31 My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.
CHAP. 31.
Job maketh a solemn protestation of his integrity in several duties.
I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
2 For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity. [1]
7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to my hands;
8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
9 If my heart hath been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;
10 Then let my wife grind to another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all my increase.
13 If I despised the cause of my male or female servant, when they contended with me;
14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? [2]
16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten of it;
18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;) [3]
19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the bone. [4]
23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much; [5]
26 If I have beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; [6] [7]
27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: [8]
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
29 If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or have lifted up myself when evil found him:
30 Neither have I allowed my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. [9]
31 If the men of my tent have not said, O that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller. [10]
33 If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom: [11]
34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
35 O that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that my adversary had written a book. [12]
36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
37 I would declare to him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near to him.
38 If my land crieth against me, or its furrows likewise complain; [13]
39 If I have eaten the fruits of it without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life: [14] [15]
40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended. [16]
CHAP. 32.
1 Elihu is angry with Job and his three friends. 6 Because wisdom cometh not from age, he excuseth the boldness of his youth. 11 He reproveth them for not satisfying Job. 16 His zeal to speak.
So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. [17]
2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. [18]
3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. [19] [20]
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; therefore I was afraid, and dared not show you my opinion. [21] [22]
7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show my opinion.
11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, while ye searched out what to say. [23] [24]
12 Yea, I attended to you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
14 Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches. [25]
15 They were amazed, they answered no more: they stopped speaking. [26]
16 When I had waited, (for they spoke not, but stood still, and answered no more;)
17 I said, I will answer also my part, I also will show my opinion.
18 For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. [27] [28]
19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. [29]
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer. [30]
21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles to man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
CHAP. 33.
1 Elihu offereth himself instead of God, with sincerity and meekness, to reason with Job. 8 He excuseth God from giving man an account of his ways, by
- ↑ Let...: Heb. Let him weigh me in balances of justice
- ↑ did not one...: or, did he not fashion us in one womb?
- ↑ her: that is, the widow
- ↑ bone: or, chanelbone
- ↑ gotten...: Heb. found much
- ↑ sun: Heb. light
- ↑ in...: Heb. bright
- ↑ my mouth...: Heb. my hand hath kissed my mouth
- ↑ mouth: Heb. palate
- ↑ traveller: or, way
- ↑ as Adam: or, after the manner of men
- ↑ my...: or, my sign is that the Almighty will
- ↑ complain: Heb. weep
- ↑ fruits: Heb. strength
- ↑ the owners...: Heb. the soul of the owners thereof to expire, or, breathe out
- ↑ cockle: or, noisome weeds
- ↑ to...: Heb. from answering
- ↑ himself: Heb. his soul
- ↑ waited...: Heb. expected Job in words
- ↑ elder: Heb. elder for days
- ↑ young: Heb. few of days
- ↑ durst...: Heb. feared
- ↑ reasons: Heb. understandings
- ↑ what...: Heb. words
- ↑ directed: or, ordered
- ↑ left...: Heb. removed speeches from themselves
- ↑ matter: Heb. words
- ↑ spirit...: Heb. spirit of my belly
- ↑ hath...: Heb. is not opened
- ↑ be...: Heb. breathe
