III THE OATH OF CLEARING JOB (rising and lifting his hands) 37 I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then should I look upon a maid? For what is the portion of God from above, Doth not he see my ways, And number all my steps? If I have walked with vanity, And my foot hath hasted to deceit ; (Let me be weighed in an even balance, If my step hath turned out of the way, And if any spot hath cleaved to mine hands: THEN LET ME SOW, AND LET ANOTHER EAT; YEA, LET THE PRODUCE OF MY FIELD BE ROOTED OUT. If mine heart have been enticed unto a woman, Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the For it is a fire that consumeth unto Destruction, If I did despise the cause of my manservant, And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; (Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And I have been her guide from my mother's womb ;) If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering; If his loins have not blessed me, And if he were not warmed with the fleece of my If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, THEN LET MY SHOULDER FALL FROM THE SHOULDER BLADE, AND MINE ARM BE BROKEN FROM THE BONE. For calamity from God was a terror to me, If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold, Thou art my con- If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, Or the moon walking in brightness; And my mouth hath kissed my hand: This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges: For I should have lied to God that is above. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, (Yea, I suffered not my mouth to sin By asking his life with a curse ;) If the men of my tent said not, Who can find one that hath not been satisfied with his flesh? The stranger did not lodge in the street; And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and went not out of the door : Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me; And that I had the indictment which mine adver sary hath written! Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown! I would declare unto him the number of my steps; If my land cry out against me, And the furrows thereof weep together; If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: LET THISTLES GROW INSTEAD OF WHEAT, AND COCKLE INSTEAD OF BARLEY! The words of Job are ended! [He sits down. IV INTERPOSITION OF ELIHU So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled. ELIHU 38 I am young, And ye are very old: Wherefore I held back, And durst not shew you mine opinion. |