The .xxii. Chapter.
2 Eliphas affirmeth that Iob is punished for his sinnes. 6 He accuseth him of vnmerciful∣nesse, 13 and that he denied gods prouidence. 21 He exhorteth hym to repentaunce.
[unspec A] 1 SO (a) 1.1 Eliphas the The∣manite gaue aun∣swere, and sayde:
2 May a man be profi∣table vnto God, as he that is wise may be pro∣fitable vnto him selfe?
3 Is it any aduauntage to the almightie that thou art righteous? or shall it pro∣fite him that thou makest thy wayes perfect?
4 Is he afrayde to reproue thee, and to step foorth with thee into iudgement?
5 Is (b) 1.2 not thy wickednesse great, and thy vngratious deedes innumerable?
6 For thou (c) 1.3 hast taken the pledge from thy brother for naught, and robbed the naked of their clothing.
7 To such as were weery, hast thou geuen no water to drinke, & hast withdrawen bread from the hungrie.
8 But the mightie man had the earth, and he that was in auctoritie dwelt in it.
9 Thou hast sent wydowes away emp∣tie, and the armes of the fatherlesse were broken.
10 Therefore art thou (d) 1.4 compassed about with snares, & sodenly vexed with feare.
11 Shouldest thou then see no (e) 1.5 darknesse? shoulde not the water studde run ouer thee?
12 Is not God on high in the heauen? be∣holde the heyght of the starres how hie they are.
13 Wilt thou therfore say, Tushe, howe should God know? can he iudge through the darke cloude?
14 Tushe, the cloudes couer him that he may not see, and he walketh on the top of heauen.
15 Hast thou marked the way of the world, wherin wicked men haue walked?
16 Whiche were cut downe out of time, and whose (f) 1.6 foundation was as an ouerflowing ryuer.
17 Whiche sayd vnto God, Go from vs: and asked what the almightie coulde do for them?
18 He filled their houses with good things: but the counsell of the vngodly be farre from me.
19 The righteous sawe it and were glad, and the innocent laughed them to scorne.
20 Is our substaunce hewen downe? As for the remnaunt of them (g) 1.7 the fire hath consumed.
21 Therefore (h) 1.8 reconcile thee vnto God, and be at peace: so shall all thinges pros∣pere with thee right well.
22 Receaue I pray thee the lawe at his mouth, and lay vp his wordes in thyne heart.
23 For if thou wilt turne to the almightie, thou shalt be buyld vp, and put all vn∣righteousnes from thy dwelling.
24 Thou shalt lay vp golde [as plentyful] as the dust, and the golde of Ophir as the flyntes of the riuers.
25 Yea almightie God his owne selfe shal∣be be thy defence, and thou shalt haue plen∣tie of siluer.
26 Then shalt thou haue thy delite in the almightie, and lift vp thy face vnto God.
27 Then shalt thou make thy prayer vn∣to him, and he shall heare thee, and thou shalt “ 1.9 kepe thy promises.
28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and he shall establishe it vnto thee, and the (i) 1.10 light shall shine in thy wayes.
29 When [the wicked] be cast downe, thou shalt say, I am lifted vp: and God shall saue the humble person.
30 The innocent shal deliuer the Ilande: (k) 1.11it shalbe preserued by the purenesse of thyne handes.