The Garden of Zion, Part 11 · Biblical figure · Chapter 9 – Chapter 14

The Garden of Zion · Part 11 · Biblical figure · Chapter 9 – Chapter 14

p. 33Chap. 9.

THen holy Job anſw'red, and ſaid,

this to be truth I ſee:

But how ſhould man who is perverſe

with God thus righteous be?

If he in rigour and in wrath

with him would once contend;

can not anſwere him unto

one point of a thouſand.

p. 344 In heart he is wiſe, and in ſtrength

is moſt mighty indeed:

Who 'gainſt him hardned hath himſelfe,

and after hath come ſpeed?

5 Which greateſt mountaines doth remove,

and they know not ſurely:

Which overturns them in his wrath,

ſo that they ceaſe to be.

6 Which ſhakes the earth out of her place,

moſt like a rolling ball

And the ſtrong pillars makes thereof

for feare to tremble all.

7 Which by his power infinite

commandeth the bright ſunne;

So that at morne he riſeth not

he ſeales the ſtarres anone.

8 Which by his mighty arme alone

doth ſpread out pleaſantly

The azurd heav'ns, and treads upon

the great waves of the ſea.

9 Which Arcturus and Orion

(that raging ſtormy youth)

Makes with the Plaiades, and there

faire chambers of the ſouth.

10 Which doth by his Almighty hand

great things paſt finding out,

p. 35Yea, and great wonders numberleſſe.

in all the world about.

11 Lo! he goes by me, ſo that him

I by no meanes can ſee:

He doth paſſe on alſo, but well

hee's not perceiv'd by me.

12 Behold he takes away, who can

him hinder? Who alſo,

Will unto him this boldly ſay,

What mindes thou now to doe?

13 His anger God will not withdraw,

which makes his foes to droupe

The proudeſt helpers that can come

muſt under him all ſtoup.

14 How much leſſe by my wiſedome ſmall,

him anſwere well ſhall I

To chuſe my words out, and with him

the ſtrongeſt reaſons try?

15 Whom, though I were moſt righteous,

yet anſwere would not I:

But I would ſupplication make

to my judge by and by.

16 If I had call'd, and he had given

to me an anſwere choice;

Yet would I not beleev'd that he

had hearkned to my voice.

p. 3617 For with a tempteſt rageing ſore

he fiercely breaketh me,

And als my wounds without a cauſe

he doth ſtill multiplie.

18 He will not ſuffer me my breath

to take in great diſtreſſe,

But in his furious rageing wrath

me fills with bitterneſſe.

19 If I do ſpeake of force and ſtrength,

lo! he is ſtrong indeed,

And if of judgem…nt, who ſhall ſet

for me a time to plead?

20 Mine owne mouth ſure ſhall me condemne…d

if I me juſtifie;

If I pleade perfect, he me will

prove moſt perverſe to be.

21 Though I were perfect, yet I not

would in a way unwiſe

My ſoul know for to juſtifie,

my life I would deſpiſe.

22 This is one thing, therefore I it

ſaid in my great annoy,

The …erfect and the wicked man

GOD doth alike deſtroy,

23 If that the ſcourge moſt ſuddenly

men on the earth doth ſtay;

p. 37… trials of the innocent

he will laugh, ſport, and play.

The earth is giv'n unto the hand

of theſe that wicked be;

…e judges faces there he cov'rs,

if not, where, who is he?

Now ſwifter then a poſt my dayes

(as well is underſtood)

…ey ſuddenly doe flee away,

and ſo they ſee no good.

As ſwifteſt ſhips before the winde

they paſſed are away;

…d as the Eagle in the aire,

that haſteth to her prey.

If I ſay, I will my complaint

forget, that I may ſport,

…ill leave of my heavineſſe,

and ſo my ſelfe comfort;

I of my ſorrowes am afraid,

with griefe my heart is ſpent:

now that thou in judgement wilt

not hold me innocent.

If I be wicked, Why doe I

then labour thu… in va…ne?

If with ſnow water I me waſh,

and make my hands moſt cleane.

p. 3831 Yet ſhalt thou in the ditch me plunge,

and all my cleanneſſe marre,

And mine owne clothes me ſo defil'd,

ſhall ſurely me abhorre.

32 For as I am, hee's not a man,

that I incontinent

Should anſwere him, and we ſhould come

together in judgement,

33 Nor any dayes man yet there is

betwixt us to command,

That might by his authoritie

upon us lay his hand.

34 Let him in his great mercy take

his rod away from me;

And let not his moſt dreadfull feare

me greatly terrifie:

35 Then would I with great boldneſſe

and not feare him alſo;

But oh! in this moſt troublous tyme

it is not with me ſo.

Chap. 10.

MY ſoul of my life weary is,

on me I my complaint

Will leave: I will in bitterneſſe

ſpeak of my ſoul all ſhent:

p. 39I boldly will ſay unto GOD,

See thou condemne not me:

…ew me wherefore thou doſt contend

with me ſo bitterly.

Is it good that thou ſhould'ſt oppreſſe?

and the work of thine hands

…eſpiſe? And on the counſell ſhine

of the moſt wicked bands?

Are thine eyes fleſh or ſeeſt thou as

a man on earth doth ſee?

Are thy dayes as the dayes of man,

or yeares as mans dayes be?

That after mine iniquitie

and ſin thou doſt enquire:

Thou knowſt that I not wicked am;

who can ſave from thine ire?

Thine hands have made and faſhion'd me,

in all parts for the joy

…f theſe who were my parents deare;

yet thou doſt me deſtroy.

…emember now, I thee beſeech,

that thou me (as thou canſt)

…f clay haſt made, and wilt thou now

bring me againe to duſt?

… Haſt thou not in my mothers womb

me powred out ſurely?

p. 40Ev'n as the milk, and like the cheaſe,

thou haſt als crudded me:

11 Thou haſt me cloth'd with skinne and …

and for my ſure defence,

Thou me with bones and ſinewes both

didſt as with remparts fence.

12 Thou haſt me life and favour als

given, as I may obſerve:

Thy viſitation doth my ſpirit

at all times ſafe preſerve,

13 And theſe things thou haſt in thine heart,

ev'n hid moſt ſecreetly,

I doubt not, for I clearely know

that all this is with thee.

14 If I do ſin againſt thy law,

then well thou markeſt me,

And thou wilt not once me acquit

from mine iniquitie.

15 If I be wicked in my wayes,

then wo to me indeed;

If I be righteous yet will I

not once lift up my head.

In this my greef I ſurely am

full of confuſion,

There…ore thou in thy mercy ſee

my great affliction.

p. 4116 For it upon me day by day

doth more and more increaſe,

…hou hunteſt me from place to place,

even as a lion fierce.

17 Thy witneſſes thou doſt renew

'gainſt me, on me thy wrath

…hou doſt increaſe; changes and war

are ſtill againſt me both.

18 Wherefore then haſt thou from the womb

me brought foorth? oh that I

…p given the ghoſt had, and had not

been ſeen by any eye.

19 I ſhould have beene as though I had

not beene, yea I ſhould have

…none been ca…ied from the womb,

unto my reſting grave.

20 Are not my dayes upon the earth?

then for thy mercies ſake

…eaſe, and me ſuffer that I may

a little comfort take,

21 Before I go, whence I ſhall not

unto the livings path

…eturne, even unto darkneſſe black,

and the ſhadow of death.

22 A land of darkneſſe as darkneſſe

and of deaths darkeſt night,

p. 42Where order is not to be ſeene

whereas darkeneſſe is light.

Chap. 11.

THen Zophar the Naamathite,

ſaid, Should not ſuch wordes be

Anſwer'd; and ſhould a man of talk himſelf thus juſtifie?

3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace

though thou hath got a name,

And when thou mockeſt, ſhall no man

upon thee bring great ſhame?

4 For thou haſt ſaid my doctrine's pure,

and cleane als in thine eye:

5 But O that GOD with open lips

would now ſpeake againſt thee.

6 And that he would his wiſedome great

make thee well to obſerve:

Know therefore that GOD leſſe exacts

then thy ſins doe deſerve.

7 Canſt thou by a moſt curious ſearch

finde out GOD in thy minde,

Or unto a perfection great,

canſt thou th'Almighty find?

8 It is as high as higeſt heav'ns,

what canſt thou doe? It's low:

p. 43…ea deeper then the deepeſt hell,

what of it canſt thou know?

Its meaſure's longer then the earth,

and broader then the Sea;

10 If he cut off, gather, ſhut up,

what can his hinder be?

11 For he vaine men doth know right well,

He ſees their wickedneſſe:

Will he not then conſider it,

to puniſh ſuch exceſſe?

2 For vaine and fooliſh man would ſeeme

to be moſt wiſe in heart:

…hough man upon this earth be borne,

like a wilde Aſſes colt.

3 If thou thine heart prepare, and ſtretch

thine hand to him humbly,

5 If wickedneſſe be in thine hand;

let it not dwell with thee:

5 For then ſhalt thou lift up thy face.

which ſhall be without ſpote;

…ea thou moſt ſtedfaſt ſhalt be then,

and ſhalt not feare a jot,

6 Becauſe thou ſhalt thy miſerie

For ever and for ay

…orget, and it remember as

the floods that paſſe away.

p. 4417 And thine age ſhall be clearer then

the noone day, that's moſt bright,

Thou ſhalt ſhine foorth clearly, thou ſhalt

be as the morning light.

18 And thou ſhalt be ſecure, becauſe

there is hope which is beſt:

Yea, thou ſhalt dig about thee, and

in ſafety take thy reſt.

19 Alſo thou ſhalt lye downe ſecure

from all adverſitie;

None ſhall affright thee, many ſhall

make their ſute unto thee:

20 But the eyes of the wicked ſhall

faile, even till they be loſt;

They ſhall not ſcape, their hope ſhall be

as giving up the ghoſt.

Chap. 12.

ANd Job anſw'red and ſaid to them,

in great perplexitie,

2 No doubt but yee the people are,

wiſedome with you ſhall die.

3 But I do underſtand as well

as any of you all;

Yea, who knowes not ſuch things as theſe,

though of a judgement ſmall?

p. 45I am like one by neighbours ſcorn'd,

who upon God doth call,

…e anſwreth him; the juſt upright

is laugh'd to ſcorne by all.

He that is ready with his feet

to ſlip, he is moſt ſure,

…s lampes deſpiſed in the thought,

of theſe that leave ſecure.

The robbers houſes proſper ſtill,

and they that God provoke

…o live ſecure, into whoſe hand

God puts a wealthy ſtock.

But ask the beaſts, and they anone

ſhall thee teach moſt clearelie,

…d the foules fleeing in the aire,

and they als ſhall tell thee.

Speak to the earth, and it ſurely

ſhall teach thee leſſons rare,

…e fiſhes alſo of the ſea

ſhall unto thee declare.

Who knowes not that the hand of God

hath wrought all of this kind?

In whoſe hand is the living ſoul,

and breath of all mankind.

Doth not the eare try words, and als

the mouth taſte meat alwayes?

p. 4612 With th'Ancient men great wiſedome is,

and skill in length of dayes.

13 In wiſedome great and ſtrength alſo

he highly doth excell,

He both hath underſtanding great

and excellent counſell:

14 Behold he breaketh downe, and it

cannot be built againe,

He doth ſhut up, and truely there

can be no opening then

15 Behold the waters he withholds,

and they anone grow dry,

He ſends them out, they all the earth

do turne ov'r by and by.

16 With him is ſtrength and wiſedome great

theſe who moſt ſimple be

That are deceiv'd, deceivers als

all wiſely ruleth he

17 He counſellers ſpoil'd leads away,

and judges fooles doth make

18 The bond of Kings he looſeth ſoone,

and girds their loines with ſack.

19 He Princes ſpoiles, and overthrowes

the mighty men alway:

20 The truſty ſpeach, the ageds skill

he doth remove away.

p. 4721 Upon the princes of the earth

he powres contempt at length;

And of the great and mighty men

he weakneth all the ſtrength.

22 He deepe things out of darkneſſe great

diſcov'reth by his might,

The blackeſt ſhadow he of death

d… bring out to the light.

23 T… nations he doth well increaſe,

and by him they are ſlaine,

The nations he doth all enlarge,

and ſtraitneth them againe.

24 The heart of cheefeſt people he

on earth doth take away;

And makes them erre in wilderneſſe,

where there is not a way.

25 They heere and there grope in the dark,

where there appeares no light

…nd he them (like a drunken man)

makes ſtagger by his might.

Chap. 13

MIne eye hath all this ſeene, mine eare

hath heard, and underſtood

What ye know, I doe know the like,

not under you in good.

p. 483 I unto the Almighty ſpeak,

and reaſon with him would,

4 But yee are all Phyſitians vaine,

to forge lies ye are bold.

5 O that yee all would hold your peace,

your wiſedome it ſhould be,

6 My reaſoning, and pleadings of

my lips hear patientlie.

7 Will you for God ſpeak wickedly

and talk deceit in end?

8 W…ll ye accept his perſon thus?

will yee for God contend?

9 Is it good that he ſhould you ſearch?

to mock him are yee ſet?

10 He'll you reprove, if ſecretly

ye perſons do accept.

11 Shall not his great excellencie,

with dread you all afray,

12 Your rememb…ance like aſhes is

your bodies are of clay.

13 Now hold your peace, that I may ſpeak,

and come on me what will,

14 Why in my teeth take I my fleſh

hazarding life to ſpill

15 Though he me ſlay, yet will I truſt

in him, even more and more,

p. 49…ut I mine own wayes as I can

maintaine will him before.

16 He ſhall be my ſalvation,

for hypocrites ſurely

…hall not with their vaine ſhewes once come

before his Majeſtie.

17 My ſpeach that fu…l of matter is,

with diligence now hear,

…nto my declaration als

ſee that ye all give eare.

18 Behold now I by wiſedome great

my cauſe even moſt wiſely

…ave ordred, I know that I ſhall

be juſtified thereby.

19 Who is he among mortall men,

that will well plead with me?

… or if I now be dumb, I ſhall

give up the ghoſt ſurelie.

20 OnelyOnly do not two things to me,

and I will not me hide;

21 Withdraw thine hand, let not thy dread

make me now ſore af…id.

22 Then call thou and I anſwere will,

or els anſwere thou me,

23 How many are my greevous ſins

reveale thou unto me.

p. 5024 Why doſt thou hide from me thy face

as if thy foe were I?

25 Wilt thou thus breake a toſſed leafe,

and purſue ſtubble dry?

26 For thou againſt me bitter things

doſt write, which is uncouth,

And mak'ſt me alwayes to poſſeſſe

the great ſins of my youth.

27 Thou putt'ſt my feet als in the ſtocks,

and look'ſt to all my wayes

Thou ſett'ſt a print upon the heels

ev'n of my feet alwayes;

28 And poore man in his beſt eſtate

is as a rotten cloth

Conſumed all, as garments are

all eaten with the moth

Chap. 14

POore man that of a woman weake

upon the earth is borne,

Is of few dayes, he is alſo

with troubles rent and torne.

2 He doth come foorth, ev'n like a flowre

and is cut downe againe,

He as a ſhadow flies away,

and doth not long remaine.

p. 513 And doſt thou ſo on ſuch an one

full of infirmitie,

Thy clear eyes open, and me bringſt

into judgement with thee?

4 Who can a clean thing heer on earth

by his great power alone

Bring out of that which is unclean?

no not, there is not one.

5 Determined his dayes are all,

and months numbred with thee,

His bounds thou haſt appointed, that

he can not paſſe ſurely.

6 In thy great mercy turn from him,

that heer well reſt he may,

Untill that (as an hireling) he

accompliſh ſhall his day.

7 For if a tree be cut, there's hope

that it againe will ſprout;

And that the tender branch thereof

will not ceaſe to bud out.

8 Even though the root thereof on earth

waxe old, and ſo be found:

Yea more, and that the ſtock thereof

even die into the ground.

9 Yet through the ſent of water freſh

it will moſt quickly bud;

p. 52And there bring foorth moſt pleaſant boughes,

like plants beſide a flood.

10 But on earth poor man waſts away,

and after that muſt die,

Yea man he giveth up the ghoſt

when that is, where is he?

11 As overflowing waters great

faile from the deepeſt ſea,

And floods decay, and at the laſt

from running become dry.

12 So man lyes down, and doth not riſe,

Till the heav'ns be no more,

They not awake, ſhall nor be raiſd

out of their ſleepe therefore.

13 O that thou wouldſt in mercy great

me hide in grave at laſt,

That thou als wouldſt me ſecret keep

untill thy wrath be paſt.

That thou wouldſt in thy wiſdome als

appoint m… ſpeedilie

A ſet time fo… my life, and ſo

at laſt remember me.

14 If men die ſhall they live againe?

this ſhould ſeeme very ſtrange:

The dayes of my appointed time

I'll waite till come my change.

p. 5315 Thou ſhalt call, and I anſwere will,

as thou ſhalt me require,

Thou to the worke of thine owne hands

will have a good deſire.

16 Doſt thou not number all my ſteps

and watch well ov'r my ſin?

17 My tranſgreſſion is in a bag

ſeal'd, thou it ſow'ſt therein.

18 The mountaines falling come to nought,

and moulder all away,

The hardeſt rock removed is,

out from its place and ſtay.

19 The waters ſtill do weare the ſtones,

thou waſheſt quite away

Theſe earthly things, and thou deſtroy'ſt

the hope of man alway

20 Againſt him ſtill thou doſt prevaile,

and he anone is paſt,

His countenance thou changes, and

him ſends away at laſt.

21 His ſons come unto honour great,

and he it doth not know:

Likewiſe he doth not once perceive

when they are brought down… low.

22 But as long as …is fi…ſh on ea…th

ſhall bear his ſoul about

p. 54The ſoul within ſhall mourne, the fleſh

ſhall have great paine without.