with care ; 
 
 A flood of waters hath gone o'er thy head, 
 Thy light hath turned to darkness and despair. 
 
 ccix. 
 
 Doth not the Eternal look down from His throne, 
 To crusli the mighty who have haughty grown ? 
 
 The proud who say to God " From us depart ! 
 " Can we by the Almighty be cast down ? " 
 
ccx. 
 
 And He forsooth shall fill their stores with corn ? 
 Be heedless, when the proud uplift their horn ? 
 
 Not so ! the righteous shall behold their fall. 
 The blameless man shall laugh the bad to scorn ! 
 
 ccxi. 
 
 Befriend thyself with God, and He shall fill 
 Thy soul with peace, and free thy lot from ill ; 
 
 I pray thee, take instruction from His mouth, 
 And in thy heart His righteous law instil. 
 
 CCXII. 
 
 If thou wouldst turn to God and wouldst repent, 
 And put iniquity far from thy tent, 
 
 Thou shalt in the Almighty have delight, 
 His ear to thy petition shall be bent. 
 
 CCXIII. 
 
 Yea, God shall ever hear when thou dost pray, 
 When unto Him thy true vows thou shalt pay ; 
 
 That which thou purposest, shall prosper well, 
 A light from heaven shall shine upon thy way. 
 
 JOB. 
 
 CCXIV. 
 
 The guilt lies at my gate — That is well known ! 
 His hand weighs on me while I sigh and groan ; 
 
 that I knew where I could find His seat, 
 That I might even come before His throne ! 
 
ccxv. 
 
 ho, I would plead my cause before His feet. 
 And fill my mouth with words and reasons meet ; 
 
 Fain would I know the words He would reply, 
 And learn the sentence of His mercy-seat. 
 
 ccxvi. 
 
 Will He with His great power my cause assail ? 
 If not, against me He would not prevail ! 
 
 A righteous man could then dispute with Him, 
 And I should be delivered from His jail ! 
 
 ccxvu. 
 
 Lo, I go forward, Him I cannot find : 
 Backward, but to His paths my eyes are blind ; 
 
 If He would try me, I should come forth gold, 
 From His straight pathway I have not declined. 
 
 ccxvni. 
 
 Behold, His footprints I my guides have made, 
 His path I have preserved, and have not strayed ; 
 
 From His commandments I have not gone back, 
 And all His words have in my bosom weighed. 
 
 ccxix. 
 
 When God hath ta'en His path, who turns His face ? 
 Whatever His soul desireth, must take place ; 
 
 When I reflect, I stand in fear of Him ; 
 When I consider, I despair of grace. 
 
ccxx. 
 
 Lo, the Almighty hath destroyed my pride, 
 My heart with His dread judgments terrified; 
 
 Alas ! He slew me not before the dark, 
 Ere gloom enwrapped my path on every side ! 
 
 ccxxi. 
 
 If days of judgment upon God depend, 
 
 Why do not they who know Him mark His end ? 
 
 The wicked move the landmarks from the way. 
 And stolen flocks to quiet pastures send. 
 
 ccxxn. 
 
 The orphan's ass they drive forth from its fold, 
 And for a pledge the widow's ox they hold ; 
 
 They turn the weak and needy from the way ; 
 The poor men of the earth are bought and sold. 
 
 CCXXIII. 
 
 Lo, these things have I seen upon the Earth, 
 My eye beheld these evils from my birth ; 
 
 Who will convince me that my words are lies, 
 And prove my righteous speech is nothing worth ? 
 
 BILDAD. 
 
 CCXXIV. 
 
 Lordship and fear are with Him in the height, 
 He maketh peace in heaven by His might ; 
 
 Lo ! is there any number to His hosts ? 
 Arid upon whom doth not arise His light ? 
 
ccxxv. 
 
 The sea by His almighty power is stilled,, 
 The strong sea-dragon by His wisdom killed ; 
 
 His hand hath pierced the serpent of the sky. 
 The heavens with splendour by His breath are filled. 
 
 CCXXVI. 
 
 Who understands the thunder of His scorn, 
 Or how the clouds are by His lightning torn ? 
 
 How then can Man be justified with God, 
 Or he be clean who is of woman born ? 
 
 CCXXVII. 
 
 The shining moon which doth in heaven endure, 
 Yea, e'en the stars before Him are not pure ; 
 
 How much less wicked Man, who is a worm ? 
 The son of Man, who is of birth obscure ? 
 
 JOB, 
 
 CCXXVIII. 
 
 How hast thou aided him whose strength is cold ? 
 And how the powerless arm dost thou uphold ? 
 
 To whom hast thou thus uttered empty words, 
 And by what spirit art thou made so bold ? 
 
 ccxxix. 
 
 As sure as God lives who my right hath ta'en, 
 Made my soul bitter, and my hope in vain ; 
 
 My lips shall never own they've spoken lies, 
 Nor shall a falsehood e J er my utterance stain. 
 
ccxxx. 
 
 Far be it from rue with, you to agree ! 
 Till death I will not yield integrity ! 
 
 That I hold fast, and will not let it go ; 
 My heart for one day doth not censure me. 
 
 CCXXXI. 
 
 To you I will the hand of God make plain, 
 The counsel of the Almighty will maintain ; 
 
 Behold, ye boast ye know it of yourselves ; 
 Why do ye utter then your speeches vain ? 
 
 ccxxxn. 
 
 Men search for shining silver in the mine, 
 There is a place where they their gold refine ; 
 
 Out of the earth they take the iron ore, 
 And fire doth make the copper ore to shine. 
 
 CCXXXIII. 
 
 The miner puts his hand upon the rock, 
 
 He overturns the mountains, block by block ; 
 
 He cutteth water-shafts in solid earth, 
 And precious things from darkness doth unlock. 
 
 ccxxxiv. 
 
 But Wisdom's quarry — where shall it be found ? 
 And where is Understanding's mining-ground ? 
 
 From eyes of living men 'tis hidden well, 
 Thereof our ears alone have heard the sound, 
 
ccxxxv. 
 
 God only understandeth Wisdom's way, 
 And He alone doth know where it doth stay ; 
 
 He looketh to the utmost ends of Earth, 
 And seeth all illumined by the day. 
 
 ccxxxvi. 
 
 When balances for the swift winds He made, 
 And with a measure the wide waters weighed, 
 
 Then did the Eternal Wisdom's way prepare, 
 He on his work the law of Wisdom laid. 
 
 ccxxxvu. 
 
 Then said He unto sinful Man " Be still ! 
 Nor in thy pride aspire to Wisdom's hill ! 
 
 For Man 'tis wisdom, to have fear of God ; 
 'Tis understanding, to depart from ill ! " 
 
 ZOPEAR. 
 
 CCXXXVIII. 
 
 may the wicked's lot befall my foe, 
 And may his fate like the ungodly's grow ! 
 
 What can the hope of the unrighteous be, 
 When God cuts off his soul, and lays it low ? 
 
 ccxxxix. 
 
 Will the Eternal listen to his cry 
 
 When trouble to his dwelling draweth nigh ? 
 
 Will the unrighteous man delight in God, 
 And will he alway to the Almighty fly ? 
 
CCXL. 
 
 Loj if his children live, they shall be slain, 
 
 And bread shall fail his offspring from their grain ; 
 
 They who survive him shall be doomed to death , 
 And leave no widows to lament their pain. 
 
 CCXLI. 
 
 Altho' he heap up silver for his stay, 
 And tho' he store up raiment as the clay, 
 
 The raiment which he stored the just shall wear. 
 His silver shall become the good man's prey. 
 
 CCXLII. 
 
 His habitation, as the moth's, is frail ; 
 
 His wealth in which he trusted soon shall fail ; 
 
 Terrors shall come upon him like a flood, 
 He in the night is swept off by the gale. 
 
 JOB. 
 
 CCXLIII. 
 
 that I were as in the months long past, 
 In days when Grod's protection kept me fast ! 
 
 When thro J the dark I walked by His clear lamp, 
 Whose shining light upon my head was cast ! 
 
 CCXLIV. 
 
 When in the time of vintage I was blessed, 
 And Grod's sure counsel in my tent did rest ; 
 
 Rivers of wine were poured me from the press, 
 My feet with oil anointed and caressed. 
 
CCXLV. 
 
 When to the city's gate I turned my feet, 
 When in the public place I took my seat, 
 
 The youths, when they beheld me, hid themselves ; 
 The old men, standing, did my presence greet. 
 
 CCXLVI. 
 
 Then even princely men did silent stand, 
 And nobles on the mouth did lay the hand ; 
 
 The eye which saw me gave me witness true, 
 The ear which heard me blessed me in the land. 
 
 CCXLVII. 
 
 For I gave judgment for the poor who cried, 
 And for the orphans who had none to guide ; 
 
 The widow's heart I gladdened : I was blessed 
 By those about to perish at my side. 
 
 CCXLVIII. 
 
 I righteousness upon my brow did bind, 
 My judgment as a mantle on my mind ; 
 
 Feet was I to the lame upon their way, 
 I was instead of eyes unto the blind. 
 
 CCXLIX. 
 
 I was a father to the poor : I tried 
 
 Their cause, and gave my judgment ere they cried : 
 
 I brake the sharp teeth of the unjust men, 
 And from them plucked the plunder of their pride. 
 
CCL. 
 
 Men gave me ear and waited till the hour 
 
 When I gave judgment ; none assailed my power ; 
 
 After my sentence none dared speak again, 
 My speech fell on them like a summer shower. 
 
 ecu. 
 
 But now they laugh at me with scorn and pride, 
 Even by shepherd-lads I am defied ; 
 
 By boys whose fathers I had never deigned 
 To set as hirelings by my sheep-dogs' side ! 
 
 CCLII. 
 
 What profit to me was their strength of hand ? 
 'Twas vain to pity such a worthless band ! 
 
 Sons of contempt, yea, men without a name, 
 Whose fathers had been driven from the land ! 
 
 CCLIII. 
 
 And now I am the song of such a race ! 
 I am become the byword of the base ; 
 
 Now they despise me, they flee far from me, 
 And do not keep their spittle from my face. 
 
 CCL1V. 
 
 He to the very dust hath brought me down, 
 And hath ta'en from me all my old renown ; 
 
 My miseries come on me like a flood, 
 And no man helps me to preserve my crown. 
 
CCLV. 
 
 They come upon my head with noises loud. 
 And terrors on my habitation crowd ; 
 
 My dignity Thou scatterest as with storms, 
 My welfare passeth like a summer cloud. 
 
 CGLVI. 
 
 The terrors of the night gnaw at my bones, | 
 My tireless torments do not heed my groans ; 
 
 My raiment is destroyed by my disease, 
 I am become as ashes in the stones. 
 
 CCLVII. 
 
 When I cry out Thou dost no pity show, 
 To me Thou art become a ruthless foe ; 
 
 With Thy strong hand Thou dost pursue me still, 
 And dost consume my help like melting snow. 
 
 CCLVIII. 
 
 I know that Thou wilt bring me to the tomb, 
 And to that house which is the living's doom ; 
 
 Shall not a drowning man stretch out his hand ? 
 Nor cry when ruin o'er his head doth loom ? 
 
 CCL1X. 
 
 For him who was in woe did I not weep ? 
 And from the poor did I my pity keep ? 
 
 When I expected good, then evil came, 
 And when I looked for light, lo ! darkness deep ! 
 
CCLX. 
 
 Lo, I go mourning and in darkness die, 
 And with loud voice in the assembly cry ; 
 
 I am a brother unto jackals made, 
 And with the desert ostriches I fly. 
 
 CCLXI. 
 
 My skin is black upon me, and my bones 
 
 Are scorched with heat, as are the desert stones ; 
 
 My harp is turned to mourning, and my pipe 
 Wails like the sound of weeping mixed with groans. 
 
 CCLXIl. 
 
 Lo, if to falsity I turned my feet, 
 
 Or if my steps have hastened to deceit, 
 
 Let God in scales of justice weigh me now, 
 And find that my integrity's complete ! 
 
 CCLXIII. 
 
 If e'er my steps have swerved from the right, 
 
 Or my heart wished what seemed good in my sight, 
 
 Let me now sow and let another reap, 
 My garden be uprooted in the night ! 
 
 CCLXIV. 
 
 If I have e'er deserved a husband's hate, 
 Or at my neighbour's door have lain in wait, 
 
 Then let my wife now turn another's mill, 
 And let a stranger take her for his mate. 
 
CCLXV. 
 
 Adultery is a most heinous sin, 
 Iniquity which shall its judgment win : 
 
 It is a fire which ruins and consumes, 
 And would destroy all increase in my bin. 
 
 CCLXVI. 
 
 For if I had despised my servant's right, 
 Or my handmaiden's, when they sought my might, 
 What could I do, when God rose up to judge ? 
 What answer could I give when in His sight ? 
 
 CCLXVII. 
 
 For of God's punishments I was afraid, 
 His fear my hand from every evil stayed ; 
 
 Did not my Maker make my servant too ? 
 And in the self-same mould were we not made ? 
 
 CCLXVIII. 
 
 The poor from their desire I never kept, 
 Thro' me the widow's eyes have never wept ; 
 
 I never ate my morsel by myself, 
 Before the orphans at my table leapt. 
 
 CCLX1X. 
 
 If for the lack of clothes I saw one die, 
 Or a poor man who raiment could not buy, 
 
 He with the fleeces of my flock was warmed, 
 And his loius blessed my hands when I was nigh. 
 
CCLXX. 
 
 If I against the orphans lifted hand, 
 When my retainers in the gate did stand, 
 
 Then let my shonlder from its socket fall, 
 My arm be loosened from its elbow-band ! 
 
 CCLXXI. 
 
 Never have I made gold my hope or lust, 
 
 Nor said to the stamped gold, ' ' Thou art my trust ! 
 
 I never joyed because my wealth was great, 
 Because my hands heaped riches from the dust. 
 
 cclxxit. 
 
 I never bowed to the bright sun at noon, 
 Nor bent my knees before the crescent moon ; 
 
 My heart was never secretly seduced 
 From any star of Heaven to ask a boon. 
 
 CCLXXIII. 
 
 I ne'er rejoiced above a fallen foe, 
 
 Nor joyed when misery laid my hater low ; 
 
 I never suffered curses on my lips, 
 Nor wished with imprecations for his woe. 
 
 CCLXXIV. 
 
 The guests my tent received could ne'er relate, 
 u He with his meat our hunger would not sate," 
 
 I never left the stranger without roof, 
 But ever to the traveller oped my gate. 
 
CCLXXV. 
 
 My sins as men are wont I ne'er concealed, 
 But all the failings of my heart revealed ; 
 
 I ne'er was fearful of the nobles' scorn, 
 Nor could the dread of numbers make me yield. 
 
 CCLXXVI. 
 
 Must I keep silence and from fear be slow ? 
 That one would listen to my pleadings ! Lo ! 
 
 Here is my signature ! Let God reply, 
 And hear the indictment written by my foe ! 
 
 CCLXXVII. 
 
 His sentence on my shoulder I would bear ; 
 And as a crown upon my forehead wear ; 
 
 Before my Judge I would my steps make plain, 
 And as a prince I would to Him draw near ! 
 
 JAHVEE. 
 cclxxviii. 
 
 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 
 
 Lo, who is this who makes my counsel nought, 
 And hath dark words devoid of wisdom sought ? 
 
 Gird up thy loins now, like a man, and speak : 
 I will demand, and would by thee be taught. 
 
 CCLXXTX. 
 
 Where wert thou, When I Earth's foundations laid ? 
 Declare, if understanding give thee aid ! 
 
 Who stretched the line upon it, dost thou know ? 
 Or in what balance were its waters weighed ? 
 
CCLXXX. 
 
 Upon what sockets do its pillars stand ? 
 
 Or who thereof the sure foundation planned ? 
 
 When all the sons of God did shout for joy. 
 And exultation thrilled the planets' band ? 
 
 CCLXXXI. 
 
 Who behind mighty gates made ocean rest, 
 
 When it burst forth from its strong mother's breast ? 
 
 When I made clouds its garment ? when with mists 
 As with a swaddling-band the sea was dressed ? 
 
 CCLXXXII. 
 
 When I brake up for it a place decreed, 
 And set my bars and portals to its speed, 
 
 And said " Here shall thy haughty waves be stayed, 
 And here shall be a limit to their greed ! " 
 
 CCLXXXIJI. 
 
 Did I command the morning by thy grace, 
 Or with thee cause the dawn to run its race ? 
 
 That it might seize the fringes of the Earth, 
 And shake the wicked from their hiding place ? 
 
 CCLXXXIV. 
 
 Earth changes as the clay beneath the seal 
 When morning doth its broidered robe reveal ; 
 
 But refuge from the wicked is withheld, 
 Their arm is broken beyond power to heal. 
 
CCLXXXV. 
 
 Can'st thou to sources of the sea descend ? 
 Thy footsteps to the abyss of ocean bend ? 
 
 Have Death's strong gates been opened unto thee ? 
 The portals of the Shadow can'st thou rend ? 
 
 CCLXXXVI. 
 
 Hast thou the breadth of the vast Earth surveyed ? 
 Tell me, if thou dost know, how it was made ? 
 
 Needs must thou know it, for thou then wast born, 
 The number of thy days will give thee aid ! 
 
 CCLXXXVII. 
 
 Know'st thou the way which leads to Light's abode ? 
 If one should ask thee, couldst thou tell the road 
 
 To Darkness, and declare the bounds thereof, 
 And can the paths thereto by thee be showed ? 
 
 CCLXXXVIII. 
 
 Hast thou beheld the treasuries of the snow ? 
 The arsenals of hailstones dost thou know ? 
 
 Which I have laid up for the troublous time, 
 Against the day of battle and of woe ? 
 
 CCLXXXIX. 
 
 Hast thou the pathway of the light divined ? 
 How upon Earth is scattered the east-wind ? 
 
 Who for the water-spout hath made a way, 
 A path for the swift lightning flash designed ? 
 
ccxc. 
 
 Out of whose womb came forth the ice and snow ? 
 How doth the hoar-frost of the heavens grow ? 
 
 When in the winter waters are as stone, 
 And the flood's face as hard as Earth below ? 
 
 ccxci. 
 
 Hast thou the fetters of the Pleiads found ? 
 Canst loose the bands in which Orion's wound ? 
 
 Will lightnings at thy hest say " Here we are ! " 
 If thou dost hail them from their secret bound ? 
 
 ccxcu. 
 
 Unto what sage of Earth is wisdom given 
 
 To number clouds, pour out the jars of Heaven ? 
 
 That flying dust may thicken into mire, 
 And make the clods cleave close, which heat hath riven ? 
 
 CCXCIII. 
 
 Canst thou hunt prey for the fierce lion's mate, 
 Or the keen hunger of her young cubs sate ? 
 
 When in their dens they couch, or when at eve 
 They in the thicket- covert lie in wait ? 
 
 CCXCIV. 
 
 Who for the raven doth his food supply, 
 When unto God for meat his nestlings cry ? 
 
 When without weariness he fans the air, 
 To find them food sufficient, lest they die ? 
 
ccxcv. 
 
 When the wild hinds bring forth art thou aware ? 
 Or canst thou count the months before they bear ? 
 
 They bring their young ones forth in mountain wastes. 
 Their little ones grow up in desert air. 
 
 ccxcvi. 
 
 Who hath sent out the wild ass free from thrall, 
 To whom I gave the desert for a stall ? 
 
 He scorns +he tumult of the peopled town, 
 And in his waste disdains the driver's call. 
 
 CCXCVII. 
 
 Will the wild oxen at thy labour moil, 
 
 Or with thy plough make furrows in thy soil ? 
 
 Wilt thou yoke them, because their force is great, 
 Or to their strength wilt thou entrust thy toil ? 
 
 CCXCVIII. 
 
 Didst thou bestow upon the horse his might, 
 Or with a waving mane his neck hast dight ? 
 
 Like to a locust dost thou make him leap ? 
 Or hast thou made proud neighings his delight ? 
 
 ccxcix. 
 
 He in the valley paws : cannot be stayed, 
 But goes with joy to meet the foeman's blade ; 
 
 He laughs at terror, shrinks not from the sword, 
 Nor by the flight of lances is dismayed. 
 
ccc. 
 
 The quiver rattles on his foaming side, 
 
 The glittering lance and shield against his hide ; 
 
 He bounds in anger, he devours the ground, 
 The trumpet by his snorting is defied. 
 
 CCCI. 
 
 When the sb rill clarion sounds he cries "Aha ! " 
 And scents the dust of battle from afar ; 
 
 He charges in the foremost of the fray, 
 Where the fierce captains shout their cries of war. 
 
 CCCII. 
 
 Doth the wild hawk by thy sure wisdom fly, 
 And spread her pinions southwards, sailing high ? 
 
 She makes her eyrie on the lofty rock, 
 And seeketh prey with her far-seeing eye. 
 
 . . CCCIII. 
 
 Will still the caviller his God defy ? 
 He who reproves his Maker, give reply ! 
 
 Wilt thou my righteous judgments disannul, 
 And, that thou mayst have right, give me the lie ? 
 
 ccciv. 
 
 Lo, if thou hast an arm like God's for might, 
 Or with His voice of thunder canst affright, 
 
 Deck thyself now with dignity and strength, 
 And be with majesty and splendour dight ! 
 
cccv. 
 
 Scatter abroad thy fury and abase 
 
 The proud who lift their horns before thy face ! 
 
 Bring low the haughty with an angry glance, 
 And trample down the wicked in their place ! 
 
 cccvi. 
 
 Make darkness overwhelm them like a wave, 
 And hide their faces in the silent grave ! 
 
 Then I too will confess before thy face, 
 That thou thyself by thy right hand canst save. 
 
 JOB. 
 
 CCCVII. 
 
 Lo ! I am nothing. How should I indeed 
 Before the presence of my Maker plead ? 
 
 Once have I spoken, but will speak no more, 
 Yea, twice : but I no further will proceed. 
 
 cccvin. 
 
 I know that nothing is beyond Thy might, 
 Or in the depth below, or in the height ; 
 
 Lo, I have uttered things above my ken, 
 Yea, things too wonderful, beyond my sight ! 
 
 cccix. 
 
 Oft have I heard men talking of Thy power, 
 But now mine eye hath seen Thee in this hour ; 
 
 Therefore I am consoled and am resigned, 
 Tho* low in ashes and the dust I cower. 
 
EPILOGUE 
 
 And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, 
 the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and 
 against thy two friends : for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, 
 as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven 
 rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and 
 my servant Job shall pray for you : for him will accept : lest I deal with you 
 after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is rigid, 
 like my servant Job. 
 
 So Eliphaz the Temanite and, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the 
 Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them : the Lord 
 also accepted Job. 
 
 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he frayed for his friends : 
 also the Lord game Job twice as much as he had before. Then came there unto 
 him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his 
 acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house : and they 
 bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought 
 upon him : every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an 
 earring of gold. 
 
 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning : for he 
 had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke 
 
of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three 
 daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemima ; and the name of the 
 second, Kezia ; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch. And in all the 
 land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job : and their father 
 gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred 
 and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons 3 sons, even four generations, 
 So Job died, being old and full of days. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 Los Angeles 
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
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BS 
 
 110-3 
 1897 
 
* 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 Los Angeles 
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 Form L9-Series 444 
 
3 1158 00770 1963 
 
 BS 
 
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 1897