The Book of Job Paraphrased, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
ARGUMENT.
Job allows what Bildad had well ſpoken in the beginning of his Speech; and very religiouſly adores the Juſtice, Wiſedom, and Sovereignty of the Almighty: with whom he proteſts he had no intention to quarrel or diſpute; but onelyonly to aſſert the contrary Maxime to that which they maintained, That Piety will not ſecure us from all Calamities, which do not ever fall upon thoſe that deſerve them. Witneſs, on one hand, the proſperous eſtate of wicked Princes, v. 24. (particularly of one great Prince, who then ſomewhere reigned in their neighbouring countries;) and, on the other hand, his own Infelicity, notwithſtanding his known Integrity, v. 25. About this he confeſſes he was very much unſatisfied: though he knew it was in vain to argue with God about it; nor would his Affliction ſuffer him to doe it.
1. THEN Job anſwered and ſaid,1. WHEN he had done, Job began again, and replied in this manner:
2. I know it is ſo of a truth: but how ſhould man be juſt with God?2. There need not ſo many words to prove what thou ſaidſt in the entrance of thy Speech; for I know very well that God never perverts Judgment, and that frail Man cannot juſtify himſelf before Him.
3. If he will contend with him, he cannot anſwer him one of a thouſand.3. If he ſhould go about to anſwer to a thouſand things which may be objected to him, he would hardly clear himſelf in One.
4. He is wiſe in heart, and mighty in ſtrength: who hath hardened himſelf againſt him, and hath proſpered?4. I adore alſo His Wiſedom and Power as well as his Juſtice; and am ſenſible that no men can be ſafe who obſtinately oppoſe Him.
5. Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.5. Though they were as big and as ſtrong as the Mountains, He can haſtily overturn them, in a moment, before they think of it.
6. Which ſhaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.6. For He is able to remove the whole Earth out of its place, and ſhatter the very Foundations of it.
7. Which commandeth the ſun, and it riſeth not; and ſealeth up the ſtars.7. Nor are the Heavens leſs ſubject to His Power; for neither Sun nor Stars can ſhine if He forbid them.
8. Which alone ſpreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the ſea.8. He alone commands the Clouds to cover them, and makes the Sea ſwell and lift up its Waves.
9. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the ſouth.9. All the Conſtellations of Heaven obey Him in their ſeveral ſeaſons: both thoſe which we ſee, and thoſe in the other Hemiſphere.
10. Which doeth great things paſt finding out, yea, and wonders without number.10. In ſhort, I agree with Eliphaz, (V. 9.) that the Wonders He doeth are innumerable, and paſt my comprehenſion.
11. Lo, he goeth by me, and I ſee him not: he paſſeth on alſo, but I perceive him not.11. He ſets them before mine eyes continually, and yet I am not able to underſtand them.
12. Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will ſay unto him, What doeſt thou?12. If He ſnatch away any thing ſuddenly, who can make Him reſtore it, or cauſe Him to give an account why He did it.
13. If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do ſtoop under him.13. If He will continue his Diſpleaſure, there is no remedy; but the proudeſt Undertakers muſt confeſs their inability to relieve us.
14. How much leſs ſhall I anſwer him, and chuſe out my words to reaſon with him?14. What am I then, poor Wretch, that I ſhould contend with his Anger? or where ſhall I find out words choiſe enough to plead with Him?
15. Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not anſwer, but I would make ſupplication to my judge.15. It is not fit for me to open my mouth before Him in the juſteſt Cauſe; unleſs it be to ſupplicate his Favour when He judges me.
16. If I had called, and he had anſwered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.16. And if I had made Supplication, and He had granted my deſire, I would not think my Prayer had done the buiſineſs, (or believe my ſelf to be out of all danger.)
17. For he breaketh me with a tempeſt, and multiplieth my wounds without cauſe.17. For I am not conſcious of any Guilt; and yet you ſee with what violent blaſts He hath ſhattered me and my Family in pieces, and given me one Wound after another.
18. He will not ſuffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterneſs.18. No ſooner was one paſt, but another immediately followed; which have left me not the leaſt pleaſure in Life.
19. If I ſpeak of ſtrength, lo, he is ſtrong: and if of judgment, who ſhall ſet me a time to plead?19. If I ſtand upon my Might; alas! it is not to be named with His: if upon my Right; what Judge is there above Him, to appoint us a day of hearing?
20. If I juſtifie my ſelf, mine own mouth ſhall condemn me: If I ſay, I am perfect, it ſhall alſo prove me perverſe.20. If I ſhould juſtify my ſelf, there would be ſomething in my very Plea to condemn me: it will render my Cauſe worſe to pretend I am innocent.
21. Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my ſoul: I would deſpiſe my life.21. Though I were ſo, yet I would not be mine own Judge in the Caſe: I do not value my Life ſo much, as to contend about it.
22. This is one thing, therefore I ſaid it, he deſtroyeth the perfect and the wicked.22. All that I affirm is this, and I perſiſt in that opinion, That He lets the Innocent ſuffer ſad things as well as the Guilty.
23. If the ſcourge ſlay ſuddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.23. When a Plague comes, which kills in a moment, He regards not though it fall upon the Innocent.
24. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?24. And on the other ſide, (ſo falſe is your Diſcourſe,) we ſee the Government of the Earth given into the hands of a wicked Prince, who blinds the eyes of his Judges. If you deny this, tell me, where is the man, and what is his name, who adminiſters things uprightly?
25. Now my days are ſwifter then a poſt: they flee away, they ſee no good.25. I my ſelf was in Proſperity, but it is fled away ſwifter then a poſt; and there is not the leaſt footſtep of it remaining.
26. They are paſſed away as the ſwift ſhips: as the eagle that haſteth to the prey.26. The Ships that are carried with the moſt rapid ſtream, or the hungry Eagle in chace of her prey, do not make more haſte away.
27. If I ſay, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heavineſs, and comfort my ſelf:27. I think ſometime with my ſelf, that I will forget the Miſeries of which I complain, and be more chearfull and courageous.
28. I am afraid of all my ſorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.28. But then my Grief frights away that reſolution; knowing Thou wilt not releaſe me, but make me ſtill groan under them.
29. If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?29. I am wicked in Thine account; and therefore it is to no purpoſe to vindicate mine Innocence.
30. If I waſh my ſelf with ſnowwater, and make my hands never ſo clean;30. Were I never ſo pure and clean from all Filthineſs in heart and life,
31. Yet ſhalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own cloaths ſhall abhor me.31. Thou wouldeſt notwithſtanding cover me with filthy Ulcers, and make my neareſt Relations abhor to approach me.
32. For he is not a man as I am, that I ſhould anſwer him, and we ſhould come together in judgment.32. For God is not like to me, that we ſhould diſpute upon even terms.
33. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.33. Nor is there any body above us both to compoſe our differences, and command ſilence, when either of us exceeds our bounds.
34. Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrifie me.34. As for my ſelf, His Rod, which is upon me, keeps me in ſuch awe, that I cannot ſpeak freely.
35. Then would I ſpeak, and not fear him; but it is not ſo with me.35. Let Him remove that, and then I ſhall utter my mind with leſs dread: For I am not ſo bad as you imagine.