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.

¶ Iob answereth that his payne is more greuous, then his faute: yet notwithstandynge he delyteth therin.

CAPI. VI.

IOb answered also, and sayde, ☞ O that [unspec A] the dyspleasure which I haue were truely weyed, and my punysshment layde in the balaunces togyther: for now is it heuyer thē the sande of the see. And this is the cause that my wordes are so sorowfull. For the arowes of the almyghtie are rounde about me, whose indignacyon hath dronke vp my spirite, and the terrible feares of god are set agaynst me.

* 1.1 Doth the wylde Asse rore when he hathe grasse? or cryeth the oxe, when he hath fodder ynough? That whiche is vnsauerye, shall it be eaten without salte, or is there any taste in the whyte of an egge? The thyng{is} that some¦tyme I myght not awaye withall, are nowe my meate for very sorowe.

O that I myght haue my desyre: and that [unspec B] God wolde graunte me the thynge, that I longe for: O that God wolde begynne and smyte me: that he wolde let his hande go, and take me cleane awaye.

Then shuld I haue some cōforte: yea I wolde

desyre hym in my payne, that he shulde not spare, for I wyl not be agaynst the wordes of the holy one. For what power haue I to en∣dure? And what is myne ende, that my soule myghte be pacient?

Is my strengthe the strengthe of stones? [unspec B] Or, is my flesshe made of brasse? Is it not so that there is in me no helpe: and that my sub∣staunce is taken from me. He that is in tri∣bulacyon ought to be conforted of his neygh¦bour: but the feare of the lord is cleane away. Myne owne brethren passe ouer by me as the water broke, and as the ryuer of water doth hastely go away. But they that fere the horye frost, the snowe shall fall vpon them. When theyr tyme cometh, they shalbe destroyed and perysshe: when they be set on fyre, they shall be remoued out of theyr place, for the pathes that they go in, are croked: they haste after vayne thyng{is}, and shal perysshe. They turne them to the pathes of Theman and to the wayes of Saba, wherin they haue put theyr trust. Confounded are they, that put any con¦fidence in them: For when they come to ob∣teyne the thynges that they loke for, they are brought to confusyon.

Euen so are ye also come vnto me: but now that ye se my miserye, ye are afrayde. Dyd I desyre you, to brynge vnto me, or to gyue me any of your substaunce? To delyuer me from the enemyes hande, or to saue me frome the hande of tyrauntes? Teache me, and I wyll holde my tongue: And when I do arre, shewe me wherin. Howe stedfast are the wordes of trueth? And whiche of you can rebuke and reproue them? Do ye take deliberacyon to checke mennes sayenges, and iudge a poore worde spoken in vayne? Ye fall vpon the fa∣therlesse and go aboute to ouerthrowe youre owne frende. And therfore be content, and loke now vpon me, and I wyl not lye before your face. Turne (I pray you) be indifferent Iudges turne agayne, and ye shall se myne vngyltynesse: whyther there be any vnrygh∣teousnesse in my tongue, or vayne wordes in my mouth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Amos. iii. ••