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

The .xxxi. Chapter.

1 Iob reciteth the innocentie of his liuing, and number of his vertues, which decla∣reth what ought to be the lyfe of the faythfull.

[unspec A]

1 I Made a(a) 1.1 couenaunt with myne eyes: why then * 1.2 should I loke vpon a mayden?

2 For how great a por∣tion shall I haue of God? and what inheri∣taunce from the almightie on hye?

3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and straunge * 1.3 punishement to the workers of iniquitie?

4 Doth not he see my wayes, and tell all my goynges?

5 If I haue walked in (d) 1.4 vanitie, or if my feete haue runne to disceaue:

6 Let me be wayed in an euen balaunce, that God may see myne innocencie.

7 If my steppe hath turned out of the way, & myne heart walked after myne eyes, and if any blot haue cleaued to my handes:

8 Then shall I sowe, and an other eate: yea my “ 1.5 posteritie shalbe cleane rooted out.

9 If my heart haue ben deceaued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at my neyghbours doore:

10 Then let my wife (e) 1.6 grinde vnto an o∣ther man, and let other men “ 1.7 lye with her.

11 For this is a wickednesse, and sinne that is worthy to be punished:

12 Yea a (f) 1.8 fire that vtterly should consume and roote out all my increase.

13 If I euer thought scorne to do right vnto my seruauntes & maydens, when they had any matter against me:

14 When God (g) 1.9 will sit in iudgement, what shall I do? & when he will visite me, what aunswere shal I geue him?

15 He that (h) 1.10 fashioned me in my mothers wombe, made he not him also? were we not both shapen a like in our mothers bodies?

16 If I demed the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the wydow to way••e in vayne:

17 I•• I haue eaten my * 1.11 morsell alone, that y^e fatherlesse hath not eaten therof:

18 For from my youth it hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue ben guyde to the (wydowe)

19 If I haue seene any perishe for want of clothing, or any poore for lake of ray∣ment:

20 If his loynes haue not blessed me, be∣cause he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe:

[unspec C] 21 If I haue lift vp mine hand against the fatherlesse, when I sawe that I might helpe him in the gate:

22 Then let myne arme fall fro my shoul∣der, and myne arme holes be broken from the bone.

23 For I haue euer feared the vengeaunce and punishment of God, and [knewe very well that] I was not able to beare his burthen.

24 Haue I put my trust in golde? or haue I sayde to the wedge of golde, thou art my confidence?

25 Haue I reioyced because my power was great, and because my hande gat so much?

26 Dyd I euer greatly regarde the (k) 1.12 ry∣sing of the sunne? or had I the goyng downe of the moone in great reputa∣tion?

27 Hath my heart medled priuyly with any disceite? or did I euer l 1.13 kisse myne owne hande?

28 (That were a wickednesse worthy to be punished: for then shoulde I haue de∣nyed the God that is aboue.)

29 Haue I euer reioyced at the hurt of myne enemie? or was I euer glad that any harme happened vnto him? [Oh, no]

30 I neuer suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse to his soule.

31 Dyd not the men of myne owne hous holde say, Who shall let vs to haue our belly full of his fleshe?

32 The straunger dyd not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him that went by the way.

33 Haue I kept secrete my sinne, and hyd myne iniquitie, as Adam dyd?

34 Though I coulde haue made afeard a great * 1.14 multitude, yet the most con∣temptible of the families dyd feare me: so I kept scilence, and went not out of the * 1.15 doore.

35 O that I had one which woulde heare me: beholde my signe in the whiche the almightie shal aunswere for me, though he that is my contrarie partie hath written a booke against me.

36 Yet will I take it vpon my * 1.16 shoulder, & as a garlande binde it about my head.

37 I will tell hym the number of my goinges, & go vnto him as to a (p) 1.17 prince.

38 But if case be that my lande * 1.18 crye a∣gainst me, or that the (r) 1.19 forowes thereof make any complaynt:

39 If I haue eaten the fruites therof vn∣payed for, yea if I haue greeued the soules of the maisters therof:

40 Then let thystles growe in steede of my wheate, and cockle for my barlye.

Here end the wordes of Iob.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  In this chapter Iob declareth his vpright liuīg, not to bost against God, but to refel the false s••aunder of his aduersa∣ries.
• * 1.2

  The fleshe was obedient to the spirite, neither was he led with carnall desire.
• * 1.3

  Iob here sheweth that the feare of God, did driue him frō wickednesse.
• (d) 1.4

  Meaning that before men he was giltlesse in obseruing all the preceptes of the seconde table.
• “ 1.5

  Or, plants.
• (e) 1.6

  Let her be a bonde slaue to an other man.
• “ 1.7

  Or, bowe downe vpon her.
• (f) 1.8

  Though mans punish∣mēt for adul∣trie be omit∣ted, yet gods plague will neuer rest to consume and roote it out.
• (g) 1.9

  That is, if I in lawe haue reiected the complaint of my seruaūt, what shoulde I do when God calleth me to lawe?
• (h) 1.10

  Iob ex∣presseth the cause why he dyd pitie his, seruaunts, for that they had one creator, & both made of the same substaunce.
• * 1.11

  〈…〉〈…〉 ••••dowes
• (k) 1.12

  By the thing vp of the ••unne, and go••ng downe of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 moone, he meaneth the prosperitie and ••••••icitie that he was in.
• l 1.13

  That is, d••d I euer ••ommend the workes of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 owne hande?
• * 1.14

  That is, I did not feare to do iustice▪ either be geuing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to y^e multitude or to get th•• fauour of my friendes and kinred.
• * 1.15

  Meaning that he did not holde his peace, or kepe at home in the iust suite or cause 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.16

  That is, I will carie the booke not the aduersarie shal make 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my shoulder and wyll a••∣cept it for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great gift meaning he would cōfesse his fault if he had offended.
• (p) 1.17

  That is, with great reuerence.
• * 1.18

  That is, i•• the h••••eling that hath laboured in the land, haue ••en de••aunded o•• his wages by me.
• (r) 1.19

  That is, y•• I haue by violence com∣pelled my land to be cared, and not geuen foode to the labourers.