Before
CHRIST,
1520.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 Then should I yet have comfort; yes, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shown from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and in which the snow is hid:
17 In the time when they become warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21 For now ye are nothing: ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring to me? or Give a reward for me of your substance?
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand in what I have erred.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
27 Yes, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident to you if I lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yes, return again, my righteousness is in it.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
CHAP. VII
1 1 Job excuseth his desire of death. 12 He complaineth of his own restlessness, 17 and God's watchfulness.
IS there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling?
2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as a hireling looketh for the reward of his work;
3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro to the dawning of the day.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken and become lothsome.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 O remember that my life is wind: my eye will no more see good.
8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thy eyes are upon me, and I am not.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11 Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
16 I lothe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 What is man, that thou shouldst magnify him? and that thou shouldst set thy heart upon him?
18 And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow my spittle?
20 I have sinned; what shall I do to thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
CHAP. VIII
1 1 Bildad sheweth God's justice in dealing with men according to their works. 8 He alledgeth antiquity to prove the certain destruction of the hypocrite. 20 He applieth God's just dealings to Job.
THEN answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Doth God pervert judgment; or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he hath cast them away for their transgression;
5 If thou wouldst seek to God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
