Paraphrase on the Book of Job, Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX.
1. JOB after that hee had reproved1. Moreover, Job continued his parable, and said: Bildad, justified himselfe, and convinced his friends of the unsearchable waies of Gods wisdome, in the three foregoing Chapters; finding them all mute, and no reply made upon him, thus further proceeds to speak in his owne behalfe, by wishes, bewailings, and selfe-justifyings in these three Chapters following.
2. Oh (saies hee) that it were with2. Oh, that I were as in moneths past, as in the daies when God preserved mee. mee now as it was heretofore, when God smiled upon me, and upheld me in prosperity and happinesse.
3. When I was apparantly blessed3. When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkenesse. of him, so that every one saw, and could say, that hee exceedingly favoured me, when no cloud overshadowed me, but by the mercy of the Lord being free from sorrow and affliction whereto this life is so subject, I for my part had all happinesse and good successe attending me in stead thereof.
4. In my former daies thus it was:4. As I was in the daies of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle. The speciall and peculiar love of God to mee was then acknowledged by all, and seene in evident tokens of good will by his blessing and prospering me and all that belonged unto me; O that it were so now, as it was then!
5. Before this evill befell me, when5. When the Almighty was yet with mee, when my children were about me: as God Almighty was extraordinarily with me in the ample manifestation of his love unto me, and unremoved from mee as now hee is, when my children were all alive, and were great comforts unto mee.
6. When I had all manner of plenty,6. When I washed my steps with butter, and the rocke powred me out rivers of oile: abounding in every good thing, and when as there was nothing but by the will of God, it was blessed and made serviceable to me, and conduced to enrich mee.
7. When I went honourably attended7. When I went out to the gate, through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street. to the place of judicature, having many spectatours; and had the seat of justice set up, and made ready for mee in the place of concourse.
8. When men of all ages and degrees8. The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. reverenced mee; for the young men knowing my wisedome, and seeing my grave deportment, would in a respectfull distance, absent themselves from my presence, as awed with it, and fearing the censure of my wisedome and gravity, the aged also had mee in such esteeme, that they would performe that respect to me which was due to them.
9. My wisdome and my person was9. The Princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. had in such account, as that the very chiefe and prime of all the Princes of the people would refraine to speake before me in reverence of me.
10. The Noble men were so awed10. The Nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roofe of their mouth. with my wisedome, that they were afraid to speake in my presence.
11. When ever I spake, it was known11. When the eare heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witnesse to mee. to be with such wisedome and integrity, that they that heard mee, would blesse me, and blesse God for mee, and all men when they saw mee, would give mee the praise thereof, and acknowledged me for my wise and upright carriage of things amongst them to be a blessing to them.
12. For, because I righted the poore12. Because I delivered the poore that cried, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him. that complained of wrong, and befriended the fatherlesse in like sort, and was ever a helper to the helplesse person.
13. The affectionate prayer of many13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon mee: and I caused the widowes heart to sing for joy. a poore soule hath beene bestowed upon mee, who being hopelesse, and not knowing which way to turne him, I have stucke to in his extremity, and kept him from undoing: And the poore distressed widow, when she was wronged, I tooke her part, and righted her upon her adversary, to the chearing and rejoycing of her sad heart in her friendlesse and exposed condition.
14. It was my study and care in all14. I put on righteousnesse, and it clothed me: my judgement was as a robe and a diadem. my waies to be righteous, unblameable, and just both before God and man, for which God greatly blessed mee, and men highly honoured me.
15. I gave advice and counsell to15. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. the simple, and support to the weake and impotent.
16. I was a pitifull to the poore as16. I was a father to the poore; and the cause which I knew not, I searched out. a father to his childe, and as carefull of them; so that they wanted not what I could bestead them in; and the cause which to the poore mans disadvantage was coloured over with deceitfull pleadings, I tooke paines in it to finde out the truth, that the poore might receive no wrong.
17. And I disappointed the wicked17. And I brake the jawes of the wicked, and plucked the spoile out of his teeth. mans covetous and cruell purposes, nor ever could I suffer his power to prevaile against the innocent, though it was never so great, but evermore rescued the oppressed out of his malice and rapine.
18. In those daies of my foresaid18. Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my daies as the sand. prosperity, which God had so abundantly heaped upon me (to see therefore his wonderfull waies) I little thought I should have come to this estate, having such abundance of all things, with Gods favour and mine owne integrity to secure me; I little thought, I say, I should ever have come to this, but hoped that I should have died in peace and quiet, rich and honourable, after a long life.
19. For I grew up, and increased19. My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. wondrously in all manner of felicity, and the blessing of God continually attended on me, and was with and upon every thing I did and all I had.
20. He increased mine honour daily,20. My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renued in my hand. still supplying mee with extraordinary and seasonable wisedome upon every occasion, yea, and he increased my power also to execute my counsells.
21. Men longed to heare me deliver21. Unto me men gave eare, and waited, and kept silence at my counsell. my minde in any matter, waiting for Wisedome and Justice to come from me, and with silence diligently listened to mine advice and counsell.
22. Which when they had heard,22. After my words they spake not againe, and my speech dropped upon them. they received it as an Oracle, without reply; my speech was precious, and like dew drops, brought refreshing to their longing and expecting mindes when it fell from mee.
23. The former, nay, the later raine,23. And they waited for mee, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth wide, as for the later raine. after the Summers heat, is not more thirsted for, and gaped after of the chawned earth, than my judgement and advice was till I gave it.
24. If I by my smiles gave any intimation24. If I laughed on them, they believed it not, and the light of my countenance they cast not downe. of my suspition of any report or businesse, it was presently distrusted and dissented from of all the rest; and on the othe hand, my least countenance or shew of approbation to any cause, was observed of others as a rule to goe by.
25. In those daies I was the onelyonly25. I chose out their way, and sate chiefe, and dwelt as a King in the army; as one that comforteth the mourners. man in all matters, chosen by consent of all to be the Prolocutor, and advanced to the first place in all assemblies and places of Judicature, and had my house resorted to like a Kings Court in an army for advice, and dispatch of businesse; yea, I was flocked unto from farre and neere, as a man of a thousand, that is knowne to be able to administer words of consolation to mournfull and drooping spirits, is wont to be.