Iob expounded by Theodore Beza, partly in manner of a commentary, partly in manner of a paraphrase. Faithfully translated out of Latine into English

¶ THE SVMME AND ORDER of the Chapters 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.

HEtherto Job hath made answer to Eliphaz and Bildad. Tso∣phar yet remaining behinde. But forasmuch as he held his peace (either for that he esteemed Iob as a desperate person, of whose a∣mendment there was no hope at all; or because he was not able to make his parte good with him, in respect of the truth of his cause, & the strength of his arguments) Iob in the five Chapters next & im∣mediatelie following, goeth forward in the apologie or defence of him selfe: and first in this 27. Chapter, he sheweth, that whatsoeuer he had before spoken and disputed concerning the happie and prosperous estate of the wicked, was not so be taken, as if God did fauour their proceedings, or as if none of them did tast of Gods fearefull and iust iudgements in this life: Which thing was verie farre from his mea∣ning. For on the contrarie side, he doth confesse and acknowledge, that God iustlie punisheth their wickednes by manifold and sundrie plagues euen in this life (according as he thinketh best:) which is a thing so cleare and euident, that no doubt neede be made thereof. Neuerthelesse he flatlie denyeth, that this is alwaies true, and there∣fore they might see how they leaned but to a weake ground & foun∣dation, whereas by this suddeine and miserable fall they concluded against him. For, saith he, there is a certaine hidden and secret wis∣dome of God, wherby he so gouerneth and ruleth all things, that man by no wit or industrie can atteine to the reason thereof: and vvhich ought indeede rather highlie to be reuerenced, then curiouslie to be searched into, as namelie, when he doth most grieuouslie afflict the

godlie, of which number he professeth and prooueth himselfe to bee one, and on the other side, in great patience and long suffering for∣beareth the wicked. Jn breefe therefore Iob in these fiue Chapters doth handle these three things,. Jn this 27. hee doth intreat of the punishments which euen in this life doe ouertake the wicked, how be it this happeneth not to all, nor yet at all times, but so often and to so manie as it pleaseth God. Jn the 28 Chapter hee reasoneth of the secret and hidden wisdome of God: which argument he han∣dleth generally, that it may haue the greater force and efficacie to conuince the gainsayers, Jn the 29.30.31. Chapters, he discour∣seth of the integritie of his former life, till such time as this so sudden and almost incredible calamity came vpon him. In which two things for asmuch as euerie where hee kepe not that measure which was meete, therefore he was worthelie reprooued, first by Eliphaz and that not altogether without bitternes, and then by God himselfe, but yet farre more grauely aed with greater moderation; as after∣wards wee shall heare.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Vers. 1. But Iob proceeded and continued in his parable, (that is, in his serious and graue answer) and said.

2 God liueth who hath taken awaie my iudgement, and the al∣mightie who hath put my soule in bitternes.

3 So long as my breath is in me, and the spirite of God in my nostrells,

4 Jf my lips shall speake wickednes, and if my tongue shall vt∣ter deceit:

5 God forbid, that I should iustifie you, so long as J haue anie breath in my bodie: J will neuer take away mine innocencie from my selfe.

6 I haue taken hold of my righteousnes, neither wil I forsake it: my heart shall not reprooue me in my daies.

1. NOwe when Iob perceiued that his aduersaries held their peace, he more freely and boldely continued and held on his speech, which he had begun in so weightie a matter, as was the defence both of the truth, & of him selfe, and thus he spake 2 My freinds, I heare what your opi∣nion

and iudgement is of me, and I confesse that almightie God doth at this time so deale with me, oppressing this my languishing soule with such extreame miserie, that he semeth to haue debarred me from all right of defending and main∣taining mine owne innocencie against you. 3. But the same God, in whose handes the life of all liuing creatures doeth consist, and whose power how great it is, I finde and fele in this my calamitie, the same God I say be so mercifull vnto me, as neither his seueritie which he vseth towards me, nor your slaunderous speeches shall cause me vtter, no not so much as halfe a word, which may sauour either of open im∣pietie or else of dissembled and counterfait holines, so long as my life shal endure, & this breath, which God hath put into my bodie, shall come forth at my nostrels: 4. Farre be it from me, I say, that so long as there is any breath left with∣in mee, I should bee found, in worde or deed to haue beene iustly charged of you either with manifest vngodlines, or with a feyned shew and colour of virtue: and that I shoulde seeme to cast away the testimonie of my life led in all inno∣cencie and vprightnes. 5. & 6. For as I haue not lightly and onely for fashion sake imbraced iustice, but haue seri∣ously sought after her; so now also shal I as constantly retain her: I will not suffer her to be lost or forsaken by me: I will not be so much ouerseene, as that my heart may at any time, so long as I continue in this life, reprooue me for so foule & shamefull an apostacie.

7. Let mine enimie be as the wicked (is:) & mine aduersarie as (is) the vnrighteous.

Now then, haue I saide, that God fauoureth the wicked, or that he alwaies suffereth them to escape vnpunished? Nay I assure you, this was so far from my meaning, that contrari∣wise, if I were disposed to wish hurt and dammage to mine e∣nemies, I would nor desire any greater mischiefe should be∣fall them, then that they might trie God to bee such a one toward them, as he is to the froward and wicked.

8. For what hope hath the hipocrite after he hath set his mind vpon coueteousnes, when God shall draw out his soule?

9. Will God heare his cry, when trouble cometh vpon him?

10. Will he set his delight on the almightie? will he call vpon

God at all times.

8. For howsoeuer a man, making a faier shew of godli∣nes doth by euil meanes treasure vp riches, while God doth winck at it: yet what confidence can he haue, when God shal call forth his soule to appeare before his tribunal seat, draw∣ing it out of his body, as it were, a sword out of a sheath? 9. wil God giue eare vnto him, when he doth mainly cry out in these his troubles? 10 Is it possible that he should com∣fort him selfe with the remembrance of him, whom so often he hath prouoked by his hipocriticall dissembling? and will he daie by day call vpon him?

11 J vvill teach you the hand of God, and I wil not conceale those things (which are) with the almightie.

12 Behold all you haue seene: and why doe you thus vanish in vanitie?

11 In a worde, that you may perceiue, that the admini∣stration of things, which is onlie in Gods hand, is not denied of me, I will laie open those workes of God before you, in the performing vvhereof, wee may clearely see his infinite povvre: and I will make it plaine, that there are vvith God things far more secret & hidden. 12. And vvhereas you your selues haue seene all things vvith your ovvne eies, as appea∣reth by your speeches, I maruell hovv it commeth to passe, that you bring against me so vaine and trifling arguments.

13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, & the inhe∣ritance of tyrantes, which they shall receiue of the almightie.

14 Jf his children be manie in number, they (shall be manie in number) for the sword; and his ofspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

15 His remnant shall be buried in death, and his widowes shall not weepe.

16 Jf he haue heaped vp siluer as the dust, and hath prepared raiment as the claie,

17 He may prepare (it) but the iust shall put it on: and the in∣nocent shall deuide (his) siluer.

18 He may build his house as the mothe, and as a lodge (vvhich) the watchman maketh.

19 The rich man shall lie, and shal not be gathered: he hath opened his eies and there was not anie thing.

20 Terrors shall take him as waters, a tempest shall come vp∣on him by night.

21 The east winde shal take him awaie and he shall be gone: & with a whirlewind shall he be remooued out of his place.

22 And he shall run violently vpon him, neither shall he spare (him:) (but he himselfe) shal flie from the stroke.

23 (Euerie man) wil be glad to clap his handes ouer him, (that is, at his destruction) & will hisse at him out of his place.

13 These thinges therefore are euen such, as the Lorde hath alotted to the vngodlie as their portion & inheritance, and this is all the gaine and profit, vvhich they shal reape at the hands of almightie God, vvhosoeuer haue abused their povver to doe vvrong and to oppresse others. 14 Bee it that they haue left behind them a great number of children, yet shall it appeare that they begate so manie for the svvord to deuour them: or else so many shall die for vvant of foode and bodilie sustenance. 15 If it happen that any of them remaine, hauing escaped the svvord and famine, so that they die by no violent death, but are brought to the graue as o∣ther men, yet not one of their vvidovves shall bevvaile her husband, but shall rather be glad, that shee is thus rid and de∣liuered from him. 16. 17 Admit he hath heaped vp ri∣ches as the dust that lieth in the streetes, and hath prouided him selfe great store of raiment and verie many sutes of ap∣parell, in so much that hee maketh no more account of his garments, then of the durte or mire vvhich is troden vnder foote: I graunt indeed he may get and prouide these things, but he shall not enioy them him selfe, but some other man for him of a more honest and vpright conuersation then he: his garments shal come into the iust mans handes, vvho shal in like manner bee made master of all his treasure and sub∣stance. 18 He shall take great paines to erect faire and statelie buildings, yet when he hath done all that he can, he shall build a house rather for a mothe to dvvell in, then a man, in vvhich he shall vvast and spend himselfe: his building shall be of as small continuance, as the cottage, vvhich the vinekeepers set vp to defend them from the parching heat of the sunne; vvhich lasteth onely for one summer. 19. And this man, vvho but euen novv for his great vvealth and ri∣ches,

was so highly esteemed, being on a sudden cast down, shall lie without help and no man shall take him vp: he shall looke about him on euerie side, but no succour at all shall he finde. 20 He shall be whollie ouerwhelmed with the terrors of his guiltie conscience, as it were with a sea of raging wa∣ters: & in the night season, when other creatures quietlie take their rest, hee shall be afrighted with horrible tempests. 21 For a swift and violent winde rising suddenly, shall carie him quire away: and being by and by gone out of sight, hee shall neuer afterwardes bee seene: and no marueile, seeing a mightie whirlewind hath swept him away.

22 For God, the iust reuenger will come violently vpon him, and will not spare him at all: then hee like a wretched caitiue shall in vaine run from one place to another without resting, to auoid the heauie blowes which God shall fasten vpon him. 23 And, which is yet a great deale more misera∣ble, he being thus cast downe from his former happy & flou∣rishing estate, all men shall bee so farre from taking pitie of him, that on the contrarie part they shall laugh and reioice at his downefall, hissing and clapping their handes at him.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Vers. 1. The siluer surely hath its vaine, and the gold its place (from whence) it is gotten.

2 Iron is taken out of the dust, & brasse is molten out of the stone.

1 And concerning things apparant and manifest, as also of the prouidence of God both in punishing the wicked, and protecting the godly, it may suffice to haue spoken thus much: Now let vs come to those secret and hidden thinges which are far aboue the reach and capacitie of man. There lie hid in the bottome of the earth mines of siluer and golde, out of which they are digged, and afterward purified and made perfite. 2 Men haue deuised a way to draw iron out of the dust, and melt brasse out of the stonie quaries.

3 The end which is set for darkenes, and the vttermost of all things is searched, the stones of darkenes & of the shadow of death.

4 The flood breaketh out against the inhabitant; and (the wa∣ters) forgotten of the foote, are quite drawne foorth, and by reason

of men (that is, of the multitude of men) are taken out of the way.

5 There is earth out of which commeth bread, and (that which is) vnder it, is turned as it were fire.

6 The stones therof are a place of Saphirs, & the dust of it is gold.

7 The birde hath not there knowen any path, neither hath the eye of the vultur seene it.

8 The sonnes of pride haue not walked in it: the lyon hath not passed thereby.

9 They lay handes vpon the rockes, and ouerthrowe the moun∣taines by the rootes.

10 They cut out riuers in the rockes, and their eye seeth euery pretious thing.

11 They binde the floods that they doe not flowe: and bring the thinges which are hidden into light.

3 And surely I acknowledge, that the labour & industrie of men is so great and wonderfull in this behalfe, that they do extreme violence to nature her selfe. For they haue gone beyond the bounds & limits which God hath set, I meane be∣yond those hidden & secret caues in the earth, and being no∣thing at al dismaied in respect of that great depth, they ne∣uer leaue of searching, til such time as they find those mine∣rall stones, which lie hidden in the lowest & farthest parts of the earth, & as it were in the verie bosome of death. 4 And if it so fall out, that with digging deep in the earth they meet with floods of waters, I doe not meane such, as passe by the coasts of diuers regions & coūtries, but running quite vnder the earth, & being to the feet of mē altogether vnfrequented & vnknowen; yet can not this difficultie & hinderāce discou∣rage thē, or make them leaue of this their enterprise taken in hand, but by the helpe of sundry engins, which they haue in a readines for that purpose, they dreine the waters into sundry parts, and in such sort diminish and lessen them, that at the length not being able to withstād so great a multitude of men labouring night & day without intermission, they are cōstrei∣ned to giue backe, & are cleane taken out of the way. 5. 6. 7. & 8 And sometimes it so commeth to passe, that the vpper∣most part of some piece of ground being tilled & sowē, brin∣geth forth great plenty of come for the nourishmēt of mā, & yet the lower most & inward parts therof are turned as it were

into fire, that is, they yeelde gold to be tryed in the fornace, and diuers pretious stones are there found. These places the foules of the aire haue not passed ouer, though they flie from the one side of the heauen to the other: neither hath the Eagle seene them, though she be very quicke sighted. Nei∣ther haue the fierce whelpes of wilde and savage beastes troden vpon them, nor the lyons passed by them, though they walke through the most hidden and secret places. 9 What shall I say, that men doe sometimes attempt, not to vndermine any soft and brittle grounde, but euen the most hard and craggie rockes: and to make the huge mountaines euen with the lowe valleyes? 10 Moreouer, they enter into the channels of deepe rivers, conveying away the water by diuers passages through the midst of the hewen rockes, to see what pretious things doe lye hidden therein. 11 To conclude, they stoppe the course and flowing of waters, so that the deepe places are made drie, and whatsoeuer was couered with the same waters, is brought into light.

12 But where is wisedome founde? and where is the place of vnderstanding?

Therefore, howsoeuer these things are secret, and farre remooued from the sight of mortall men, yet they both search for them within the bowels of the earth, and do there also finde them. But nowe, tell me if you can, whence may we fetch that heauenly wisedome, whereby the whole world is framed and gouerned, the reason whereof is knowen to God alone? In what place of the worlde will ye seeke, or howe can ye possibly attaine to the knowledge of that or∣der and course, which God the Creator and disposer of all thinges, followeth in the vnsearcheable vse and admirable effectes of his wisedome?

13 Man hath not knowen the price thereof: neither shall it be found in the land of the living.

14 The deapth saith, it is not in me: and the sea saith, it is not with me.

15 The hidden golde shall not be giuen for it: neither shall sil∣ver be weighed for the price thereof.

16 Jt shall not be valued with the golde of Ophir: with the pretious Onyx, and the Saphir.

17 The golde shall not be equall vnto it, nor the adamant, nei∣ther shall the exchaunge be for plate of fine golde.

18 No mention shalbe made either of corall, or of the Gabish: and wisedome is more pretious then pearles.

19 The Smaragd of Aethiopia shall not be equall vnto it, neither shall it be valued with the wedge of pure golde.

13 And surely the excellencie and worthinesse thereof is so great, that it passeth mans cunning to value it at so high a rate as it deserueth: neither can the true image thereof be founde in any one man, among so many thousands, which liue vpon the earth. 14 If you seeke for it in the deepe gulfes, they shall denie that it remaineth there: and the sea it selfe shall confesse, that it is not conteined within her precinctes. 15 and 16 There is no summe of hidden golde, nor weight of siluer, which is answerable to the price thereof. It is of more value then the golde of Ophir, then the pretious Onyx and the Saphir. 17 What doe I say golde? Neither the adamant, nor yet any vessell made of pure and beaten golde, is equall vnto it. 18. and 19 The corall and the Gabish are not worthy once to be named in comparison of it, seeing that euen the most costly pearles, the Aethyopian emerauld, and the golde that hath seuen times bene purified in the fire, can no way be compared with this divine and inestimable treasure of wisedome.

20 Whence then may this wisedome come: and where is the place for (that) vnderstanding?

21 For it is hidde from the eyes of all the living, and is kept secret from the foules of the heauen (that is, which flie in the ayre.)

22 Destruction and death say, We haue heard the fame there∣of with our cares,

20 Be it therefore that men, who are so painefull and diligent in seeking and searching after the things before re∣hearsed, be it, that they are desirous, and that they applie their whole studie and labour to attaine vnto this wisdome: yet whence will they fetch her? or in what place and coun∣trie will they come to the knowledge of her? 21 If they looke for her beneath among men, no man that liueth hath euer seene her: if on hye, no birde neuer so much soaring

aloft, and flying vpwardes towardes the heauens, could euer set eye vpon her. 22 Lastly, if we shall goe downe into the bowels of the earth, and there enquire for her, if we shall demaund of death it selfe, whether it can tell vs any tidings of her, it will not denie that the fame and bruite of wisedom which soundeth in all places, hath also pierced thither: but farther information can it not giue vs.

23 God vnderstandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

24 For he beholdeth the endes of the earth, (and) he seeth vn∣der the whole heauen.

25 To make the weight of the windes: and he hath weighed the waters in measure.

26 Making a decree for the raine, & away for the lightnings of the thunders.

27 Euen then did he see it, and tolde it, he prepared it, and al∣so considered it.

28 And vnto man he said, beholde, the feare of the Lorde is wisedome, and to depart from euill is vnderstanding.

23. And doubtlesse, which way soeuer men shall turne them selues, be they neuer so wittie and laborious, they must needes confesse this, (which if ye had throughly considered, ye would not so rashly and vnaduisedly by the greatnesse of my misery, haue cōdemned the whole course of my life past) to wit, that God hath reserued vnto him selfe the knowledge of that infinite wisedome, which he vsed in the creating and disposing of all things, and whereby he doeth euen nowe al∣so so direct them to their proper and peculiar endes: as also he alone knoweth in what place it abideth, euen with him selfe and in his owne bosome. 24 For he is not like to men, who can hardlie discerne this or that perticular thing: but sitting on hie, he beholdeth the earth on euery side, and seeth what∣soeuer is vnder the cope of heauen. 25 Neither did he beginne to doe and obserue these thinges within any com∣passe of time, but euen then, when he laide the foundations of the worlde, he did withall appoint what weight the winds should haue, which with violent blastes pierce through the aire: and euen then also did he weigh the waters, as it were in a ballance. 26 Hence he decreed, what store of raine

shall fall vpon the earth, euery shower hath its due measure, and all the droppes thereof are numbred: he ordained also which way the flashes of lightning should goe, and howe farre they should passe. 27 Therefore this is he, who euen then, when he created the worlde, and set all thinges in their due order, in regarde of that his wisedome, did discerne euery particular thing, and afterwards taught men by those his workes, as it were by certaine interpreters; by those his workes, I say, which he framed according as he had first most wisely decreed, and that with diligent consideration and ad∣uice, whereby he hath ordered and gouerned all thinges from the beginning. 28 To conclude, he giuing this charge and commaundement to men, that they should in no wise be censors and iudges of that hidden and vnsearcheable wisdome, but onely beholders and worshippers of the same; Let this, saith he, be the wisedome which ye are to know, and wherein you shall exercise and occupie your selues, to feare God your Lord and maker, & to flee from that which is euil.

CHAPTER XXIX.

1 IOb proceeded and continued in his parable, (that is, in those his graue speeches) and sayde.

Iob hauing hitherto most grauely & wisely disputed con∣cerning Gods wisedome in the gouernment of this world, as well that, which is manifested vnto vs, as that which is hiddē and which farre surpasseth the capacitie of man; and percei∣ving that none of his accusers did rise vp and gainsay him, as before, added these things which folow to his former speech, therein propounding him selfe for an example both of that revealed & manifest wisedome of God in his prosperitie, and also of the other more secret and altogether vnknowen, in this his aduersitie and affliction.

2 Who will graunt me (that I might be) as in the moneths of olde, as in the dayes (in which) God had me in his keeping.

3 When he made his lampe to shine vpon mine head, and by his light J walked in the darkenesse.

4 When I was in the dayes of my youth, in the felowship of God in my tabernacle.

2 Whiles the Almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.

2 O that I were, or might suddenly become such a one as I was in times past, when God defended me from all euill. 3 When his light shined vpon me from aboue, when he shewed me the glorie and brightnes of his favourable coun∣tenance, so that I walked through the middest of darkenes and feared nothing. 4 When as I was in the prime and flower of my youth, when God did so friendly and familiar∣ly intermeddle with mine affaires. 5 When as, I say, both the Almightie was present with me, not once departing, as it were, from my companie: and also I had about me many godly children and dutifull seruants, who were a great orna∣ment vnto my house.

6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle.

7 When going thorowe the citie vnto the gate, J prepared my seate in the streete.

8 The young men seeing me, hid them selues, and the aged a∣rose and stoode vp.

9 The princes stayed talke, and laide their hande on their mouth.

10 The honourable men helde their peace, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.

11 Then the eare heard me and blessed me, the eye sawe me, and gaue witnesse to me.

6 For at home I had such store of cattell, that I coulde scarcely set my foot any where, but there seemed to be whole streames of butter both before and behind me: yea, and the verie rockes seemed to powre me out riuers of oyle. 7 Neither was I lesse happie abroad. For so often as I went thorowe the middest of the citie to the gate, that is to say, to the place appointed for consultations and iudgement, I had a seate in the common place prouided for me. 8 The young men, at the sight of my countenance being mooued with a certaine reuerence, did withdrawe them selues: the auncienter sort rose vp, and stoode vpon their feete by me where I sate. 9 The princes them selues breaking off their communication, put their handes to their mouth, and

of their owne accord kept silence. 10 And, not to make many wordes, in my presence they held their peace euerie one, and all was hush among them. 11 But so soone as I began to speake, then they all listned to me, and receiued my wordes as an oracle from heauen, pronouncing me thrise happie and blessed, neither was there any one which did beholde me, but that he gaue an honourable testimonie of me.

12 For I deliuered the poore that cried, and the fatherlesse, and those who (had) no helper.

13 The blessing of those that were readie to perish, came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.

14 J put on iustice, and (it) couered me, (and) my iudgement, (that is, my life well ordered, was vnto me) as a robe and a crowne.

15 I was the eyes (that is, in stead of eyes) to the blind, and J was the feet (that is, in stead of feete) to the lame.

16 I was a father vnto the needie: and the cause (which) I knew not, J diligentlie sought out.

17 And I brake the iawes of the wicked, and I pluckt the pray out of their teeth.

12 Now therfore yee, who iudge of a mans honest or viti∣ous life, by the present prosperitie which he enioyeth, or the aduersity, wherinto he is falne, what would yee say, if so be yee should now once againe see me restored to that my former estate? doubtlesse yee would no longer account me a wicked & vngodlie person, but a iust an vpright man. And least hap∣pilie yee may charge we with hipocrisie and dissimulation, I appeale to the publike testimonie of all men, concerning my life past; by which it shall appeare, that I haue beene in deed a defender and a deliuerer of the afflicted, of the fatherlesse, and in a word, of all that were destitute of help and succour. 13 Hence it came to passe, that so many good and happie praiers of poore soules, who otherwise were like miserablie to perish, were poured out for my safetie and welfare, forasmuch as my especiall care alwaies was this, that the mourning of the widow might be turned into ioy. 14 I gaue my selfe whol∣lie to the maintenance of iustice, and that procured me no small commendation: the loue of equitie and right, was

vnto me in stead of princely robes, and as a crovvne of golde vpon mine head 15 I vvas an eye vnto the blinde, and in stead of feete to the lame. 16 & 17▪ I vvas a father vnto the pore and needie, vvhose right, beeing before vnknovvne to me, after I had diligentlie found out, I tooke vpon me the defence of their innocencie, and so handled the matter, that the wicked not onelie went without their praie, but also suf∣fered such punishment, as their wickednes and vilanie de∣serued.

18 Therefore I said, J shall die in my nest: and I shall multiplie my daies as the sand.

19 For my roote was spread out by the waters, and the dewe lodged vpon my boughes.

20 My glorie was renewed with me: and my bow was chaunged within mine hand.

21 Vnto me (all men) gaue eare, and waited, and helde their tongue at my counsell.

22 After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.

23 And they waited for me as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter raine.

24 I laughed on them, and they beleeued it not, and they threw not downe the light of my countenance.

25 J appointed out their waie, and did sit as cheefe, and dwelt as a king in the armie, and like him that comforteth the mour∣ners.

18 I therefore taking this course, and building mine assu∣rance vpon God, who had dealt thus mercifullie with me, & compassed me on euerie side with his blessings, and on the other side, not at all considering this his secret and hidden wisedome, whereof the controuersie is now betweene vs, I thus perswaded my selfe, that I should die in my neast, that is, I should quietlie depart this life amidst my childrē & friends, and be brought honourablie to the graue, hauing first mul∣tiplied my daies as the sande, which lieth vpon the sea¦shore. 19 For downewarde, the roote of my good and vpright conscience was spread out by the euerflowing waters of Gods bountifulnes, with which it was dailie watered: and vpward the boughes growing out of this roote, to witte, my

children, my seruants, my flockes of sheepe, and in a worde, my substance were washed with the celestiall dewe, which from heauen fell downe vpon them, so that by this blessing of God, they were marueilouslie increased. 20 And as touching that honour and authoritie which I had gotten a∣mong them, it grue to be greater and greater: and euery day I waxed stronger and mightier then other. 21 Neither surelie did I thus iudge without cause. For whensoeuer I spake, euerie one heard me with great attention: euerie one waited till I began to speake, euerie one agreed to me when I had spoken. 22 No man that heard me, thought it meet for him to put forth his voice after me: no man, but gaue eare and minde vnto that which I vttered. 23 Now surelie, when I was to open my mouth and to shew forth my iudge∣ment in any matter, they watched and obserued when I would begin, with no lesse desire, then commonlie the fruite∣full and long wished shoure, is, as it were with a gaping and greedie mouth, looked for in time of extreme heat. 24 If it happened that for my pleasure, I vttered any thing merilie and somewhat more freelie then I was accustomed, yet no man thereat tooke offence, neither needed I therefore once to chaunge countenance. 25 If there were any waigh∣tie businesse in hande, I taught them what way and course was beste for them to take, sitting among them in the chiefest and most honourable place, as a king in the midst of his armie: and looke what counsell and aduise so euer I gaue them, it was as acceptable vnto them, as the speech of him that comforteth those, who are in any distresse and mise∣rie.

❧ CHAPTER XXX.

Vers. 1. But novv they that are younger then J, mocke me, whose fathers J would not haue vouchsafed to haue set with the dogges of my flockes.

2 And whereunto should the strengeh of their hands haue serued

me? old age was lost vpon them.

1 SVch a one was I within these few daies. But (good God) how are all things chaunged with me, and what a great and sudden alteration hath followed? for loe, I am become a laughing stocke to those, who in yeares come very farre be∣hind me, and whose fathers I would not haue once vouchsa∣fed to haue in the same estimation, that I had my dogges, which were set to keepe the flocks. 2 For, to say the truth, the strength of those young striplings could not haue stoode me in any stead at all: and as for the old age of their fathers, it was such, that hauing spent the greatest and best parte of their life, partlie in idlenes, and partlie in diuers wicked and lewd pranks, they might worthelie seeme to haue liued in vaine all that while.

3 Jn pouertie and famine beeing solitarie, fleeing into the wil∣dernes into darknes, desolation, and destruction,

4 Pulling vp mallowes by the bushes, and (whose) meat (was) rootes and Iuniper:

5 Chased from among men, (and) against whome, men cried out as (against) theeues.

6 Therefore they dwelt in the cleftes of riuers, (and in) caues of the earth and of the rocks,

7 Who rored among the bushes, and gathered them selues vnder the thornes.

8 The children of fool••, and the children without name, more vile then the earth it selfe.

9 Now am I their song, and J am made their talke.

10 They abhorre me, they flee from me, and they spare not to spit in my face.

3 & 4 Men, I say, so odious and detestable, that euen in ex∣treme penurie and famine no man could away with them: in so much that fleeing from the companie and fellowship of men, beeing constrained to withdraw themselues into vn∣pleasant & solitarie places, they prolonged their life in great miserie, feeding vpon bitter and vnsauerie meates, as mal∣lowes, rootes, and berries pulled from the Iuniper tree. 5 Men banished, and through the outcries of the people, driuē foorth of the citie for theeues and robbers. 6 To whome scarselie the clefts, by which the streames of waters doe flow, the caues of the earth, and the hollow rockes, could

afford any abiding place. 7 Wandering among the shrubs, and meeting togither among the thornes. 8 Men of no discretion or foresight, vnthriftie persons and good for no∣thing: men of no name or estimation, men more abiect and contemptible, then the verie ground vpon which they doe tread. 9 These are they, who doe now make songs and so∣nets of me, I am all their talke, neither haue they any thing else whereof to chat and babble, but onelie of me. 10 They abhorre me and flie from my presence, as one that is pollu∣ted, yea, they are not afraide in contempt and despight, to spit in my face.

11 Because that (God) hath loosed my corde, and afflicted me, (they) also haue loosed the bridle before my face.

12 The wanton youth rise vp at my righte hande: they push my feet, and vppon me treade the pathes of their vnhappi∣nesse.

13 They haue destroied my pathes: they helpe to bruise me, (there is) not an helper for them (that is, against them)

14 They haue broken in, as it were at a great breach, and vnder the ruines thereof they presse vpon me.

11 And how commeth this to passe? Surelie because it hath pleased God, as it were, to loose the bandes of mine au∣thoritie, by which they were fast tied and kept within com∣passe of their duetie, therefore beeing now touched with no reuerence at all towardes my person, they runne riot, and are caried against me without all reason. 12 This like∣wise is the cause, that young men, abusing the prime and flower of their age to pride and wantonnesse, are not asha∣med in my presence, and euen at my right hande, to rise vp against me, to push my feete; in a worde, to make me, as it were, a path, in which they may practise that their malapert boldnesse in doeing mischiefe. 13 Thus the whole state of my life is chaunged and turned vpside downe, thus one mischiefe and calamitie commeth in the neck of another, and (alasse) there is not one, who will take vpon him to de∣fende me sielie wretch, from their outrage and iniurie. 14 For all without exception, so soone as the wal, within which I was safelie inclosed, beganne to fall, as if now there had beene a great breach and entrance laide open for them,

rushed violentlie vpon me, and shrouding them selues vnder the ruins of my house, that is, taking occasion by this my fall, which they ought rather to haue lamented and pitied, they vnmercifullie fell vpon me.

15 All terrors that maie bee, are turned vpon me, (and) haue as a winde borne downe mine honour, and my health is passed away as a cloud.

16 Now therefore my soule is powred out vpon mee: the daies of affliction haue taken hold on me.

17 God pearceth my bones in the night, my pulses take no rest.

18 By reason of the great force thereof my garment is chaun∣ged, (that is, hath changed colour, and) he compasseth me about as the coller of my coate.

19 He hath cast me into the mire, and J am become like dust and ashes.

20 I cried vnto thee, and thou didst not heare mee: I stood by, (that is, I presented my selfe before thee) and thou regardedst me not.

21 Thou art become cruell to me, & according to the strength of thine handes art thou angrie with me.

22 Thou takest me vp with the winde, whereupon thou ma∣kest me to ride, and thou dissoluest the frame of my bodie.

15 And these grieuances which I haue hitherto spoken of, are without me. Now touching those griefes and vexati∣ons which are vvithin me, whatsoeuer there is in the world by which the minde of the most constant and resolute man may be terrified and dismaid, al that, or if so bee any greater thing can possiblie be imagined, hath come vpon mee, and as a whirlewind hath with such violence throwne to the ground all mine honour, whereby I vvas so beneficiall and profitable vnto others, that on a sudden all hope of health and recouerie is taken from me; neither can I be perswaded that I shall euer escape out of this miserie. 16 My minde therfore hath novv been destitute of all liuely courage, euer since I vvas fallen into these miserable daies. 16 For I am so farre from taking anie rest at all in the night season, what time all creatures are woont to bee at quiet; that contrari∣wise, euen then the verie marrovve of my bones rageth tho∣rough

intollerable paine, vvherevvithall it is continuallie pearced, and as for my pulses, they vvoonderfullie pant and beate without anie intermission. 18 Yea, so vehement is this euill, vvhich is come vpon mee from aboue, that the filth, vvhich runneth out of my sores, hath quite chaunged the colour of my garments: neither doeth the coller of my coate in more straite manner pinch my necke, then doeth the hande of God gripe and girde mee rounde about in e∣uerie parte of my bodie. 19 In a vvorde, I lie vvallovv∣ing and tumbling in this moste loathsome durte: and beeing couered all ouer vvith the scales and scrapings, that fal from my scabbes, I am become more like vnto the vnprofitable duste and ashes, then vnto a man. 20 And that vvhich greeueth mee moste, I haue cried aloude vnto thee, O God, and yet thou hast not giuen eare vnto mee; neither hast thou regarded mee, vvhen I presented my selfe before thy tribunall seate. 21 And albeit thou art by nature in mer∣cie infinite: yet to mee thou arte become cruell and vnmer∣cifull: yea, and thou doest practise all thy might vpon mee. 22 Thou hast laide me open to bee, as it vvere, tossed too & fro vvith the vvinds; and whatsoeuer did remaine sound in this my sillie bodie, that also hast thou in such sorte dissol∣ued & consumed, that ere it be long I shal come to nothing.

23 For J know that thou callest me to the death, and to the house appointed for all the liuing.

24 But he shall not send his hand into the graue, though in his broosings they crie.

23 For I see and perceiue wel enough, that I am called out of this life, to go vnto that house, which is ordained for the gathering together of al mortall men. 24 Notwith∣standing this one thing doth not a litle comfort me, that al∣though the afflicted crie neuer so much in vaine while they are in miserie: yet after they are become a sencelesse carkase and are once laid into the graue, God shall not stretch forth his hand to touch them anie more.

25 Vnlesse I haue wept for the hard daie, (that is, haue be∣wailed with teares those that were in miserie) (and) vnlesse my soule was heauie ouer the needie.

26 When I looked for good, then euil came: I waited for light,

darkenes came.

25 And what place, I pray you my friends, is there here left, wherein your excellent wisdome may be seene. For let me neuer finde mercie at the handes of God, whom I call to witnesse, and to bee my iudge in this matter, if I haue not with teares lamented the estate of those, whom I sawe affli∣cted: as also if I haue not beene inwardlie mooued with com∣passion towardes the poore, who liued in want. 26. But when I looked to haue all things at will, then straight way al things fell out quite contrarie; and as I haue stood waiting for the light, darkenes presentlie came vpon me.

27. My bowels are hot, neither are they at quiet, the daies of affliction haue taken hold of me,

28. I walke being blacke with out the sunne; J stand in the as∣semblie of men and do crie out.

29. I am become a brother to the dragons, and companion to the Ostriches young ones.

30 My skinne is made blacke vpon me; and my bone is withe∣red by reason of drinesse.

31 My singing was (turned) into mourning, and my harp in∣to the voice of them that weepe.

27. My bowels being enflamed, do make a great noise: this most bitter time stole vpon mee suddenlie, before I had once so much as thought of it. 28. & 29. My skinne is be∣come black, and yet not through the heat of the sunne: yea, and of such force is this my affliction, that it driueth mee, e∣uen openly in the great meetings and assemblies of people, to giue foorth these most rude & confused cries, as if I were the brother of dragons, who run hissing vp and downe the deserts in moste dolefull manner, or companion to the yong whining and grunting Ostriches. 30 The skinne of my whole bodie is made black through sorrowe and mourning: and my iavves are dried and pined awaie for want of moi∣sture. 31 And so is my song chaunged into teares, and my reioycing into most bitter lamentations.