❧ CHAPTER XXI.

1. 2. THen Iob ansvvered in this wise, I pray you diligent∣lie and attentiuely heare me what I shall say, that it may indeede appeare, that yee came not hither to vexe and grieue me more and more, but to comforte and helpe me.

3. Suffer me, and I shall speake, and after I haue spoken, then mocke me.

Quietly, I saie, and with patience first heare mee speake, and then if ye please and thinke it good, laugh me to scorne, and scoffe at my speeches.

4 What I? (that is, as touching my selfe) is my speech to men, and if (it bee so,) hovv should not my spirite bee trou∣bled?

Nowe surely I haue no controuersie particularlie with you, neither doe wee nowe striue about worldelie affaires, Page  [unnumbered] but at this time and in this place, I haue to deale with the conscience, and I haue not to doe with men, but with Gods which being so, doe ye maruell that I thus rather sob then speake, as it fareth with them whose spirite is troubled?

5 Looke vnto me and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your mouth.

Finallie hauing regard of mee, whome ye see among all men to be the most miserable, rather with astonishment and silence, harken what I shall saie, then vnpatientlie heare me speaking in mine owne defence.

6 When J remember, J am astonished, and feare taketh holde on my flesh.

7 Wherfore do the wicked liue, wax old; yea & grow in wealth.

8 Their seed is established in their sight, and their generation standeth before their eies.

9 In their houses there is peace without feare, and the rodde of God, is not vpon them.

10 Their bullock gendreth and faileth not, their Cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.

11 They send foorth their litle ones like sheepe, and their sonnes leape vp and downe.

12 They lift vp the voice like the tabres and harp, and reioice in the sound of instruments of musick.

13 They spend their daies in good, (that is, in pleasure,) and in a moment go downe to the graue.

14 Although they haue said vnto God, Depart from vs, and we will none of the knowledge of thy waies.

15 Who is the almightie that we should serue him? and what profit shall we haue if we praie vnto him?

6 Thou askedst of me, Tsophar, if I knew not these things, which continuall experience in all ages teacheth. Verily I knowe them right well, and I can not choose but stand as one astonished, and tremble in euerie ioynt of my bodie, when I call them to minde: 7 For that which thou saiest concerning the shorte and momentanie prosperitie of the wicked in this life, and of their sudden downefall and de∣struction, is disprooued and confuted by verie manie ex∣amples. And what shall I saie to bee the cause, why they are suffered to liue, why to lenghthen out their daies to the Page  [unnumbered] verie vttermost course of nature, why to abound in all wealth and riches? 8 Moreouer, their children, howsoeuer thou doest affirme the contrary, remaine in safetie in the presence of their fathers, who behold them with their eyes, howe they growe vp in strength and lustinesse. 9 Their families are peaceable, and without all feare, neither doeth God chastise them with his scourges. 10 By reason their bullockes happily ingender, and their cowes neuer cast their calues, their cattell is wonderfully & mightily increased. 11 Their little ones being brought vp at home by flockes, doe cheere∣fully and merily skippe vp & downe. 12 And partly they sing and tune their voyces like the timbrels & the harpe, and partly they delight them selues with diuers instruments of musicke. 13 Finally, this life being thus passed ouer in plea∣sure, in delights, in mirth & pastime, neuer being tormented with any long diseases, as it were in a moment they go downe vnto the graue. 14 And yet notwithstanding they brea∣king foorth into open contempt of Gods maiestie, haue bid him to depart from them, to get him hence, and to bee pac∣king, as if they had nothing to doe with him: neither would they at any time suffer them selues to be taught and instru∣cted by him. 15 And which is yet more outragious, they haue not doubted to vtter these blasphemous and fearefull speeches, Who is the Almightie, that we should yeelde and submit our selues vnto him? and what good or profite shall wee reape, by povvring out our prayers before him?

16 Beholde (notwithstanding) their good is not in their hande: let their counsell depart farre from me.

But behold, nothing of all this happeneth either against the will, or without the knowledge of God: forasmuch as their happinesse standeth not in them selues, or in their owne powers and therefore farre be it from me to consent to their vngodlinesse. But yet neuertheleke, the foundation of your invectiues against me, by this meanes falleth to the ground.

17 (But) when shall the lampe of the wicked be put out? and (when) shall the stormie shower come vpon them, and (when) will (God) giue them their portion in his wrath?

Page  [unnumbered]18 And (when) shall (the wicked) be as the stubble before the winde, and as chaffe which the storme carrieth away.

17 But as thou saidest, Bildad, the lampe of the wicked shalbe put out. Thou also, Tsophar, saidest, that God raineth vpon them in his anger: and that this heritage is allotted them from aboue. Neuerthelesse ye see, that it falleth not out thus with all, nor yet so suddenly to the most part of thē, as ye affirme. Therefore define vnto me, if ye can, that I may knowe yet somewhat more certainely of the matter, within what space of time this light of the wicked shalbe put out, or this stormie shoure shall come vpon them, or God shall de∣uide this portion among them in his wrath. 18 Finally tell me, when are these made as stubble before the winde, & as chaffe scattered with the force of a tempest.

19 God (ye will say) will lay vp his violence for his children: he should reward him, and he should knowe (it.)

20 His eyes should see his own destruction, & he should drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.

21 For what affection shall he haue towardes his house after him, when the number of his moneths is cut off?

19 Doubtles ye wil take exception against these things, that God doth reserue for the children of that wicked man, the vengeance of his wrongs and oppressions: ye say well; but yet, if we shal weigh these things according to mans rea∣son, as ye do, he ought rather him selfe to suffer and feele the smart or punishment of his owne sinnes: 20 and to be an eye witnes of his owne destruction, to drinke the cup of the wrath of almightie God, which he had powred out for him. 21 For (I pray you) what care and regard can he haue of his house and children, after he is dead and gone.

22 Shall (any man) teach God knowledge? Nay, it is he, who gouerneth the highest thinges.

But shall any, especially any of you, which labour to proue this, that the counsels of God are alwayes manifest in this life, either by prosperitie or els by aduersitie; shall any of you, I say, teach him, howe he is to rule and gouerne thinges here vpon earth beneath▪ seeing ye can not denie but that he is the onely gouernour and disposer of all thinges in hea∣uen aboue?

Page  [unnumbered]23 One shall die in the pride of his perfection, being in all ease and prosperitie.

24 His milke pailes runne ouer with milke, and his bones are moistened with marowe.

25 But another dyeth in the bitternesse of his soule, neither did he euer eate with pleasure.

26 (Notwithstanding) they shall lie both in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.

23 Here beholde, take vnto thee two, that are both toge∣ther either good and vertuous, or euil and wicked: with one of them through the whole course of his life all things haue gone well. 24 His kine haue giuen great store and abun∣dance of milke, he hath wanted no manner of pleasure or delight, and at length he departed this life with great peace and cheerefulnesse. 25 But the other hauing neuer had any smacke or taste of the pleasures & commodities of this life, dyed also ful of sorowe and heauinesse. 26 And yet for all their vnlikenesse and inequalitie in this life, one and the selfe same death hath taken them both away: they lye both of them in the graue, and are clothed with wormes. Now let me knowe, what ye can say to this case, or what place is there left here to your carnall reasons.

27 Behold, I knowe your thoughtes, and what ye take holde of against me.

28 For ye say, Where is the house of the great man, and where is the tabernacle of the wickeds dwelling?

27 But loe, I knowe full well what here commeth into your mindes, and what hold you will take against me to put me beside this my cause and defence. 28 For say ye, Shew vs, if thou canst, what is become of those great and honoura∣ble mens houses, and where are those stately towres of the wicked, wherein heretofore they dwelt: as if forsooth the o∣uerthrowe of their houses were the ouerthrowe of mine opinion.

29 (But) haue ye not enquired of those who passe by the way, (that is, of waifairing men) neither can ye denie their signes.

30 That in the day of destruction the wicked is prohibited (that is, the wicked is spared) and in the day (wherein) vengeance is brought foorth?

Page  [unnumbered]29 But did ye neuer aske of them that are travailers, any thing concerning these matters? Did ye neuer heare them tell what monuments they haue met withall by the wayes of the pompe and magnificence of these mightie men? 30 And who knoweth not that such men of all others are least subiect to the misfortunes and outwarde calamities of this life? and that they are especiallie spared, when the testimo∣nies of Gods wrath are rife, and almost euery where to bee seene vpon the earth?

31 Who shall declare his owne way to his face, (that is, in his presence:) and who shall rewarde him for that he hath done?

32 Therefore he shalbe brought to the graue: and men shall watch at (his) tombe.

33 The steepe places of the running streames shall be sweete to him, and he shall drawe all men after him, and there (shall goe) before him more then can be numbred.

31 Neither is it any marveile that this so falleth out, for who dares reproue the wicked man to his face for his sinnes? who will take punishment on him for the iniuries which he hath done, & for his oppressions? 32 Therefore so farre is he frō that end which you said should befall him, that on the contrarie side, hauing peaceably departed this life, he is ho∣nourably caryed to his graue, great lamentation is made at his buriall, and men are set to watch his tombe. 33 And thus while he liued, he tooke delight and pleasure in his towres and castles, built vpon the craggie valleyes of brooks and running streames: and being dead he is brought to the earth with great pompe & solemnitie, hauing a great traine both going before him, and following after him.

34 Howe then doe ye comfort me with vanitie, seeing your answers (are) a straying from the trueth, left (in the mindes of the hearers.)

To what ende therefore do ye propound these vaine and frivolous things to me, in steade of comfort and consolati∣on? whereas these your answers are naughe else but lyes and a swarving from the trueth, which they leaue in the mindes of the hearers?