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النشر الإلكتروني

CHAP. XXXI. Job recounteth his acts of obedience.

IF I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; 6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. 7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to my hands; 8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out. 9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait for my neighbour's door; 1 For this is a heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. 12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase. 13 If I did despise the cause of my man servant or of my maid servant, when they contended with me; 14. What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? 15 Did not he that made me make him? and did not one fashion us? 16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail: 17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; 19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; 20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; 25 ́ If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; 26 If I. beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; 27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: 28 This also

were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for I should have denied the God that is above. 29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: 30 Nei. ther have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. 31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh, that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. 38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain; 39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: 40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley.

CHAP. XXXII. Elihu reproveth Job.

5 WHEN Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. 6 And he answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. 7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. 8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 9 Great men are not always wise; nei. ther do the aged understand judgment. 10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion. 11 Behold, I waited for your words: I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what 12 Yea, I attended unto you: and behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words: 18 For I am full of matter: the spirit within me constraineth me. 20 I will speak that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer. 21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. 22 For I know not to give flattering titles: in so doing my Maker would soon take me away.

to say.

CHAP. XXXIII. Men called to Repentance. WHEREFORE, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. 3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart; and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. 4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 8 Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, 9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. 12 Behold, in this thou art not just. I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. 13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. 14 For God speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man preceiveth it not. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction. 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

21 His flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen; and his bones, that were not seen, stick out." 22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: 24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's; he shall return to the days of his youth. 26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him; and he shall see his face with joy : for he will render unto man his righteousness. 27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28 He

will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. 29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

CHAP. XXXIV. God Omnipotent and Just. FURTHERMORE, Elihu answered and said 2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. 4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among our. selves what is good. 10 Far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should commit iniquity. 11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; 15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. 16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. 17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? 18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? 19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. 22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. 24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. 27 Because they turned

127. back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: 28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. 29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: So That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared. 31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more. 32 That which I see not, teach thou me : if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. 33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose and not I therefore speak what thou knowest.

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CHAP. XXXV. God is high above Man.

ELIHU spake moreover, and said, 5 Look unto the heavens, and see, and behold the clouds,which are higher than thou. 6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? 8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art, and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. 13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. 14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him, therefore trust thou in him. 15 But, now because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger, yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: 16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain he multiplieth words without knowledge.

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