14He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.
15A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; 16He that would hide her hideth the wind, And the ointment of his right hand betrayeth itself.
17Iron sharpeneth iron- So a man sharpeneth the counte- nance of his friend.
18Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; And he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19As in water face answereth to face, So the heart of man to man,, 20The nether-world and Destruction are never satiated; So the eyes of man are.never satiated.
21The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, And a man is tried by his praise.
^Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among groats, Yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds; ^For riches are not for ever; And doth the crown endure unto all generations?
PROVERBS 25When the hay is mown, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in; ^The lambs will be for thy clothing, And the goats the price for a field; 27And there will be goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; And maintenance for thy maidens.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth; But the righteous are secure as a young lion.
JFor the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by a man of understanding and knowledge established order shall long continue.
3A poor man that oppresseth the weak Is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
4They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them.
5Evil men understand not justice; But they that seek the LORD under- stand all things.
6Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7A wise son observeth the teaching; But he that is a companion of glut- tonous men shameth his father.
•He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase, Gathereth it for him that is gracious to the poor. » 9He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomina- tion.
10Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, He 'shall fall himself into his own pit; But the whole-hearted shall inherit good.
uThe rich man is wise in his own But the poor that hath understand- ing searcheth him through.
12When the righteous exult, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men must be sought for.
13He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.
14Happy is the man that feareth alway, But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil.
15As a roaring lion, and a ravenous bear; So is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16The prince that lacketh under- standing is also a great oppressor; But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
17A man that is laden with the blood of any person PROVERBS Shall hasten his steps unto the pit; none will support him.
18Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: But he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
19He that tilleth his ground shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain things shall have poverty enough.
20A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.
21To have respect of persons is not good; For a man will transgress for a piece of bread.
22He that hath an evil eye hasteneth after riches, And knoweth not that want shall come upon him *3He that rebuketh a man shall in the end find more favour Than he that flattereth with the tongue.
24Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith; 'It is no transgression7, The same is the companion of a destroyer.
25He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife; But he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be abundantly grati- fied.
that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; But whoso walketh wisely, he -shall escape.
27He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
28When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.
OQ He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck Shall suddenly be broken, and that without remedy.
2When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice; But when the wicked beareth rule, the people sigh.
3Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; But he that keepeth company with harlots wasteth his sub- stance.
*The king by justice established the land; But he that exacteth gifts overthroweth it.
5 A man that flattereth his neighbour Spreadeth a net for his steps.
6In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; But the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
7The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; The wicked unaerstandeth not knowledge.
PROVERBS 8Scornful men set a city in a blaze But wise men turn away wrath.
9If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or latigh, there will be no rest.
10The men of blood hate him that is sincere; And as for the upright, they seek his life.
nA fool spendeth all Ms spirit; But a wise man stilleth it ^rithin him.
12If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood, All his servants are wicked.
18The poor, man and the oppressor meet' together;• • The LORD giveth light to the eyes of them both.
14The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, His throne shall be established for ever.
15The rod and reproof give wisdom; But a child left to himself causeth shame to his mother.
16When the wicked are increased, transgression increaseth; But the righteous shall gaze upon their fall.
17Correct thy son, and he will give thee rest; Yea, he will give delight unto thy soul.
"Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
19A servant will not be corrected by words; For though he understand, there will be no response.
20Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a master at the last.
angry man stirreth up strife, And a wrathful man aboundeth in transgression.
28A man's pride shall bring him low; But he that is of a lowly spirit shall attain to honour.
'"Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul* He heareth the adjuration and uttereth nothing.
25The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be set up on high.
26Many seek the ruler's favour; But a man's judgment comefch from the LORD.
27An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous; And he that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
OA The words of Agur the son of ^w Jakeh; the burden.
The man saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and TIcal: PROVERBS Purely I am brutish, unlike a man, And have not the understanding of a man* 8And I have not learned wisdom, That I should have the knowledge of the Holy One. 4Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest?
5Every word of God is tried; He is a shield unto them that take refuge in Him.
6Add thou not unto His words, Lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7Two things have I asked of Thee; Deny me them not before I die: 8Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with mine allotted bread; 'Lest I be full, and deny, and say: 'Who is the LORD?' Or lest I be poor, and steal, And profane the name of my God.
10Slander not a servant unto his master, Lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11There is a generation that curse their father, And do not bless their mother. 12There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, And yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13There is a generation, Oh how lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are lifted up. 14There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their great teeth as knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15The horseleech hath two daughters: 'Give, give.' There are three things that are never satisfied, Yea, four that say not. 'Enough7' 16The grave; and the barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with water; And the fire that saithnot: 'Enough.'
17The eye that mocketh at Ins father, 'And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it o'ut, And the young vultures shall eat it.
18There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yea, four which I know not 19The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a young woman. a°So is the way of an adulterous woman; She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, And saith* ' I have done no wicked- ness.'
aiFor three things the earth doth quake, And for four it cannot endure: PROVERBS a servant when he reigneth; And a churl when he is filled with food; ^For an odious woman when she is married; And a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
2*There are four things which are little upon the earth, But they are exceeding wise: ^The ants are a people not strong, Yet they provide their food in the summer; 26The rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, Yet make they their houses in the crags; 27The locusts have no king, Yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28The spider thou canst take with tfce hands, Yet is she in kings' palaces.
29There are three /things which are stately in their march, Yea, four which are stately in going: 30The lion, which is mightiest among And turneth not away for any; 31The greyhound; the he-goat also; And the king, against whom there is no rising up.
32If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, Or if thou hast planned devices, lay thy hand upon thy mouth. 33For the churning of milk bringeth forth curd, And the wringing of the nose brmgeth forth blood; So the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
0 1 The words of king Lemuel; the ^ •*" burden wherewith his mother corrected him.
2What, my son? and what, 0 son of my womb?
And what, 0 son of my vows?
3Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which de- stroyeth kings.
4It is not for kings, 0 aLemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes to say: 'Where is strong drink?7 5Lest they drink, and forget that which is decreed, And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul; 7Let him drink, and forget his pov- erty, And remember his misery no more.
80pen thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are ap- pointed to destruction.
90pen thy mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10A woman of valour who can find?
For her price is far above rubies. "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, And he hath no lack of gain. 12She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life. 13She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands. 14She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her food from afar. 16She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her maidens.
»Heb Lemoel.
PROVERBS T 16She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard, n 17She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms. ta 18She perceiveth that her merchan- dise is good; Her lamp goeth not out -by night. *> 19She layeth her hands to the dis- taff, And her hands hold the spindle. D 20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. ^ 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
E MShe maketh for herself coverlets; Her clothing is fine linen and pur- ple.
D ^Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land.
0 MShe maketh linen garments and selleth them; And delivereth girdles unto the merchant y ^Strength and dignity are her cloth- ing; And she laugheth at the time to come £) 26She openeth her mouth with wis- dom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue. & 27She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idle- ness p 28Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her: 29'Many daughters have done vali- antly, But thou excellest them all.' 10 30Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised, fl 31Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.
JOB 1 THERE was a man in the land of x U0, whose name was Job; and that man was whole-hearted and upright, and one that feared God, and shunned evil. 2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3His possessions also were 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 children of the east. 4And his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one upon^his day; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose ui early in the morning, and offeree burnt-offerings according to the num- ber of them all; for Job said: 'It may be that my sons have sinned, and blasphemed God in their hearts.' Thus did Job continually.
6Now it fell upon a day, that the sons of God came to present them- selves before the LORD, and *Satan came also among them. 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 con- sidered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a whole- hearted and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil?' 9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said: 'Doth Job fear God for nought? 10Hast not Thou made a 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 possessions are increased in the land. "But put forth Thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, surely he will blaspheme Thee to Thy MAnd the LORD said unto Satan: 'Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand.' So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 13And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, "that there came a messenger unto Job, and said: 'The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them; 15and the Sabeans made a raid, 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.' 16While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: 'A fire of God is 7And the fallen from heaven, and hath burned •That is, the Adversary.
up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.' 17While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: 'The Chaldeans set themselves in three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the serv- ants with the edge of the sword; and JOB JOB I only am escaped alone to tell thee.' 18While 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 across the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'
20Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and wor- shipped; 21and he 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. Tor all this Job sinned not, nor ascribed aught unseemly to God. O Again it fell upon a day, that the sons df God came to present them- selves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2And 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.' 8And the LORD said unto Satan: cHast thou con- sidered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a whole- hearted and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil? and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou didst move Me against him, to destroy him without cause.' 4And Satan answered the LORD, and said: 'Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 6But put forth Thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, surely he will blaspheme Thee to Thy face.' I 6And the LORD said unto Satan: 'Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life.'
7So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Jolb with sore boils from the sole of his foot even unto his crown. 8And he took him a potsherd to scrape him- self therewith; and he sat among the ashes. 9Then said his wife unto him: 'Dost thou still hold fast thine integ- rity? blaspheme God, and die/ 10But he said unto her: 'Thou speakest as one of the impious women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?' For all this did not Job sin with his lips.
uNow 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; and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan him and to comfort him. 12And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and threw dust upon their heads.toward heaven. 13So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him; for they saw that his grief was very great.
O After this opened Job his mouth, *J and cursed his day. 2And Job spoke and said: 8Let the day perish wherein I was born, And the night wherein ii was said: 'A man-cmld is brought forth.' 4Let that day be darkness; Let not God inquire after it from above, JOB Neither let the light shine upon it. 5Let darkness and the shadow oi death claim it for their own; Let a cloud dwell upon it; Let all that maketh black the day terrify it. 6As for that night, let thick darkness seize upon it; Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; Let it not come into the number of the months. < ?Lo, let that night be desolate; _ Let no joyful voice come therein. *Let them curse it that curse the day Who are ready to rouse up levi- athan. ' 9Let the stars of the twilight thereoJ be dark; Let it look for light, -but have none; Neither let it behold the eyelids of the morning; IOBecause it shut not up the doors of my [mother's] womb, , Nor hid trouble from mine eyes.
llWhy died I not from the womb? Why did I not perish at birth? 12Why did the knees receive me? And wherefore the breasts, that I should suck? 13For now should I have lain still and been quiet; I should have slept; then had I been at rest— 14With kings and counsellors of the earth, Who built up waste places for themselves; 15Or with princes that had gold, Who filled their houses with silver; 16Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants that never saw light. "There the wicked cease from troubling: And there the weary are at rest.
"There, the prisoners are at ease together; They hear not the voice of the taskmaster.
19The small and great are there alike; And the servant is free from his master.
20Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul — 21Who long for death, but it cometh not; And dig for it more than for hid treasures; 22 Who rejoice unto exultation, And are glad, when they can find the grave? — 23To a man whose way is hid, And whom God hath hedged in? MFor my sighing cometh instead of my food, And my roarings are poured out like water. 25For the thing which I did fear is come upon me, And that which I was afraid of hath overtaken me. 26I was not at ease, neither was I quiet, neither had I rest; But trouble came.
A Then answered Eliphaz the Temamte, and said. 2If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3Bchold, thou hast instructed many, And thou hast strengthened the weak hands. 4Thy words have upholden him thai was falling, And thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. 5But now it is come unto thco, and thou art weary; JOB It toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted. 6Is not thy fear of God thy con- fidence, And thy hope the integrity of thy ways? 7Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off? According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow mischief, reap the same. 9By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger are they consumed. 10The lion roareth, and the fierce lion howleth — Yet the teeth of the young lions are broken. uThe old lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12Now a word was secretly brought to me, And mine ear received a whisper thereof. I8ln thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth on men, 14Fear came upon me, and trembling, And all my bones were made to shake.
15Then a spirit passed before my face, That made the hair of my flesh* to stand up.
16It stood still, but I could not dis- cern the appearance thereof; A form was before mine eyes; I heard a still voice: "'Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?
"Behold, He putteth no trust in His servants, And His angels He chsrgeth with folly, 19How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth! 20Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; They perish for ever without any regarding it. als not their tent-cord plucked up within them?
They die, and that without wis- dom.'
£J Call now; is there any that will u answer thee? And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn?
2For anger kiileth the foolish man, And envy slayeth the silly one. 3I have seen the foolish taking root; But suddenly I beheld his habita- tion cursed.
4His children are far from safety, And are crushed in the gate, with none to deliver them. •Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, And taketh it even out of the thorns, And the snare gapeth for their substance. 6For affliction cometh not forth from the dust, Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; *But man is born unto trouble, As the sparks fly upward.
*But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause; 9Who doeth great things and un- searchable, Marvellous things without number; l°Who giveth rain upon the earth, JOB And sendeth waters upon \ the fields; uSo that He setteth up on high those that are low, And those that mourn are exalted to safety. ^He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can perform nothing substantial. l3He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; And the counsel of the wily is carried headlong. MThey meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noonday as in the night. "But He saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.
16So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
17Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; Therefore^ despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. 18For He maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and His hands make whole.
19He will deliver thee in six troubles; Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 20In famine He will redeem thee from death; And in war from the power of the sword. aThou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. ^At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh; Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
^For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. ^And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; And thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt miss nothing. 25Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, And thine offspring as the grass of the earth. ^Thou shalt come to thy grave in ripe age, Like as a shock of corn cometh in in its season.
27Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.
£ Then Job answered and said: 20h that my vexation were but weighed. And my calamity laid in the balances altogether! 8For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; Therefore are my words broken. 4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit dnnketh up; The terrors of God do set them- selves in array against me. sDoth the wild ass bray when he hath grass?
Or loweth the ox over his fodder? 6Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?
7My soul refuseth to touch them; They are as the sickness of my flesh.
80h that I might have my request, And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
JOB 73 9Even that it would please God to crush me; That He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!
10Then should I yet have comfort; Yea, I would exult in pain, though He spare not; For I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
aWhat is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient? 12Is my strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh of brass? 13Is it that I have no help in me, And that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?
14To him that is ready to faint kind- ness is due from his friend, Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15My brethrea have dealt deceit- fully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that over- 16Which are black by reason of the ice, And wherein the snow hideth itself, 17What tune they wax warm, they vanish, When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. 18The paths of their way do wind, They go up into the waste, and are lost.
19The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Shaba waited for them — 20They were ashamed because they had hoped; They came thither, and were con- founded. ^For now ye are become His; Ye see a terror, and are afraid. ^Did I say: 'Give unto mej? Or: 'Offer a present for me of your substance'?
230r: 'Deliver me from the adver- sary's hand'?
Or: 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors'?
24Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand where- in I have erred.
25How forcible are words of up- rightness!
But what doth your arguing argue? 26Do ye hold words to be an argu- ment, But the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind? 27Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless.
And dig a pit for your friend. 28Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face. 29Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.
30Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?
7 Is there not a time of service to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling? 2As a servant that eagerly longcth for the shadow, And as a hireling that looketh for 3So am I made to possess — months of vanity, And wearisome nights are appointed to me.
74 JOB 4When I lie down, I say: 'When shall I arise?' But 'the night is long, and I am ful of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. 5My flesh is clothed with worms anc clods of dust; My skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh. 6My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And are spent without hope. 70h remember that my life is a breath; Mine eye shall no more see good. 8The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; While Thine eyes are upon me, I am gone. 9As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, So he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
10He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.
"Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That Thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I say: 'My bed shall com- fort me, My couch shall ease my com- plaint'; "Then Thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions; 16So that my soul chooseth stran- gling, And death rather than these my bones. 16I loathe it; I shall not live alway; Let me alone; for my days are vanity. 17What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, And that Thou shouldest set Thy heart upon him, 18And that Thou shouldest remember him every morning, And try him every moment? 19How long wilt Thou not look away from me, Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 20If I have sinned, what do I unto Thee, 0 Thou watcher of men? Why hast Thou set me as a mark for Thee, So that I am a burden to myself? 21And why dost Thou not pardon my transgression, And take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; And Thou wilt seek me, but I shall not be.
0 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, ^ and said: 2How long ' wilt thou speak these things, Seeing that the words of thy mouth are as a mighty wind? 3Doth God pervert judgment? Or doth the Almighty pervert just- ice?
4If thy children sinned against Him, He delivered them into the hand of their transgression, flf thou wouldest seek earnestly unto God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;