The Book of Job Paraphrased, Chapter 6 – Chapter 7
CHAP. VI.
ARGUMENT.
Job, not at all convinced by theſe Diſcourſes, juſtifies the Complaint he had made, (Chap. III.) which Eliphaz had now accuſed; maintaining that his Grief was not equal to the Cauſe of it. And therefore he renews his wiſhes of Death: at which though they might wonder who felt nothing to make them weary of Life; yet he had reaſon, he ſhews, for what he did; and one more then before, which was their Ʋnkindneſs: who pretended to be Friends; but by this rude Reproof of him at the very firſt, without ſo much as one compaſſionate word, or the leaſt ſyllable of Conſolation, ſhewed how little ſympathy they had with him in his Sufferings. Theſe things he deſires them to conſider, and weigh the cauſe of his Complaint a little better, before they paſſed any farther judgment on it.
1. BƲT Job anſwered and ſaid,1. HERE Job replied to Eliphaz, and ſpake in theſe terms to him:
2. Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!2. Would to God ſome more equall perſon then you would lay my Complaint and my Sufferings one againſt the other, and judge ſincerely which is the heavieſt.
3. For now it would be heavier then the ſand of the ſea: therefore my words are ſwallowed up.3. He would ſoon find, that the Sand of the Sea is not ſo heavy as my Miſery; and that I am not able to complain enough.
4. For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poiſon whereof drinketh up my ſpirit: the terrours of God do ſet themſelves in aray againſt me.4. The Almighty himſelf hath given me ſuch a wound, that I am dis-ſpirited: for nothing but dreadfull Spectacles preſent themſelves ready arm'd againſt me.
5. Doth the wild aſs bray when he hath graſs? or loweth the ox over his fodder?5. It is eaſie for you, who feel no pain nor want, to forbear Complaints; which is no more then the very Aſs and other brute creatures doe.
6. Can that which is unſavoury be eaten without ſalt? or is there any taſt in the white of an egge?6. But may not he who eats inſipid things, call for a little ſalt to make them go down better? (How much more then may we call for ſomething to qualify that which is very bitter?)
7. The things that my ſoul refuſed to touch, are as my ſorrowfull meat.7. As I do now, who have nothing afforded me for my ſupport, but ſuch Diſcourſes as yours, which my very ſoul loaths.
8. Oh that I might have my requeſt! and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!8. I cannot but cry unto God, and beſeech Him to grant me my heart's deſire.
9. Even that it would pleaſe God to deſtroy me; that he would let looſe his hand, and cut me off.9. Which is, that He would be pleaſed not to let me languiſh in this miſerable condition; but with one ſtroke more quite cut me off.
10. Then ſhould I yet have comfort, yea, I would harden my ſelf in ſorrow: let him not ſpare, for I have not concealed the words of the holy One.10. It would be a great comfort to me, to hope for this; and would ſtrengthen me to endure the ſevereſt pains: for I would receive the ſentence of Death with acclamations of praiſe, if God would pronounce it againſt me.
11. What is my ſtrength, that I ſhould hope? and what is mine end, that I ſhould prolong my life?11. For I have not ſtrength enough to endure any longer; nor any hope of better days in the concluſion, which ſhould make me willing to have my Life prolonged.
12. Is my ſtrength the ſtrength of ſtones? or is my fleſh of braſs?12. God hath not made me inſenſible; and therefore do not wonder that I deſire to be releaſed from the ſharpeſt Pains.
13. Is not my help in me? and is wiſedom driven quite from me?13. Do not think my Reaſon hath forſaken me, and that I do not underſtand my ſelf.
14. To him that is afflicted pity ſhould be ſhewed from his friend; but he forſaketh the fear of the Almighty.14. Were it ſo, a Friend ſhould ſhew me the more Pity; as you would doe, but that you fear not God, nor remember that he can afflict you as he doth me.
15. My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the ſtream of brooks they paſs away:15. My deareſt Friends prove as deceitfull as the Torrents, which make a great noiſe, and run with a violent ſtream,
16. Which are blackiſh by reaſon of the ice, and wherein the ſnow is hid.16. When the melted Ice and Snow fall thick into them:
17. What time they wax warm, they vaniſh: when it is hot, they are conſumed out of their place.17. They promiſe water, but in the Summer-time are dried up;
18. The paths of their way are turned aſide; they go to nothing, and periſh.18. So that you can ſcarce find any mark of the courſe wherein they ran, they are ſo perfectly vaniſh'd.
19. The troups of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.19. They that travell into our neighbouring Countries expected to quench their thirſt there, where they had ſometime ſeen ſo much water;
20. They were confounded becauſe they had hoped; they came thither and were aſhamed.20. But were ſhamefully diſappointed, and bluſht to think they ſhould ſeek relief from ſuch uncertain Streams.
21. For now ye are nothing; ye ſee my caſting down, and are afraid.21. Juſt ſuch are you, good for nothing; who, ſeeing my Calamity, ſhrink from me.
22. Did I ſay, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your ſubſtance?22. And yet I never ſent for you; nor do I ask, now you are come, any Relief from you.
23. Or, Deliver me from the enemie's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?23. I do not expect you ſhould deliver me from theſe Calamities, which as ſo many mighty enemies oppreſs me.
24. Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cauſe me to underſtand wherein I have erred.24. Do not miſtake me, nor think that I deſpiſe the aſſiſtence of your Counſel & Advice: no, I am ready to receive your Reproofs, and humbly to ſubmit to them, if you can better inform me.
25. How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?25. Oh what power is there in Truth! but your Reprehenſions are ineffectual.
26. Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the ſpeeches of one that is deſperate, which are as wind?26. You onelyonly ſtudy to ſhew your Eloquence; and in vain uſe words to drive me to Deſperation.
27. Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherleſs, and you dig a pit for your friend.27. You fall upon him who is already depreſſed and without defence; and in a barbarous manner deviſe counſel againſt your Friend.
28. Now therefore be content, look upon me, for it is evident unto you, if I lie.28. But let it pleaſe you to conſider my Caſe a little better; and then judge if I be in the wrong.
29. Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteouſneſs is in it.29. Diſcuſs things over again, I beſeech you, and doe it fairly. I ſay, let me have a ſecond Hearing; it will but the more ſhew my Innocence.
30. Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taſt diſcern perverſe things?30. Have I ſaid any thing hitherto that is faulty? I do not think my judgment is ſo corrupted, but that I can diſcern what is bad, though ſpoken by my ſelf.
CHAP. VII.
ARGUMENT.
Job proceeds ſtill in the defence of his Complaint, and of his Wiſhes to ſee an end of ſo miſerable a Life; which at the beſt is full of Toil and Trouble. And, ſince his Friends had ſo little conſideration of him, he addreſſes himſelf to God; and hopes he will not be angry, if he eaſe his Grief by repreſenting to him the Dolefulneſs of his condition, and expoſtulating a little with him about the continuance of it, and his releaſe from it.
1. IS there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days alſo like the days of an hireling?1. IS not the whole Life of miſerable Man a perpetual conflict with various Troubles? and muſt he not at beſt undergo much toil, labour and wearineſs?
2. As a ſervant earneſtly deſireth the ſhadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:2. Why may I not then as paſſionately wiſh to ſee an end of it, as the Slave in a hot day gaſps for the refreſhment of the Shade? or the Labourer longs for the Evening when he may reſt, and be paid for his pains?
3. So am I made to poſſeſs moneths of vanity, and weariſom nights are appointed to me.3. I am ſure my days are no leſs void of Contentment then theirs; and in the night, when men are wont to forget their Sorrows, I can doe nothing but reſtleſly increaſe them.
4. When I lie down, I ſay, When ſhall I ariſe, and the night be gone? and I am full of toſſings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.4. I no ſooner am laid down, but I wiſh to be up again; and the night ſeems very tedious, while I toſs up and down in unquiet and tormenting thoughts, calling for the morning.
5. My fleſh is cloathed with worms and clods of duſt; my skin is broken, and become loathſom.5. How can I doe otherways, when my Body is nothing but Ulcers full of Worms, and cruſted over with Scabs; which have made ſuch clefts in my skin, that I am loathſom to my ſelf?
6. My days are ſwifter then a weaver's ſhuttle, and are ſpent without hope.6. All my happy days are run away in a moment; and there is no hope I ſhould recover them.
7. O remember that my life is wind: mine eye ſhall no more ſee good.7. O my God, remember how ſhort the moſt pleaſant Life is; which when it is gone, I cannot live over again.
8. The eye of him that hath ſeen me ſhall ſee me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.8. I can never return to my Friends after I have left them: Thou doſt but frown upon me, and I vaniſh quite out of the World.
9. As the cloud is conſumed, and vaniſheth away: ſo he that goeth down to the grave ſhall come up no more.9. Juſt as a Cloud diſſolves on a ſudden before the Sun, ſo doth Man ſink down into his grave and appear no more.
10. He ſhall return no more to his houſe, neither ſhall his place know him any more.10. He muſt make his habitation there, for hither he cannot return; but others ſhall take his place, which will no longer acknowledge him the owner of it.
11. Therefore I will not refrain my mouth, I will ſpeak in the anguiſh of my ſpirit, I will complain in the bitterneſs of my ſoul.11. Suffer me then to ſpeak freely, and to give vent to my Grief, by complaining a little of the inexpreſſible Miſeries which oppreſs me.
12. Am I a ſea, or a whale, that thou ſetteſt a watch over me?12. Am I like a Sea, or a Whale, (or wild Beaſt,) that muſt be ſhut up and confined under theſe unſupportable Sufferings, and by no means break through them?
13. When I ſay, My bed ſhall comfort me, my couch ſhall eaſe my complaint:13. If Death may not come and put an end to them, one would have hoped at leaſt to have found ſome intermiſſion of them by Sleep.
14. Then thou ſcareſt me with dreams, and terrifieſt me through viſions.14. But then I am haunted with ſuch frightfull Dreams, and ſuch horrid Apparitions,
15. So that my ſoul chuſeth ſtrangling, and death rather then my life.15. That I had much rather die the moſt violent death, then carry this carkaſs any longer about with me.
16. I loath it, I would not live alway: let me alone, for my days are vanity.16. It is loathſome to me: I would not, if I might, live always in it. Diſmiſs me therefore, ſince I have no pleaſure in Life, which of it ſelf will end ſhortly.
17. What is man, that thou ſhouldeſt magnifie him? and that thou ſhouldeſt ſet thine heart upon him?17. Is mortall Man ſo conſiderable, that Thou ſhouldſt honour him ſo much as to contend with him, and ſet Thy ſelf againſt him?
18. And that thou ſhouldeſt viſit him every morning, and try him every moment?18. That Thou ſhouldſt ſend new Afflictions on him every morning; nay, try his ſtrength and courage every moment?
19. How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I ſwallow down my ſpittle?19. It is time to turn away thy Diſpleaſure from me; at leaſt for ſo ſhort a ſpace, as to give me leave to breathe.
20. I have ſinned, what ſhall I doe unto thee, O thou preſerver of men? why haſt thou ſet me as a mark againſt thee, ſo that I am a burthen to my ſelf?20. I am not able to give Thee ſatisfaction for my Offences againſt Thee, O Thou Obſerver of men. But why doſt Thou not remove me quite out of thy ſight, if I be a burthen to Thee?
21. And why doſt thou not pardon my tranſgreſſion, and take away mine iniquity? for now ſhall I ſleep in the duſt, and thou ſhalt ſeek me in the morning, but I ſhall not be.21. Or elſe forgive my Sin, and ſo far releaſe me from its Puniſhment, as to let me die? which I ſhall doe preſently, and not be found to morrow to endure theſe Afflictions, if Thou doſt not ſtill hold me under them.