A paraphrase upon Job; written in French by J.F. Senault, father of the oratory: and dedicated to the Cardinal of Richlieu.

The Fifteenth CHAP.

The Argument.

REasons fayling Eli∣phaz he hath recourse to injuries, and anger making him loose his me∣mory as well as judge∣ment he reproacheth Job with crimes, which he

pence had never commit∣ted, and represents him under the person of a Ty∣rant which he describes with much eloquence, and very little charity.

ELiphaz, 1 who could not suffer the just reproaches Job of replyes in choler.

If you were as wise as you think you are, 2 you would not speak with so much vanity, but you would command an∣ger which transports you, and you would not cast so many unprofitable words into the aire for to exaggerate your griefes.

But with a high insolence you assault your Soveraigne, 3 and with a notable indiscreti∣on you fly on discourses, which ca••not be followed but with punishment and re∣pentance.

You have done all your en∣deavours, 4 to banish out of the world the feare of God and after these impudent words, which offend h••aven and earth, you will not have recourse to prayer, which though is the sole meanes that remaines to appease God, and the onely remedy which you have to sweeten your mise∣ries.

For whereas your misery ought to have put regrets and fighs in your mouth; 5 your i∣niquity hath put injuries there and in hearing you speake one may see that you use the lan∣guage of blasphemers, and that you have a designe to imitate them.

But without putting my self to the trouble to reply to you, 6 your own mouth shall condemn you, and disavow∣ing all the maximes which you have in••iscreetly uttered,

and you shall prevent our an∣swers, and change your opini∣on.

Do you think your selfe the first of men either in birth or merit? 7 And would your fol∣ly have perswaded you that at your age, you were formed before the mountains, and that being as ancient as the world there hath nothing past in all ages, whereof you have not had a perfect knowledg?

Have you entred into the Counsell of God for to give him advice? 8 have you con∣tested concerning any busines with him? have you found that his wisdom was inferiour to yours, and that he had need of your instructions, for the conduct of the universe?

But without flattering your vanity with such high compa∣risons, 9 what do you know that we are ignorant of? and what truth do you understand

which are hidden from us?

If you thinke to prevaile with the conferences which you have had with the anti∣ents of your state, 10 you must know that we treat every day with men who are more anci∣en tand more wise then your masters.

You complaine of your los∣ses, 11 and as if your evill were without remedy, you speak to God without respect: Cer∣tainly if you had ever so little of your senses left you, you would judge that nothing were more easie with him, then to reestablish you in your former fortune; and it may be he would alrea∣dy have done it, is the inso∣lence of your words had not hindred him.

Why does your pride raise you above your condition? 12 why do they read in your

eyes that you have thoughts of vanity in your heart, and that you conceive designs that surpasse your power?

Why does your minde re∣volt against God? 13 why does your rash tongue accuse his Providence? and why do you utter words which offend his Justice?

I know you often alledge your innocence; 14 but can one be formed of earth, and not sullyed with sin? and can one call himself the sonne of a wo∣man, and boast of being just?

Amongst those great men who by their piety have ac∣quired the name of Saints, 15 there have been found some unfaithfull: and amongst the angels, which are the princi∣pall Ornaments of Heaven, there have been found apo∣states.

How much more light and lesse faithfull will man be, 16 whom his birth makes abo∣minable, whom his weak∣nesse makes unprofitable, whom his inclination car∣ries to evills, and by a strange blindnesse perswades himselfe that to drinke water, and to commit sin, are two actions equally indifferent?

If you will hear me I will impart to you some of my light, 17 and to draw you from the error wherein you live, I will relate to you what I have seen.

I will tell you nothing which wise men beleeve not as well as I, 18 and since truths themselves are suspect∣ed, when we know not the authors of them, I will name you those from whom I learnt them, as well to honor their merit, as to satisfie your minde.

And for feare you should take them for persons of mean condition, 19 I would have you know that their birth and their wisdome had advanced them to the administration of state, and that during their governments, our enemies never overran our land, nor wonne any advantage over us. 20

Behold the Oracles which they have declared to man, and which I entreat you to heare with respect; The wicked Prince hath no more cruel executioner then his own ambition, or more sensi∣ble displeasure then to know that he is mortall, and to be ignorant when his tyranny must end.

He thinks every hour that he heares the noyse of Trump∣ets; 21 when he injoyes peace he apprehends warte, and fears surprises from his enemies, or

treasons from his friends.

When night obliges him to lye down, 22 he never hopes to see the day, and his guilt r••pre∣senting to him on all sides no∣thing but naked swords, He beleeves, that they will assas∣sine him in his bed. 23

When he firs at the Table to take his repast, he imagines that his meats are poyson, and that he shal finde death, where he seeks for the conservation of his life.

He is alwayes in the same inquietude as a King who is going to give battail, 24 and his state in the hands of for∣tune and of his Souldiers.

Although these punish∣ments be rigorous, he deser∣ved more cruell ones, 25 for he made warre against God, and by an insupportable inso∣lence, he had gathered forces for to fight with him.

He marched against him without feare, 26 and as if God might have easily been over∣come, he bel••eved that the pride of his Troopes, and the pompe of his Armes were sufficient to defeat him.

Having conceived this con∣tempt of God, 27 he had given himself to debaushes, where the fat had so swollen up his cheeks and his belly, that he had neither the stature, nor the visage of a man.

For punishment of so many crimes, 28 he shall see his estate ruined, and 10 secure his life he shall be constrained to re∣tyre himself into forsaken Ci∣ties, and to hide himself in the ruines, more proper to serve for a sepuichre for the dead, then a retreat for the living.

His extortions shall not in∣rich him, 29 for whatsoever care he takes to transport his trea∣sures, he shall not preserve

them, and his fortune shall resemble those trees, which not having taken strong root in the ground cannot resist the violence of the winds.

Feare and shame shall make him hide himself in darknesse, 30 where after he hath seen his children dye, and the accom∣plices of his crimes, he shall dye him self of displeasure, and by a just judgement of God, the same fire which shall burn the trunke of the tree, shall consume all its branches.

When they shall fore-tell him these misfortunes, 31 the blindnesse wherein he lives, shall not suffer him to beleeve them, and he shall not trou∣ble himself to divert them by his prayers, nor redeem them by his almes. 32

Finally he shall dye before his time; and he shall not at∣taine that age, which nature hath made all honest men hope

for, and his hands which exercised so many crueltyes shall wither before his death, as the most guilty parts of his body.

His losse shall be without resource, 33 and one must expect nothing from his fortune, no more then from the Olive∣trees, or Vines which have been beaten down by the hayl, or striken by the frost, 34 when they thrust forth their first blossomes. Neither must one hope that his riches will de∣fend him from these disasters; for all the provisions which he had made, shall be wholly unprofitable, and Divine Ju∣stice shall consume the proud houses which he had built at the expence of the poor who could not acquire his favours but by buying them with pre∣sents. 35

And surely he deserved all these punishments since the

designs which he conceived, tended to nothing but the ruin of his subjects, since he sought nothing but occasions to exe∣cute them, and that he im∣ployed his minde but to finde artifices to deceive the inno∣cent.

Notes

• 1

  Then an∣swered Eli∣phaz the The∣manite, and said,
• 2

  Should a wise man utter vaine know∣ledge, and fill his belly with the East-wind?
• 3

  Should hee reason with unprofirable talke? or with speeches wher∣in he can do no
• 4

  Yea, tho••∣costest off sear, and restrainest prayer before God.
• 5

  For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choo∣est the tongue of the crafty.
• 6

  Thine own mouth con∣demneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testifie against thee.
• 7

  Art thou the first man that was born? os wast thou made before the hills?
• 8

  Hast thou hea••d the se∣cret of God? and dost thou restraine wise∣dome to thy selfe?
• 9

  What koow∣est thou that we know not? What under∣standest thou, which is not in us.
• 10

  With us are both the gray-headed, and very aged men, much el∣der then thy fa∣ther.
• 11

  Are the consolations of God small with thee? Is there any se∣cret thing with thee?
• 12

  Why doth thine heart carry thee a∣way? and what doth thine eyes winke at.
• 13

  That thou tu••nest thy spi∣rit against God, and let∣test such words go out of thy mouth?
• 14

  What is man, that he should be cleane? and he that is borne of a woman that he should be righteous?
• 15

  Behold, he putteth no trust in his Saints, yea, the heavens are not cleare in his sight.
• 16

  How much more abomi∣nable & filthy is man, which drinketh ini∣quity like wa∣ter?
• 17

  I will shew thee, hear me: and that which I have seen I will de∣clare.
• 18

  Which wise men have told me from their fatheas, and have not hid it.
• 19

  Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.
• 20

  The wick∣ed man travel∣lech with pain all his dayes, & the number of yeares is hid∣den to the op∣pressour.
• 21

  A dread∣full sound is in his eares; in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon
• 22

  He belie∣veth not that hee shall re∣turne out of darknesse, and he is waited for of the sword.
• 23

  He wan∣dereth abroad for bread, say∣ing, Where is it? he know∣eth that the day of darknes is ready at hand.
• 24

  Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall pre∣vaile against him, as a King ready to bat∣taile.
• 25

  For he stretcheth out his hand a∣gainst God, & strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.
• 26

  He run∣neth upon him even on his neck, upon the the thick bosses of his bucklers.
• 27

  Because he covereth his face with his fatnesse, & maketh collops of fat on his flank s.
• 28

  And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are rea∣dy to become heaps.
• 29

  He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue; nei∣ther shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
• 30

  He shall not depart out of darknes, the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth he shall go a∣way.
• 31

  Let not him that is deceived, trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recom∣p••nce.
• 32

  It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be greene.
• 33

  He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, & shall east off his flower as the Olive.
• 34

  For the Congregation of hypocrites shall be deso∣late, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
• 35

  They con∣ceive mischief, & bring forth vanity, and their belly pre∣pareth deceit.