3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light 1 walked through darkness;

4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle ;

5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

7 When I went out to the gate through the city; when I prepared my seat in the street!

8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged arose, und stood up.

9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on

mouth.

their

10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me;

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame..

16 I was a father to the poor; and the cause which I knew not i searched out.

17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

18. Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not: and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the

inourners.

patriarch at the recollection of his past prosperity throws a

darker

shadow over the misery he was now suffering than the loudest of his cries and murmurs. No part of the book is superior to this in either beauty or pathos. Ver. 4. When the secret of God, &c.: that is, when God made me feel that he was present with me by the mysterious working of his grace and bounty in my preservation.-Ver. 6. Deut. xxxii. 13; xxxiii. 24.Ver. 7. This shews that Job was not simply the wealthiest man in the state, but that he was also the most dignified and honourable. Ver. 12. A direct contradiction this to the accusations of Eliphaz in chap. xxii.

CHAPTER XXX.

BUT now they that are younger

than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

2 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?

3 For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and

waste:

4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper-roots for their

meat.

5 They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief,)

6 To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

7 Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.

8 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men; they were viler than the earth.

9 And now am I their song; yea, I am their by-word.

10 They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

11 Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.

12 Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.

13 They mar my path; they set forward my calamity; they have no helper.

14 They came upon me as a wide breaking-in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.

15 Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind; and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.

17 My bones are pierced in me in the night-season; and my sinews.

take no rest.

18 By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.

19 He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.

20 1 cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me; I stand up, and thou regardest me not.

21 Thou art become cruel to me; with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.

22 Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance.

23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

24 Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.

Ver. 1. Never was the condition of a man more changed by misfortune than was Job's: heavy as were his afflictions, they were rendered far more so by the unpitying scorn with which his acquaintances, and the lowest even of the people, beheld them. In all this he was a true type of our blessed Redeemer. See Isa. liii.-Ver. 24. The meaning of this passage is somewhat obscure, and two opposite inter

25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?

26 When I looked for good, then evil came unto me; and when I waited for light, there came dark

ness.

27 My bowels boiled, and rested not; the days of affliction prevented

me.

28 I went mourning without the sun; I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.

29 I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

30 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burnt with heat.

31 My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.

CHAPTER XXXI.

MADE a covenant with mine 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 mine integrity.

7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;

10 Then let my wife grind unto 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 mine increase.

13 If I did despise the cause of my man-servant, or of my maidservant, 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 oise fashion us in the womb ?

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 thereof;

pretations have been suggested: the one purporting that Job was here consoling himself with the thought that in the grave there would be peace, for that God would not allow the power of his enemies. to prevail over him in death; the other, that he was here urging upon his thoughts the certainty of death, from the consideration that God would not stretch out his hand to save him, or any man, from the tomb.

Ver. 1. This continues Job's justification of himself against the accusations of his friends, both direct and implied. The whole chapter abounds with grand sentiments, and sublimely poetical ex

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;)

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 were not 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 mine arm fall from my shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

21 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

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 rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him;

30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul;

31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh 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;

33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom :

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 Oh that one would hear me ! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book:

36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown

to me.

37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him:

39 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof Complain;

39 I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

pressions. Ver. 27. Job here alJudes to the strong temptation which the best men laboured under when surrounded, as he was, by tribes of idolaters, and when solicited to follow their practices, both by the common weaknesses of human feeling, and the corruptions which were daily becoming more common in the East.-Ver. 33. Gen. tii. 5-12.-Ver. 35. Had written a book: that is, had made a full record of my life and actions; then it would have been seen how little reason there is for the loose and general accusations he brings against

me.

Ο

CHAPTER XXXII.

SO these three men ceased to an

swer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

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.

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.

5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three mei, 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; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.

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 shew mine opinion.

11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.

12 Yea, I attended unto 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.

15 They were amazed; they answered no more; they left off speaking.

16 When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more,)

17 I said, I will answer also my part; I also will shew mine opinion.

18 For I am full of matter; the spirit within me constraineth me.

19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

Ver. 1. This marks the beginning of a new section of the book.-Ver. 2. Elihu took the part of a wise and holy man of one who had carefully meditated on the purity of God's laws, and on the nature and condition of mankind existing in a state of sin bringing the results of this study of divine truth to bear upon the case of Job, he clearly saw that the afflicted patriarch, though guiltless of the offences ascribed to him by the previous speakers, had argued, in his anxiety to refute them, with far too little regard to the perfection of God's law, and the necessary guiltiness of a fallen. creature like man. His three friends, on the other hand, had evidently taken up a subject with which they were but superficially acquainted; and their remarks merited the twofold censure of being both imperfect in themselves, and being urged with feelings of unjus tifiable rigour.

22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away.

CHAPTER XXXIII WHEREFORE, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart; and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.

6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his

enemy;

11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. 12 Behold, in this thou art not just I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

13 Why dost thou strive against him for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

14 For God speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

Ver. 6. The meaning of Elihu is, that having been created by the Spirit of God, he was now inspired by him with a more than ordinary degree of understanding, and thus was ready to expound the truth to Job, who might regard his words, springing as they would from one moved by the Holy Ghost, as coming from the mouth of the Almighty Father himself, whose creature he was, and the motions of whose will he waited to obey. The mediation of Christ is manifestly shadowed forth in this intervention of Elihu between Job and his accusers; for

my terrors shall not make thee afraid' is the very motto which converts the throne of Christ into a mercy-seat.-Ver. 17. The purport of Elihu's argument is, that God worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, which it is folly in man to endeavour either to oppose or to fathom; but that, if he humble himself, he will raise him up, and

20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

23 if there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness;

24 Then he is gracions unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a

ransom.

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's he shall return to the days of his youth:

26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him; and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

27 He looketh upon men; and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 Mark well, O Job; hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me speak; for I desire to justify thee.

33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

FURTHERMORE, Elihu

said,

an

2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge:

3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

4 Let us choose to us judgment; let us know among ourselves what as good.

5 For Job hath said, I am righteous; and God hath taken away my judgment.

6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

s Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his

ways.

Ver. 9. See chap. ix. 17-22.

14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again into dust. 16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words:

17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly ?

19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor for they all are the work of his hands.

20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away; and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

nor

22 There is no darkness, shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 For he will not lay upon man more than right, that he should enter into judgment with God.

24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.

25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, 80 that they are destroyed.

26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?

3 For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have if I be cleansed from my sin?

4 I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than thou.

6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?

8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art, and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry; they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night:

II Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

15 But now, because it is not so he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth if not in great extremity:

16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

ELIHU also proceeded, and said,

32 That which I see not, teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I therefore speak what thou knowest.

34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken. unto me.

35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

36 My desire is, that Job may be tried unto the end, because of his answers for wicked men.

37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Ver. 17. Gen. xviii. 25.-Ver. 32. This is the moral to which the whole of Elihu's argument has tended from the beginning of his discourse: Let sinful man confess his ignorance and weakness; and, though he can remember no open or positive breach of the divine law, let him be assured that there is an amply sufficient degree of guilt in his dispositions to justify God when he afflicts him.

on God's behalf.

3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

4 For truly my words shall not be false he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

6 He preserveth not the life of

Ver. 2. Chap. xxi. 15. The mar ginal note to this passage in the larger Bibles, has, instead of What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? What profit shall I have by it more than by my sin ?" -Ver. 10. Elihu appears to argue, that though the righteousness of man can add nothing to the perfect felicity of God, all sufficient to himself, man acts with desperate folly, in regard to his own interests and happiness, when he neglects to seek good from the Almighty by obeying his will, however secret for a time may be his judgments. -Ver. 15. Yet he knoweth it not: that is, Job knoweth it not.

Ver. 4. Elihu speaks in reference to the fulness of the light which he felt God had bestowed upon him by his Spirit: he glorified not himself, but the source of his knowledge.

the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

7 He withdraweth not his eyes. from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in plea.

sures;

12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shal! die without knowledge.

13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath; they cry not when he bindeth them.

14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression :

i6 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

22 Behold, God exalteth by his power who teacheth like him?

23 Who hath enjoined him his way or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched

out.

27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof,

28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle ?

30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

31 For by them judgeth be the people he giveth meat in abundance.

Ver. 8. The purport of this speech is to shew, that the Lord, in bringing afflictions upon men, always Justifies his proceedings by the final punishment of the obstinately wicked, and the delivery of the penitent. Ver. 17. That is, thou hast established the principles by which the wicked act and reason, affording, as thou hast done, an example of the most presumptuous self-confidence. Ver. 31. For by them that is, by the elements, by

32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

AT this also my heart trembleth,

and is moved out of his place. 2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice: great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind; and cold out of the north.

10 By the breath of God frost is given; and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud; he scattereth his bright cloud,

12 And it is turned round about by his counsels; that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking-glass?

19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

20 Shall it be told him that I

the powers of the earth and the air, which obeying his commands, fill the year with plenty, and make "the clouds drop fatness," or scourge mankind with famine and pestilence.

Ver. 2. The awful sublimity of divine inspiration now increases at every verse: We seem to hear the mighty voice of the Lord pealing through the vast extent of creation, while the various movements of Nature going perpetually on, and its processes bringing forth results. ever new, and bright, and beautiful, mark his universal and everlasting presence. Ver. 24. He respecteth not, &c.: that is, he will not deliver a man purely because of his wisdom; or, he regards not the self-willed and presumptuous.

speak? If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds; but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

THEN the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner-stone thereof,

7 When the morning-stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the day-spring to know his place;

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

Ver. 1. Here commences the solemn development of the mystery hitherto concealed either under the cloud of Job's passionate grief, or in the dark sayings of his friends. Elihu having prepared the minds of Job and his companions by de. monstrations of the spiritual power with which he was endowed, now retires from the scene, and the Almighty judge himself appears in order to humble Job, but turn him at the same time to repentance, faith, and resignation. The magnificence of the language, the force and beauty of the images employed, will strike the attention of the most moderately instructed of readers.Ver. 14. That is, the earth receives the brightness of the day as wax

19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow; or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

21 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters; or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of drw?

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion ?

32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons ?

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion, or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of

meat.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

KNOWEST thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

the impression of a seal, and the light of the sun covers it as with a garment. Ver. 23. The Lord, accommodating his language to the comprehension of men, represents the keen blasts and frosts of the winter as kept back like means of destruction reserved for the punishment of a rebellious people. - Ver. 31. That is, Canst thou order the movements of the heavenly bodies? Canst thou make the stars give summer or winter at thy will ?

2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth ?

3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.

4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.

5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass ?

6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.

7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.

8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.

9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib ?

10 Caust thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich ?

14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust,

15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain. without fear;

17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?

20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper the glory of his nostrils is terrible.

21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.

23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?

27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

Ver. 1. This is a continuation of the same heavenly argument. What description can equal for sublimity that of the war-horse or of the eagle?

30 Her young ones also suck up blood and where the slain are, there is she.

CHAPTER XL.

MOREOVER, the Load an

swered Job, and said,

2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

4 Behold, I am vile; what sha!! I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

5 Once have I spoken, but I will not answer; yea, twice, but I will proceed no further.

6 Then answered the LOND unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous ?

9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency, and array thyself with glory and beauty.

11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath; and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.

12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

13 Hide them in the dust together, and bind their faces in

secret.

14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

16 Lo now, his strength is in his loius, and his force is in the navel of his belly.

17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.

18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.

20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.

21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into

his mouth.

24 He taketh it with his eyes; his nose pierceth through snares.

Ver. 3. Job, confused and humbled at the splendour of God's works, feels that before a being sc glorious in wisdom and goodness, he can have nothing to do but to confess his manifold imperfections and sins. Ver. 15. Behemoth : commentators have found it diffcult to determine what animal was designated by this name. Some suppose it was the elephant; others the hippopotamus, to which animal many of the particulars mentioned very closely answer.