The Bible Story Part 307

For G.o.d speaketh once, Yea twice, though man regardeth it not.

In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, And hide pride from man; He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from peris.h.i.+ng by the sword.

To shew unto man what is right for him; Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, {216} "Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom."

His flesh shall be fresher than a child's; He returneth to the days of his youth: He prayeth unto G.o.d, and he is favourable unto him; So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.

He singeth before men, and saith, "I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not: He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light."

Lo, all these things doth G.o.d work, Twice, yea thrice, with a man, To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

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

If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify thee.

If not, hearken thou unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.

(He speaks again to the friends.)

Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth meat.

Let us choose for us that which is right: {217} Let us know among ourselves what is good.

For Job hath said, "I am righteous, And G.o.d hath taken away my right."

Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from G.o.d, that he should do wickedness; And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

For the work of a man shall he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.

Yea, of a surety, G.o.d will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Is it fit to say to a king, "Thou art vile?"

Or to n.o.bles, "Ye are wicked?"

How much less to him that respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor?

For they all are the work of his hands.

In a moment they die, even at midnight; For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

Therefore speak what thou knowest.

Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me: "Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.

Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men. {218} For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against G.o.d."

(He speaks again to Job.)

Thinkest thou this to be thy right, Or sayest thou, "My righteousness is more than G.o.d's,"

That thou sayest, "What advantage will it be unto thee?"

And, "What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?"

I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee.

Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.

If thou hast sinned, what doest thou against him?

And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

If thou be righteous, what givest thou him?

Or what receiveth he of thine hand?

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

Surely G.o.d will not hear vanity, Neither will the Almighty regard it.

How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him!

But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance; Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge. {219} Behold, G.o.d is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding.

He preserveth not the life of the wicked: But giveth to the afflicted their right.

He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.

And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of affliction; Then he sheweth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

He openeth also their ear to instruction.

Behold, G.o.d is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.

For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapour: Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly.

Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion?

Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea.

For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth meat in abundance.

He covereth his hands with the lightning; And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.

The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.

At this also my heart trembleth, {220} And is moved out of its place.

Hearken ye unto the noise of his voice, And the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

After it a voice roareth; He thundereth with the voice of his majesty: And he stayeth them not when his voice is heard.

G.o.d thundereth marvellously with his voice; Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

For he saith to the snow, "Fall thou on the earth"; Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain.

He sealeth up the hand of every man; That all men whom he hath made may know it.

Then the beasts go into coverts, And remain in their dens.

Out of the chamber of the south cometh the storm: And cold out of the north.

By the breath of G.o.d ice is given: And the breadth of the waters is straitened.

Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture; He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning: And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world: Whether it be for correction, or for his land, Or for mercy, that he cause it to come.

Hearken unto this, O Job: {221} Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of G.o.d.

Dost thou know how G.o.d layeth his charge upon them, And causeth the lightning of his cloud to s.h.i.+ne?

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

How thy garments are warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

Canst thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror?

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

Shall it be told him that I would speak?

Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies: But the wind pa.s.seth, and cleanseth them.

Out of the north cometh golden splendour: G.o.d hath upon him terrible majesty.

Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out; he is excellent in power: And in judgment and plenteous justice he will not afflict.

Men do therefore fear him: He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.

(_Elihu_ offers his solution to the question, Why does Job suffer? He is young, conceited, and wordy, but sincere in his belief that he has wisdom which his elders and betters have not found. It is difficult to see what that wisdom is. Most of what he says has been better said before. If he adds anything, it is the thought that G.o.d sometimes sends suffering, not only to punish for past sin, but to keep man from future sin.)

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V

THE LORD.

(He speaks to Job out of the whirlwind.)

Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?