Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, But mine eye poureth out tears unto God, As a son of man pleadeth for his neighbour. I shall go the way whence I shall not return. Surely there are mockers with me, And mine eye abideth in their provocation. Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; He that denounceth his friends for a prey, And I am become an open abhorring. Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, And all my members are as a shadow. Upright men shall be astonied at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless. Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger. But return ye, all of you, and come now! And I shall not find a wise man among you. My days are past, my purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart. They change the night into day : The light, say they, is near unto the darkness. If I have spread my couch in the darkness; If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; And as for my hope, who shall see it? It shall go down to the bars of the Grave, When once there is rest in the dust. BILDAD How long will ye lay snares for words? And are become unclean in your sight? xviii, 2-21. Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, Or shall the rock be removed out of its place? Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, And his lamp above him shall be put out. The steps of his strength shall be straitened, And his own counsel shall cast him down. A gin shall take him by the heel, And a snare shall lay hold on him. His strength shall be hunger-bitten, And calamity shall be ready for his halting. It shall devour the members of his body, Yea, the firstborn of death shall devour his members. He shall be rooted out of his tent wherein he trusteth ; And he shall be brought to the king of terrors. There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his: His roots shall be dried up beneath, And above shall his branch be cut off. He shall have neither son nor son's son among his people, They that come after shall be astonied at his day, Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, Јов How long will ye vex my soul, And break me in pieces with words? These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me. And be it indeed that I have erred, Mine error remaineth with myself. If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, XIX, 2-27. Know now that God hath subverted me in my cause, Behold, I cry out of wrong, But I am not heard; I cry for help, But there is no judgment. He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, And hath set darkness in my paths. He hath stripped me of my glory, And taken the crown from my head. He hath broken me down on every side, and I am gone: And mine hope hath he plucked up like a tree. He hath also kindled his wrath against me, And he counteth me unto him as one of his adversaries. His troops come on together, and cast up their way against me, And encamp round about my tent. He hath put my brethren far from me, And mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, And my familiar friends have forgotten me. |