The. holie. Bible. conteynyng the olde Testament and the newe.

¶The .xxi. Chapter.

1 Iob declareth how the prosperitie of the wicked maketh them proude, 15 inso∣much that they blaspheme God. 16 Their destruction is at hande. 23 None ought to be iudged wicked for affliction, neither good for prosperitie.

[unspec A]

1 IOb aunswered, and saide:

2 O heare diligently my wordes, and that shalbe in steede of your consolations,

3 Suffer me that I may speake, and when I haue spoken mocke on.

4 Is it for (a) 1.1 mans sake that I make this disputation? Which if it were so, shoulde not my spirite then be in sore trouble?

5 Marke me [well] and be abashed, and * 1.2 lay your hande vpon your mouth.

6 For when I consider [my selfe] I am afrayde, and my fleshe is smitten with feare.

7 Wherefore (c) 1.3 do wicked men liue, come to their olde age, and increase in richesse?

8 Their “ 1.4 children lyue in their sight, and their generation before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe from all feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them.

10 Their bullocke gendreth and that not out of time, their cowe calueth and is not vnfruitfull.

11 They sende foorth their children by flockes, & their sonnes [leade the] daunce.

12 They beare with them tabrets and harpes, and reioyce in the sounde of the organs.

13 They spend their dayes in wealthines, but * 1.5 sodainely they go downe to the graue.

14 They say also vnto God: * 1.6 Go from vs, we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.

15 Who is the almightie that we should serue him? And what profite should we haue if we should pray vnto him?

16 Lo, there is vtterly no goodnesse in their hande therefore wyll I not haue to do with the counsaile of the vngodly.

17 How oft shall the (f) 1.7candell of the wic∣ked be put out, and their destruction come vpon them? O what sorowe shall God geue them for their part in his wrath?

18 Yea, they shalbe euen as hay before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.

19 God wyll lay vp the sorowe of the fa∣ther for his children: & when he rewar∣deth him, he shall know it.

20 Their owne miserie shal they see with their eyes, and drinke of the fearefull wrath of the almightie.

21 For what careth he for his house after his death, when the (g) 1.8 number of his monethes is cut short?

22 Seeing God hath the highest power of all, who can teache him any know∣ledge?

23 (h) 1.9One dyeth in his full strength, be∣ing in all ease and prosperitie,

24 His breastes are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.

25 Another dyeth in the(i) 1.10 bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.

26 They shall sleepe both alyke in the earth, and the wormes shall couer them.

27 Beholde, (k) 1.11 I know what ye thinke, yea and the subtiltie that ye imagine a∣gainst me.

28 For ye say (l) 1.12 where is the princes pa∣lace? and where is the dwelling of the vngodly?

29 Haue ye not asked them that go by the way? Doubtlesse ye cannot denie their tokens,

30 That the wicked is kept vnto the day of destruction, and the vngodly shalbe brought foorth to the day of wrath.

31 Who * 1.13 dare declare his way to his face? who wil rewarde him for that he doth?

32 Yet shall he be brought to his graue, and dwell among the heape [of the dead.]

33 Then shal the (n) 1.14 slymie valley be sweet vnto him, all men also must folowe him, as there are innumerable gone be∣fore him.

34 Howe vayne then is the comfort that ye geue me, seyng falshood remayneth in all your aunsweres?

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  As though he should say any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 before God, whom I 〈…〉〈…〉 and not before you.
• * 1.2

  That is, keepe silence.
• (c) 1.3

  Iob pro∣ueth against Sophar, that the wicked are in prospe∣ritie, not mea∣ning to con∣temne the sen∣tēces before which are true: but Sophars misconstruning of them is opened.
• “ 1.4

  Or, seede.
• * 1.5

  Not be∣ing plaged 〈◊〉〈◊〉 long ••kenes.
• * 1.6

  The•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 t••n••ue, but by the wickednesse and impietie of their 〈…〉〈…〉
• (f) 1.7

  That is their great ••e∣licitie and wealth.
• (g) 1.8

  For the wicked dye vnwares, and neuer endure the course of their dayes to the ende.
• (h) 1.9

  Meaning, the wicked: where Iob saith, that it is not for man to reason with God why he doth thus plague the iust, and pros¦pereth the vn∣iust: for who can teache God wys∣dome?
• (i) 1.10

  And this he meaneth by the godly.
• (k) 1.11

  Now ye thinke me wicked, be∣cause I am plaged.
• (l) 1.12

  Thus they cal Iobs house by scor∣ning and mocking at it
• * 1.13

  〈…〉〈…〉 iudge by the wicked 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prospe∣ritie, what shall become of them.
• (n) 1.14

  That is, he shall be content with a homely house of clay, which be∣fore was not contented with a kingly palace.