The Byble in Englyshe that is to saye, the content of all the holye scrypture, bothe of the olde and newe Testament, truly translated after the veryte of the Hebrue and Greke textes, by the diligent studye of dyuers excellent lerned [men e]xperte in the fore[saide] tongues.

¶ Elihu sheweth wherfore god punysheth, and cor••••••teth.

CAPI XXXVI.

ELihu proceded forth in his talkyng, and [unspec A] sayd: Holde the styll a lytell, and I shall shewe the, what I haue yet to speake on Gods behalfe. I wyl open vnto the yet more of myne vnderstandyng, and proue my mat∣ter ryghteous. And truely my wordes shall not be vayne, seynge he is with the that is perfyte in knowledge: beholde, the great god casteth awaye no man, for he hym selfe is myghtye in power and wysdome. As for the vngodly, he shall not preserue hym, but shal helpe the poore to theyr ryght. He shall turne his eyes awaye from the ryghteous, but as kynges shall they be in theyr trone, he shall stablysshe them for euer, and they shall be exalted. But yf they be layde in pryson and cheynes, or bounde with the bondes of trou∣ble, then wyll he shewe them theyr worke, and the synnes, wherewith they haue vsed cruell vyolence.

He with punysshynge and nurturyng of [unspec B] them, roundeth them in the eares, warneth them to leaue of from theyr wyckednesse, and to amende. If they nowe wyll take hede & serue hym, they shall weare out theyr dayes in prosperite, and theyr yeres in pleasure and ioye. But yf they wyll not herken, they shall go thorowe the swerde, and perysshe, or euer they be aware. As for suche as be fayned ypo¦crites, they shall heape vp wrathe for them selues: for they call not vpon hym, though they he his prysoners.

Thus shal theyr soule perysshe in folysshnes and theyr lyfe shal be condemned among the fornicatours. The poore shall he delyuer out of his affliccion, and rounde them in the care when they be in trouble. Euen so shal he kepe the (yf thou wylte be contente) from the bot∣tomlesse pyt that is beneth: and yf thou wylt holde the quyete, he shall fyll thy table with plenteousnesse.

Neuerthelesse, thou hast condemned the [unspec C] iudgement of the vngodly, yea euen suche a iudgement, and sentence shalte thou suffre.

For then shall not thy cause be stylled with crueltye, nor pacified with many gyftes.

Thynkest thou, that he wyll regarde thy ry∣chesse? he shall not care for golde, nor for all them that excell in strengthe. Prolonge not thou the tyme, tyll there come a nyght for the to set other people in thy steade. But beware that thou turne not asyde to wyckednesse and synne, whiche hytherto thou hast chosen more then mekenesse. Beholde, god is of a myghty hygh power: Where is suche a gyde and law gyuer as he? Who wyll reproue hym of his waye? Who wyll saye vnto hym: thou haste done wronge.

O consydre howe great and excellent his [unspec D] work{is} be, whom all men loue and prayse: yea wondre at hym, and yet they se hym but a far of. Beholde, so great is God, that he passeth our knowledge, neyther are we able to come to the experience of his yeares. He turneth the water to small droppes. He dryueth his cloudes togyther for to rayne, so that they powre downe and droppe vpon men. He can sprede out the cloudes (a coueryng of his ta∣bernacle) and cause his lyght to shyne vpon them, and to couer the botome of the see. By these thynges gouerneth he his people, and gyueth them aboundaunce of meate. With the cloudes he hydeth the lyghte, and at his cōmaundement it cometh agayne. The ry∣synge vp therof sheweth he to his frendes, and to the cattell.

Notes

• Esai. i. ••.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••i. b 〈◊〉〈◊〉. xxviii.