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Chapter 23
Job answered,
and said: My saying is yet this day in bitterness, and my hand heavy
among my groanings. O' that I might see him and find him: O' that I
might come before his seat, to plead my cause before him, and to
fill my mouth with arguments: That I might know, what answer he
would give me: and that I might understand, what he would say unto
me. Will he plead against me with his great power and strength, or
will he lean himself utterly upon me? Oh no, let him not do so with
me. But let him give me like power to go to the law, then am I sure
to win my matter. For though I go before, I find him not: If I come
behind, I can get no knowledge of him: If I go on the left side to
ponder his works, I can not attain unto them. Again, if I go on the
right side, he hideth himself, that I can not see him. But as for my
way, he knoweth it: and tryeth me as the gold in the fire.
Nevertheless my feet keep his path, his high street have I
holden, and not gone out of it. I have not forsaken the commandment
of his lips, but look what he charged me with his mouth, that I have
shut up in my heart. It is he him self alone, who will turn him
back? He doth as him listeth, and bringeth to pass what he will. He
rewardeth me in to my bosom, and many things more doth he, as he may
by his power. This is the cause, that I shrink at his presence, so
that when I consider him, I am afraid of him. For in so much as he
is God, he maketh my heart soft: and seeing that he is Almighty, he
putteth me in fear. Thus I can not get out of darkness, the cloud
hath so covered my face.
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Chapter 24
Considering then that there is
no time hid from the Almighty, how happeneth it, that they which
know him, will not regard his days? For some men there be, that
remove other mens landmarks: that rob them of their castle, and keep
the same for their own: that drive away the ass of the fatherless:
that take the widows ox for a pledge: that thrust the poor out of
the way, and oppress the simple of the world together. Behold, the
wild asses in the desert go by times, as their manner is, to spoil:
Yee the very wilderness ministereth food for their children. They
reap the corn field that is not their own: and gather the grapes out
of his vineyard, whom they have oppressed by violence. They are the
cause that so many men are naked and bare, having no clothes to
cover them and to keep them from the cold: So that when the showers
in the mountains have rained upon them, and they be all wet, they
have none other succour, but to keep them among the rocks.
They spoil the sucking fatherless children, and put the poor
in prison: In so much that they let them go naked without clothing,
and yet the hungry bear the sheaves. The poor are *faine to labor in
their oil mills, yee and to tread in their wine presses, and yet to
suffer thirst. The whole city crieth unto the Lord with sighing, the
souls of the slayen make their complaint: But God destroyeth them
not for all this, where as they ( notwithstanding ) are rebellious
and disobedient enemies: which seek not his light and way, ner turn
again in to his path. Timely in the morning do they arise, to murder
the simple and poor, and in the night they go a stealing.
The eye of the ungodly is like the *advouterer, that waiteth
for the darkness, and sayeth thus in him self: Tush, there shall no
man see me, and so he disguiseth his face. In the night season they
search the houses, and hide themselves in the day time, but will not
know the light. For as soon as the day breaketh, the shadow of death
cometh upon them, and they go in horrible darkness. The ungodly is
very swift: O that his portion on earth were swifter than the
running water, which suffereth not the shipman to behold the fair
and pleasant vineyards. O that they ( for that wickedness which they
have done ) were drawn into the hell, sooner than snow melteth with
the heat. O that all compassion upon them were forgotten: that their
dainties were worms, that they were clean put out of remembrance,
and utterly hewn down like an unfruitful tree. For they maintain the
barren, and make them that they cannot bare, and unto widows they do
no good. They pluck down the mighty with their power, and when they
themselves are gotten up, they are never without fear, as long as
they live. And though they might be safe, yet they will not receive
it, for their eyes look upon their own ways. They are exalted for a
little, but shortly are they gone, brought to extreme poverty, and
taken out of the way: yee and utterly plucked off, as the ears of
corn. Is it not so? Who will then reprove me as a liar? and say that
my words are nothing worth?
*faine (obliged) *advouterer: prefix "a" meaning not or without,
devout: devotion; heart without devotion ...plain hearted to God.
also see James 2 for adultery.
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Chapter 25
Then answered Baldad the Suhite,
and said: Power and fear is with him above, that maketh peace,
sitting in his highness, whose men of war are innumerable, and whose
light ariseth over all. But how may a man compared unto God be
justified? Or, how can he be clean, that is born of a woman? Behold,
the Moon shineth nothing in comparison to him, and the stars are
unclean in his sight. How much more then man, that is but
corruption: and the son of man, which is but a worm?
Baldad = "confusing (by mingling) love" Shuhite = "wealth"
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Chapter 26
Job answered, and said: O how
helped thou the weak? what comfort givest thou unto him that hath no
strength? Where is that counsel that thou shouldest give him, which
hath no wisdom? Wilt thou so show thy excellent righteousness?
Before whom hast thou spoken those words? Who made the breath to
come out of that mouth: The giants and worthies that are slayen, and
lay under the world with their companions: yee and all they that
dwell beneath in the hell are not hid from him, and that very
destruction it self can not be kept out of his sight. He stretcheth
out the north over the empty, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. He
bindeth the water in his clouds, that they fall not down together.
He holdeth back his *stoule, that it can not be seen, and spreadeth
his *clouds before it.
He hath compassed the waters with certain bounds, until the
day and night come to an end. The very pillars of heaven tremble and
quake at his reproof. He filleth the sea with his power, and through
his wisdom he hath set forth the world. With his spirit he hath
garnished the heavens, and with his hand hath he wounded the
rebellious serpent. This is now a short sum of his doings. But who
is able to sufficiently rehearse his works? Who can perceive and
understand the thunder of his power.
*stoule = stole; robe, covering and in the Hebrew "clouds" are
destruction.
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Chapter 27
And Job proceeded a went forth
in his communication saying: As truly as God liveth ( which hath
taken away my power from me ) and the Almighty, that hath vexed my
mind: My lips shall talk of no vanity, and my tongue shall speak no
deceit, while my breath is in me, and as long as the wind ( that God
hath given me ) is in my nostrils.
God forbid, that I should grant your cause to be right. As for
me, until mine end come will I never go from my innocency. My
righteous dealings keep I fast, which I will not forsake: my heart
shall not reprove me of my days. Therefore mine enemy shall be found
as ungodly, and he that taketh part against me, as the unrighteous.
What hope hath the hypocrite, though he have great good, and though
God give him riches after his hearts desire? Doth God hear him the
sooner, when he crieth unto him in his necessity? Hath he such
pleasure and delight in the Almighty, that he dare call upon God? I
will teach you in the name of God? and the thing that I have of the
Almighty, will I not keep from you. Behold, ye stand in your own
conceit, as though ye knew all things. Wherefore then do ye go about
with such vain words saying: This is that portion that the wicked
shall have of God, and the heritage that the Tyrants shall receive
of the Almighty. If he get many children, they shall perish with the
sword, and his posterity shall have scarceness of bread. Look whom
he leaveth behind him, they shall die and be buried, and no man
shall pity of his widows. Though he have as much money as the dust
of the earth, and raiment as ready as the clay, he may well prepare
it: but the godly shall put it upon him, and the innocent shall deal
out the money. His house shall endure as the moth, and as a *booth
that the watchman maketh. When the rich man dieth, he carrieth
nothing with him: he is gone in the twinkling of an eye. Destruction
taketh hold upon him as the water flood, and the tempest stealeth
him away in the night season. A vehement wind carryeth him hence,
and departeth: a storm plucketh him out of his place. It rusheth in
upon him, and spareth him not, he may not escape the power thereof.
Then clap men their hands at him, yee and jest of him, when they
look upon his place.
*booth (tent)
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Chapter 28
There are places
were silver is molten, and where gold is tried: where iron is digged
out of the ground, and stones are resolved to metal. The darkness
shall once come to an end, he can seek out the ground of all things:
the stones, the dark, and the horrible shadow. With the river of
water parteth he asunder the strange people, That knoweth no good
neighbor head: such as are rude, unmannerly and boisterous: He
bringeth food out of the earth, and that which is under, consumeth
he with fire. There is found a place, whose stones are clean
Sapphires, and where the clots of the are gold. There is a way also
that the birds know not, that no vultures eye hath seen: wherein the
proud and high minded walk not, and where no lion cometh. There
putteth he his hand upon the stoney rocks, and over throweth the
mountains. Rivers flow out of the rocks, and look what is pleasant,
his eye seeth it. Out of the rocks bringeth he great floods
together, and the thing that is hid bringeth he to light. How cometh
a man then by wisdom? Where is the place where men find
understanding? Verily no man can tell how worthy a thing she is,
neither is she found in the land of the living. The deep saith: she
is not in me. The sea saith: she is not with me. She cannot be
gotten for the most fine gold, neither may the price of her be
bought with any money. No wedges of the gold of Ophir, no precious
Onyx stones, no Sapphire may be compared unto her. No, neither gold
nor Crystal, neither sweet odors ner golden plate. There is nothing
so worthy, or so excellent, as once to be named unto her: for
perfect wisdom goeth far beyond them all. The Topaz that cometh out
of Inde, may no wise be likened unto her: yee no manner of apparel
how pleasant and fair soever it be.
From where then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of
understanding? She is hid from the eyes of all men, yee and from the
fouls of the air. Destruction and death say: We have heard tell of
her with our ears. But God seeth her way, and knoweth her place. For
he holdeth the ends of the world and looketh upon all that is under
heaven. When he weighed the winds, and measured the waters: When he
set the rain in order, and gave the mighty floods a law. Then did he
see her, then declared he her, prepared her and knew her. And unto
man he said: Behold, to fear the Lord, is wisdom: and to forsake
evil, is understanding.
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Chapter 29
So Job proceeded and went forth
in his communication, saying: Oh that I were as I was in the months
by past, and in the days when God preserved me: When his light
shined upon my head: by I went after the same light and shining even
through the darkness. As it stood with me, when I was wealthy and
had enough: when God prospered my house: When the Almighty was with
me: when my household flocks stood about me: When my ways ran over
with butter, and when the stony rocks gave me rivers of oil: When I
went through the city unto the gate, and when they set me a chair in
the street: When the young men ( as soon as they saw me ) hid
themselves, when the Princes left of their talking, and laid their
hand to their mouth: when the mighty keep still their voice, and
when their tongues cleaved to the roof of their mouths. When all
they that heard me, called me happy: and when all they that saw me,
wished me good. For I delivered the poor when he cried, and the
fatherless that wanted help. He that should have been lost, gave me
a good word, and the widows heart praised me. And why? I put upon me
righteousness, which covered me as a garment, and equity was my
crown. I was an eye unto the blind, and a foot to the lame, I was a
father unto the poor, and when I knew not their cause, I sought it
out diligently. I brake the *chafes of the unrighteous, and plucked
the spoil out of their teeth.
Therefore, I thought verily, that I should have died in my
nest: and that my days should have been as many as the sands of the
sea. For my root was spread out by the water side, and the dew lay
upon my corn. My honor increased more and more, and my bow was ever
stronger in my hand. Unto me men gave ear, me they regarded, and
with silence they tarried for my counsel. If I had spoken, they
would have it none other ways, my words were so well taken among
them. They waited for me, as the doth for the rain: and gaped upon
me, as the doth to receive the latter shower. When I laughed, they
knew well it was not in earnest: and this testimony of my
countenance pleased them nothing at all. When I was chief, and sat
as a king among his servants: Or as one that comforteth such as be
in heaviness.
*chafes (annoyance, vexation)
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Chapter 30
But now they that are mine
inferiors and younger then I , have me in derision: yee even they,
whose fathers I would have thought scorn to have set with the dogs
of my cattle. The power and strength of their hands might do me no
good, and as for their age, it is spent and past away without any
profit. For very misery and hunger, they went about in the
wilderness like wretches and beggars, plucking up herbs from among
the bushes, and the Junipers root was their meat. And when they were
driven forth, men cried after them, as it had been after a thief.
Their dwelling was beside foul brooks, yee even in the caves and
dens of the earth. Upon the dry *heath went they about crying, and
in the broom hills they gathered them together. They were children
of fools and villains, which are dead away from the world. Now am I
their song, and am become their jesting stock: they abhor me, they
flee far from me, and stain my face with spit, for the lord has
opened his quiver, he hath hit me and put a bridle in my mouth. Upon
my right hand they rose together against me, they have hurt my feet,
made a way to destroy me, and my path have they clean marred. It was
so easy for them to do me harm, that they needed no man to help
them. They fell upon me, as it had been the breaking in of waters,
and came in by heaps to destroy me. Fearfulness has turned against
me.
Mine honor vanisheth away more swiftly than wind, and my
prosperity departeth hence like as it were a cloud. Therefore is my
mind poured full of heaviness, and the days of trouble have taken
hold upon me. My bones are pierced through in the night season, and
my sinews take no rest. With all their power have they changed my
garment, and girded me therewith, as it were with a coat. I am even
as it were clay, and am become like ashes and dust. I cry unto thee,
thou doest not hear me: and though I stand before thee, yet thou
regardest me not. Thou art become mine enemy, and with thy violent
hand thou takest part against me. In times past thou didest set me
up on high, as it were above the wind, but now hast thou given me a
very sore fall. Sure I am, that thou wilt deliver me unto death:
whereas a lodging is prepared for all men living. Now use not me to
do violence unto them, that are destroyed already: but where hurt is
done, there use they to help. Did I not weep in the time of trouble?
Had not my soul compassion upon the poor? Yet nevertheless where as
I looked for good, evil happened unto me: and where as I waited for
light, there came darkness. My bowels seeth within me, and take no
rest, for the days of my trouble are come upon me. Meekly and lowly
I came in, yee and without any displeasure: I stood up in the
congregation, and communed with them. But now I am a companion of
dragons, and a fellow of the Ostriches. My skin upon me is turned to
black, and my bones are burnt with heat: my harp is turned to
sorrow, and my pipe to weeping.
*heath (low shrubs and brush)
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Chapter 31
I made a covenant with mine
eyes, that I would not look upon a damsel. For how great a portion
shall I have of God from above? and what inheritance from the
almighty from on high? As for the ungodly and he that joineth
himself to the company of wicked doers shall not destruction and
misery come upon him? Doth not he see my ways, and tell all my
goings. If I have cleaved unto vanity, or if my feet have run to
deceive: Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may see my
innocency. If so be that I have withdrawn my foot out of the right
way, if my heart hath followed mine eyesight, if I have stained or
defiled mine hands: O' then is it reason that I sow, and another
eat, yee that my generation and posterity be clean rooted out. If
mine heart hath *lusted after my neighbors wife, or if I have laid
wait at his door. O' then let my wife *be another mans harlot and
let other lie with her. For this is a wickedness and sin, that is
worthy to be punished, yee and a fire that utterly shall consume,
and root out all my substance. Did I ever think scorn to do right
unto my servants and maidens, when they had any matter against me.
But seeing that God will sit in judgement what shall I do? And for
so much as he will needs visit me, what answer shall I give him? He
that did fashion me in my mothers womb, made he not him also? were
we not both shaped alike in our mothers bodies? When the poor
desireth anything at me, have I denied them? Have I caused the widow
stand waiting for me in vain? Have I eaten my portion alone, that
the fatherless hath had no part with me? For mercy grew up with me
from my youth, and compassion from my mothers womb. Have I seen any
man perish through nakedness and want of clothing? Or any poor man
for lack of raiment, whose sides thanked me not, because he was
warmed with the wool of my sheep?
Did I ever lifted up my hand to hurt the fatherless? Yee in
the gates where I saw myself to be in authority: then let mine arm
fall from my shoulder, and mine arm holes be broken from the joints.
For I have ever feared the vengeance and punishment of God, and knew
very well, that I was not able to bear his burden. Have I put my
trust in gold? Or have I said to the finest gold of all: thou art my
confidence? Have I rejoiced because my substance was great, and
because my hand got so much? Did I ever greatly regard the rising of
the *son? Or had I the going down of the moon in great reputation?
Hath my heart meddled privately with any deceit? Or, did I ever kiss
mine own hand? That were a wickedness worth to be punished, for then
should I have denied the God that was above. Have I ever rejoiced at
the hurt of mine enemy? Or was I ever glad, that any harm happened
to him? Oh no . I never suffered my mouth to do such a sin, as to
wish him evil. Yet they of mine own household say: who shall let us
to have our belly full of his flesh? I have not suffered a stranger
to lay without, but opened my doors unto him. Have I ever done any
wicked deed where through I shamed myself before men: or any
abomination, that I was *faine to hide it? For if I had feared any
great multitude of people: or if I had been despised of the simple,
O' then I should have been afraid. Thus I have quietly spent my
life, and not gone out at the door. O' that I had one which did hear
me. Lo, this is my cause. Let the almighty give me answer: and let
him that is my contrary party , sue me with libel. Then shall I take
it upon my shoulder, and as a garland about my head. I have told the
number of my goings, and delivered them unto him as to a Prince. But
if cause be that my land cry against me, or that the furrows thereof
make any complaint: if I have eaten the fruits thereof unpaid for,
yee if I have grieved any of the plowmen: then let thistles grow
instead of my wheat, and thorns for my barley.
Here end the words of Job
*lusted after my neighbors wife, (kjv and other "bibles of man" =
been deceived by a woman)and also see: *be another mans harlot (kjv
and other "bibles of man" = grind unto another, and let others bow
down upon her.) rising of the *son? ; this is son here recorded from
the Original spelling soune.. elsewhere sun is spelled sunne . *faine
(obliged / or willing)
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Chapter 32
So these three men would strive
no more with Job, because he *held himself a righteous man. But Eliu
the son of Barachell the Bussite of the kindred of Ram, was very
sore displeased at Job, that he called him self just before God. And
with Jobs three friends he was angry also, because they had found no
reasonable answer to over come him. Now tarried Eliu till they had
ended their communication with Job, for why they were elder than he.
So when Eliu the son of Barachell the Bussite saw, that these three
men were not able to make Job answer, he was miscontent: so that he
gave answer himself, and said: Considering, that I am young, and ye
be men of age, I was afraid, and durst not show forth my mind, for I
thought thus within myself: It becometh old men to speak, and the
aged to teach wisdom. Every man ( no doubt ) hath a mind, but it is
the inspiration of the Almighty that giveth understanding. All men
are not wise, neither doth every aged man understand the thing that
is lawful. Therefore will I speak also ( in so far as I may be heard
) and will show you mine opinion. For when I had waited till ye made
an end of your talking, and heard your wisdom, what arguments you
made in your communication: Yee when I had diligently pondered what
ye said, I found not one of you that made any good argument against
Job, or that could directly make answer unto his words: Lest ye
should praise yourselves, to have found out wisdom: because it is
God that hath cast him out, and no man. Nevertheless, seeing that he
hath not spoken unto me, therefore will I not answer him as ye have
done ( for they where abashed that they could not make answer, nor
speak one word ) but in so much as ye will not speak, standing still
like dumb men, and making no answer: I have a good hope to snap him
an answer, and to show him my meaning. For I am full of words, and
the spirit that is within me, compelleth me.
Behold I am as the new wine, which hath no vent, and bursteth
the new vessels asunder. Therefore will I speak, that I may have
vent: I will open my lips, and make answer. I will regard no manner
of person, no man will I spare for if I would go about to please
men, I know not how soon my maker would take me away.
*held himself a righteous man. (kjv and other bibles of man =in his
own eyes)
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Chapter 33
Wherefore hear my words ( O' Job
) and hearken to me all, that I will say: Behold, I will open my
mouth, and my tongue shall speak out of my jaws. My heart shall
order my words aright, and my lips shall talk of pure wisdom. The
spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the almighty hath
given me life. If thou canst, then give me answer: prepare thyself
to stand before me face to face. Behold, before God am I, even as
thou, for I am fashioned and made even of the same mould. Therefore,
thou needest not be afraid of me, neither needest thou to fear, that
may authority , shall be too heavy for thee. Now hast thou spoken in
mine ears, and I have heard the voice of thy words: I am clean
without any fault, I am innocent, and there is no wickedness in me.
But lo, he hath picked a quarrel against me, and taketh me for his
enemy: He hath put my feet in the stocks, and looketh narrowly unto
all my paths. Behold, unto these unreasonable words of thin will I
make answer.
Should God be reproved of man? Why dost thou strive against
him? because he giveth thee no *accomptes of all his doings? For
when God doth once command a thing there should no man be curious,
to search whether it be right. In dreams and visions of the night
season When slumbering cometh upon men, that they fall asleep in
their beds ) he roundeth them in the ears, he informeth them, and
showeth them plainly, that it is he, which withdraweth man from
evil, delivereth him from pride, keepeth his soul from destruction,
and his life from the sword. He chasteneth him with sickness, and
bringeth him to his bed: he layeth sore punishment upon his bones,
so that his life may away with no bread, and his soul abhorreth to
eat any dainty meat. In so much that his body is clean consumed
away, and his bones appear no more. His soul draweth onto
destruction, and his life to death. Now if there be a messenger (
one among a thousand ) sent for to speak unto man, and to show him
the right way: then the Lord is merciful unto him, and sayeth: He
shall be delivered, that he fall not down to destruction, for I am
sufficiently reconciled. Then his flesh ( which hath been in misery
and trouble ) shall be as it was in his youth. For if he submit
himself unto God, he is gracious, and showeth him his countenance
joyfully, and rewardeth man for his righteousness. Such a respect
hath he unto men. Therefore let a man confess ( and say ) I
offended, but he hath chastened and reformed me: I did unrighteously
nevertheless he hath not recompensed me thereafter. Yee he hath
delivered my soul from destruction, and my life, that it seeth the
light. Lo, thus worketh God always with man, that he keepeth his
soul from perishing, and letteth him enjoy the light of living. Mark
well ( O' Job ) and hear me: hold thee still until I have spoken.
But if thou hast anything to say, then answer me, and speak. for thy
answer pleaseth me. If thou hast nothing, then hear me, and hold thy
tongue, so shall I teach thee wisdom.
*accomptes (acceptable
accounts) *accomptes; appears to be an original compound word which
was later divided into two words: acceptable / accounts
/accomplishments.
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Chapters 1-11
| 12-22
| 23-33
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