Paraphrase on the Book of Job, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
1. JOB being angry at Bildads impertinencies,1. But Iob answered, and said: thus answers him:
2. What am I the better for2. How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arme that hath no strength? this thou hast said, how hast thou herein discharged thine office to me, either as a friend or comforter? what helpe hereby hast thou administred to my helplesse state, or how hast thou herewith yeelded me any aid or support in this my weake condition?
3. What friendly advice or usefull3. How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdome? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? counsell hast thou ministred to me by it, which yet thou takest mee to stand in need of, and what adoe hast thou kept to tell me what I know?
4. Who dost thou utter these overplus4. To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee? needlesse speeches to, that is ever the better for them? For my part, I am not, and whose spirit is any whit refreshed, or ever the better for what thou hast said? not mine one jot.
5. Thinkest thou I know not all5. Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof. this? yea, I can tell thee as much, and more than thou hast said, to set forth God withall, whereby thou mayest see that I am not to learne of thee touching him: I can tell thee that hee is not onelyonly admirable above in the heavens, but beneath also, in so much, as nothing is bred or brought forth, whether animate or inanimate, fish or other things in all the vast and deepe Ocean, but it is by his decree and power.
6. The hiddenest and lowest parts6. Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering. of all the earth, the Grave and Hell, are open before his all-seeing eyes, so that hee sees what becomes of man, and every part of himafter that death hath dissolved him, and the grave consumed him.
7. His eyes of providence, and7. Hee stretcheth out the North over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. arme of power, extends to the most remote and uninhabited places of all the earth, hee over-spreads those as these with the heavens, and disposeth things there as here, and hee wonderfully upholds this heavie fabricke and huge ball of the earth pendant in the middest of the heavens without any other support than his mighty power.
8. He bottells up the abundance of8. He bindeth up the waters in his thicke clouds, and the cloud is not rent under them. raine which falls upon the ground, in clouds made for that purpose, great and thick, which notwithstanding the weight of those waters, he hath made able to keepe and containe them, so that they let fall none but when hee pleaseth.
9. Hee, when hee pleaseth, withholdeth9. He holdeth backe the face of his throne; and spreadeth his cloud upon it. the Sunne from us, that glorious light and beauty of the face of heaven, and causeth it at pleasure to suspend its power and vertue of light and heat, by overclouding the heavens, and masking it as with a vaile.
10. Hee hath confined the raging10. Hee hath compassed the waters with bounds, untill the day and night come to an end. and unruly seas with bounds and limits, which (doe they what they can) they shall never passe till the end of the world, when all things shall be let loose to devastation.
11. His terrour is formidable even11. The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at his reproofe. to the mighty and high mountaines (whereon the heavens seeme to rest as on so many pillars) which tremble and shake with his thunder-claps and earth-quakes.
12. The sea, as outragious as it is,12. Hee divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding, he smiteth through the proud. subjects it selfe to his command, and against nature divides it selfe so, that dry land appeares in the midst of it, and hee knowes how to tame it when the waves thereof are at proudest, and rise highest.
13. In a word, by his powerfull13. By his spirit hee hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. spirit, wherewith he worketh, he hath both beautified and set forth the heavens in such a glorious manner as wee see; yea, the same powerfull hand it is (which indeed onelyonly maketh all things) that hath also formed the most deformed and dreadfull creature in the earth.
14. Hereby you may imagine what14. Lo, these are parts of his waies, but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand? I know thinke, and believe of God by these descriptions I have made of him, which yet I know are but parts of his admirable excellencies, and farre short of him; for when you and I have said all wee can to set him forth, how little notwithstanding, will it be in comparison of him and his greatnesse? as may appeare by one instance more, which sets him forth most of all, and that is the power and Majesty that hee utters in his thunder, which who can sufficiently admire?