Job describeth his unhappy case.

Before

grape as the vine, and shall cast off CHRIST his flower as the olive. about 1520.

34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. 35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth || vanity, and their belly Or, iniquity. prepareth deceit.

u Ps. 7. 14.

Is. 59.4.
Hos. 10. 13.

Or,

CHAPTER XVI.

1 Job reproveth his friends of unmerciful-
ness. 7 He sheweth the pitifulness of his
case. 17 He maintaineth his innocency.

THEN Job answered and said,
2. I have heard many such things:

|| amiserable comforters are ye all. troublesoma 3 Shall + vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

ach. 13.4. † Heb. words of wind.

4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you,

b Ps. 22. 7. & and bshake mine head at you.

109. 25.

Lam. 2. 15.

† Heb, what goeth from me?

5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged: and though I forbear, † what am I eased?

7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

och. 10.16.17. He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; dmine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

d ch. 13. 24.

e Ps. 22. 13.

f Lam. 3. 30,

Mic. 5. 1.

g Ps. 35. 15.

hch. 1. 15, 17. + Heb. hath shut me up.

ich. 7.20.

k ch. 30. 19. Pa. 7. 5.

1 ch. 27. 9.

Ps. 66. 18, 19.

m Rom. 1. 9.

+ Heb. in the

10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they fhave smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11 God hhath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and iset ine up for his mark.

13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and kdefiled my horn in the dust.

16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

19 Also now, behold, mmy witness is in heaven, and my record is fon

high places. high.

20 My friends † scorn me: but mine

He appealeth from men to God.

21 Oh that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his || neighbour!

22 When fa few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Rom. 9. 20. Or, friend. Heb. years of number.
CHAPTER XVII.

1 Job appealeth from men to God. 6 The
unmerciful dealing of men with the af-
flicted may astonish, but not discourage
the righteous. 11 His hope is not in life,
but in death..

12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of dark- + Heb. near. ness.

13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. 14 I have † said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

16 They shall go down ito the bars of the pit, when our krest together is in the dust.

CHAPTER XVIII.

1 Bildad reproveth Job of presumption and impatience. 5 The calamities of the wicked.

HEN answered Bildad the Shu

The certain portion of the wicked.

Before CHRIST about 1520.

† Heb. my haste is in พเจ

a Ps 37.35,

36.

THEN answered Zophar the Naa

2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is † short, and the joy of the

+ Heb. from hypocrite but for a moment?

near,

b Is. 14. 13, 14.

Obad, 3, 4.

+ Heb. cloud.

c Ps. 83. 10.

d Ps. 73.20. &

90.5.

ech. 7.8, 10.

& 8. 18.

Ps. 37. 36. &

103. 16.

Or, The poor shall oppress his children.

fver. 18.

gch. 13. 26.

Ps. 25. 7.

hch. 21, 26.

6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the f clouds;

7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

8 He shall fly away das a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

10 || His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands fshall restore their goods.

11 His bones are full of & the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

13 Though he spare it, and forsake + Heb. in the it not, but keep it still † within his

midst of his palate.

1 Ps. 36. 9.

Jer. 17. 6.

Ог, streaming brooks.

k ver. 10, 15.

† Heb.

according to

the substanов

of his ew

change.

+ Heb.

crushed,

1 Ecc. 5.13,14

mouth;

14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.

17 He shall not see i the rivers, || the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

18 That which he laboured forkshall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: faccording to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

19 Because he hath toppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away a house which he builded not;

20 1 Surely he shall not feel quiet+ Hob. know. ness in his belly, he shall not save

N Or, There

shall be none

left for his
meat.

Or.

troublesome. mNum.11.33.

of that which he desired.

21 || There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the || wicked shall come upon him.

23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him mwhile he is eating.

Wicked men sometimes prosper.

weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.

25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: Pterrors are upon him.

26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: la fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage † appointed unto him by God.

CHAPTER XXI.

1 Job sheweth that even in the judgment of man he hath reason to be grieved. 7 Sometimes the wicked do so prosper, as they despise God. 16 Sometimes their despise destruction is manifest. 22 The happy and unhappy are alike in death. 27 The judgment of the wicked is in another world.

BUT Job answered and said,

2 Hear diligently my speech,

and let this be your consolations. 3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. 4. As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be † troubled?

5† Mark me, and be astonished, band lay your hand upon your mouth.

6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

Before CHRIST

about 1520.

och, 16.13.

pch. 18. 11.

q Ps. 21. 9.

rch. 27.13. & 31. 2, 3.

+ Heb, of his decree from Gol

ach. 16.10. & 17.2.

† Heb. shortened.

+ Heb. Look

unto me.

b Judg. 18.19.

ch. 29, 9. & 40. 4.

Ps. 39, 9.

7 Wherefore do the wicked live, cch. 12. 6. become old, yea, are mighty in power?

8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their houses fare safe from fear, d neither is the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They fspend their days || in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

14 & Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

All alike in death.

Before

18 They are as stubble before the CHRIST wind, and as chaff that the storm about 1520. | carrieth away.

19 God layeth up || his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and Phe shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? 22 4 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

23 One dieth tin his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

24 His || breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with mar

t Prov. 16.4.

2 Pet. 2. 9.

† Heb. the

day of

wraths.

u Gal, 2. 11.

† Heb.

graves.

† Heb. watch

in the heap.

x Heb. 9. 27.

† Heb, tran gression?

ach. 35, 7.

Ps. 16. 2.

Luke 17. 10.

Or, if he

may be prof

itable, doth

his good suc

cess depend

thereon?

b Ex.22,26,27,

27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28 For ye say, "Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwellingplaces of the wicked?

29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know heir tokens,

30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

to

31 Who shall declare his way his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

32 Yet shall he be brought to the † grave, and shall fremain in the tomb.

33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth † falsehood?

CHAPTER XXII.

1 Eliphaz sheweth that man's goodness profiteth not God. 5 He accuseth Job of divers sins. 21 He exhorteth him to repentance, with promises of mercy.

THEN Eliphaz the Temanite an

THEN

2 a Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

4 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

5 Is not thy wickedness great? and

Deut. 24. 10, thine iniquities infinite?

&c.

ch. 24, 3, 9.

Ez. 18. 12.

6 For thou hast taken a pledge

from thy brother for nought, and

Job accused of divers sins.

stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. 8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the thonourable man dwelt in it.

9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of d the fatherless have been broken.

10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;

11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of f waters cover thee.

12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 And thou sayest, & How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

14 h Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

15 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

Before CHRIST

about 1520.

+ Heb. stripped the clothes of

the naked. cSeech.31 17, Deut. 15, 7, &c.

Is. 58. 7. Εz. 18. 7, 16. Matt. 25. 42.

† Heb. the

man of arm. † Heb. eminent, or, accepted for

countenance.

dch 31. 21..

Is. 10 2.

Ez. 22. 7.

och. 18. 8, 9,

10. & 19. 6.

f Ps. 69. 1,2. & 124.4.

Lam. 3. 54.

Heb. the

head of the

stars.

Or, What.

g Ps. 10. 11. & 59.7 & 73. 11. & 94. 7.

16 Which iwere cut down out of time, whose foundation was over-h Ps. 139. 11, flown with a flood:

17 k Which said unto God, Depart from us: and1 what can the Almighty do || for them?

18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.

20 Whereas our || substance is not cut down, but || the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

21 Acquaint now thyself || with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and Play up his words in thine heart.

23 4 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

12.

i ch. 15. 32.

Ps 55. 23. &
102.24
Ecc. 7. 17.

+ Heb. a
flood was

poured upon their foundation,

Gen. 7. 11.

2 Pet. 2. 5.

kch. 21. 14.

1 Ps. 4. 6.

Or, to them.

mch. 21. 16.

n Ps. 58. 10. & 107. 42.

Or, estate.

Or, their excellency.

That is,

with God,

o Is 27.5.

p Ps. 119. 11.

qch 8.5, 6. & 11. 13, 14.

Job longeth to appear before God.

Before

the innocent: and it is delivered by CHRIST the pureness of thine hands. about 1520. CHAPTER XXIII.

† Heb. my hand.

a ch. 13, 3. & 16. 21.

b Ix. 27.4,8. &

57. 16.

ech. 9. 11.

d Ps. 139, 1, 2,

3.

† Heb. the

way that is

with me.

ePs. 17. 3. & 66. 10.

James 1. 12.

fPs 41. 18.

+ Heb. I have

hid, or, laid ир.

g John 4. 32, 34.

|| Or, my

appointed portion.

h ch. 9. 12, 13.

& 12. 14.

Rom. 9. 19.

i Ps. 115. 3.

kl Thess. 3.3.

1 Ps. 22. 14,

a Acts 1. 7.

A secret judgment for the wicked.

Before CHRIST

confidence of his mercy. 8 God, who is invisible, observeth our ways. 11 Job's innocency. 13 God's decree is im

mutable.

THE

HEN Job answered and said, 2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3a Oh that I knew where I might find him! that. I might come even to his seat!

4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

6 h Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

10 But he d knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; † I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than || my necessary food.

13 But he is in one mind, and h who can turn him? and what ihis soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth the thing that is kappointed for me: and many such things are with him.

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

CHAPTER XXIV.

1 Wickedness goeth often unpunished. 17 There is a secret judgment for the wicked.

Whidden from the mimighty, do they that know him not see his days? 2 Some remove the blandmarks; Prov. 22. 28. they violently take away flocks, and

b Deut.19. 14.

& 27. 17.

& 23, 10.

Hos. 5. 10.

Or, feed

them..

c Dout, 24, 6,

|| feed thereof.

3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.

4 They turn the needy out of the way: dthe poor of the earth hide themselves together.

for their children.

+ Heb.

6 They reap every one hist corn in the field: and they gather the mingled vintage of the wicked.

7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.

8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and fembrace the rock for want of a shelter.

9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. 10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;

11 Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: kthey k John 3. 20. know not the light.

17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.

19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.

+ Heb. vie lently take.

20 The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; The 1 Prov. 10. 7. shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree. 21 He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

22 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.

23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet m his eyes are upon their ways.