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that liue pleasently. ¹⁴The depth sayth: It is not in me: and the sea speaketh: It is not with me. ¹⁵The finest gold shal not be geuen for it, neither shal siluer be weyed in the change therof. ¹⁶It shal not be compared with the died colours of India, nor with Sardonyx the most pretious stone, or with the Sapphire. ¹⁷Gold or glasse shal not be equal to it, neither shal vessels of gold be changed for it. ¹⁸High and eminent thinges shal not be mentioned in comparison of it: and wisedom is drawen out of secrete places. ¹⁹The topazius of Æthiopia shal not be equal to it, neither shal it be compared to the cleanest diyng. ²⁰From whence then cometh wisedom? and what is the place of vnderstanding? ²¹It is hid from the eies of al liuing, the foules of the ayre also know it not. ²²Perdition and death haue sayd: With our eares we haue heard the fame therof. ²³God vnderstandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place therof. ²⁴For he beholdeth the endes of the world: & looketh on al thinges that are vnder heauen. ²⁵Who made a poise to the windes, and weyed the waters in a measure. ²⁶When he gaue a lawe to the raynes, and a way to the sounding stormes. ²⁷Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared and searched it. ²⁸And he sayd to man: Behold ∷^[1] the feare of our Lord, that is wisedom: and to ∷^[2] depart from euil vnderstanding.

Chap. XXIX.

Againe Iob recounteth Gods former benefites, as wel his grace, wherby he did good workes, 5. as temporal prosperitie. 9. and wisdome aboue other princes.

IOb also added, taking ∷^[3] his parable, and sayd: ²Who wil grant me, that I may be according to the former monethes, according to the daies in which God kept me? ³When his lampe shined ouer my head, & I walked by his light in darknes? ⁴As I was in the daies of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle? ⁵When the Omnipotent was with me: and my seruantes round about me? ⁶When I washed my feete with butter, and the rocke powred me riuers of oile? ⁷When I went forth to the gatte of the citie, and in the streate they prepared me a chaire? ⁸Yong men sawe me, and hid them selues: and old men rising vp stoode. ⁹The princes ceased to speake, and did put the finger vpon their mouth. ¹⁰Dukes held in their voice, and their tongue cleaued to their

throate

1. When man hath considered Gods workes, his dutie is to feare God.
2. Then to depart from euil and do good.
3. Parables are not only similitudes of thinges but also pithie and profound sentences such as Iob, Salomon, and other wisest men uttered.