The Garden of Zion, Part 11 · Biblical figure · Chapter 24 – Chapter 30
Chap. 24.
VVHy ſeeing times not hidden are
from th'almighty alwayes,
Doe they that wicked know him not
yet ſee his judgements dayes?
2 Some the fix'd land marks doe remove,
and take away indeede
Their neighbours flocks with violence,
and ſtil upon them feed.
3 The aſſe of the poore fatherleſſe
they quickly drive away,
The widowes oxe, they alſo take,
for pledge, as for a prey,
4 The needy they out of the way
where they did ſtill abide
Did turne, the poor together they
themſelves cloſely did hide.
5 Behold even as the aſſes wild
in deſerts wandring ſo,
They riſing early for a prey
foorth to their work do goe.
The wide and howling wilderneſſe
(as is well underſtood)
For them and for their children als
doth yeeld a dayly food.
6 Their neighbours corne upon the field
with violence they reape,
Their vintage als they wickedly
do gather in a heape.
7 They cauſe the naked without clothes
to lodge in their owne hold
So that they in a ſtorme have not
a cov'ring for the cold.
8 With ſhowres of mountaines high they are
thus wet in every place,
For want of ſhelters they are forc'd
the hard rocks to embrace.
9 The fatherleſſe they from the breaſt
do pluck, as in a rage,
And of moſt poor diſtreſſed men
they cruell take a pledge.
10 They him ſpoild of his garments all
cauſe naked for to go,
And from the hungry they the ſheafe
do take away alſo.
11 Which oyl within their walls do make,
and their wine-preſſe with paine
Do tread, and yet do ſuffer thirſt
and nothing thereby gaine.
12 Out of the city men do grone,
and wounded ſoules do cry,
Yet for this to them God layes not
their folly by and by.
13 Againſt the light they do rebell,
while they themſelves would hide,
The wayes thereof they do not know,
nor in its paths abide.
14 The murdrer riſing with the light;
doth kill by great miſcheef;
The poore and needy; in the night
he is a common thiefe.
15 For the twilight th' adultrers eye
doth ſtill waite in his place,
No eye, ſaith he, ſh…ll now me ſee,
diſguiſing all his face.
16 In darke throw houſes they do dig,
which they well by their ſight,
Had marked for them in the day,
they brutiſh know not light.
17 As deaths ſhaddow the morning is
to them from GODS great wrath;
If one them know▪ they ſurely are
in terrous even of death.
18 He curs'd on earth, like waters ſwift
doth quickly paſſe away,
Of vineyeards with great plenty bleſt
he not beholds the way.
19 Great drought and heat, ſnow waters cold
do moſt quickly conſume,
So doth the grave, theſe who are bold,
to ſtain their life with ſin.
20 The womb wherein he was conceiv'd
ſhall him forget anone;
The filthy worm that creeps on earth
ſhall ſweetly feed him on.
He afterward ſure ſhall no more
by men remembred be;
All wickedneſſe ſhall at the laſt
be broken as a tree.
21 The barren that beares not, he doth
moſt cruelly intreat,
And to the widow doth not good
before his judgement ſeat.
22 The mighty alſo with his power
he drawes with wrath and ſtrife,
He riſeth up with lofty lookes,
no man is ſure of life.
23 Though it be given him for to be
in ſafety, where alwayes
He reſts ſecure; yet are his eyes
even ſtill upon their wayes.
24 They for a little while on earth
exalted are moſt hie,
But they anone are alwayes gone
and made of low degree.
Out of the way as others are,
they are remov'd with ſcorne,
And ſuddenly are all cut off,
like tops of eares of corne.
25 If this be not as I do ſay,
who boldly darre come foorth,
And by his words contend to make
my ſpeach of nothing worth?
Chap. 25.
THen anſwred Bildad the Shuhite,
and thus he ſpake quicklie,
2 Dominion and fear with him are,
he doth make peace on hie.
3 The armies which he doth command,
by none can numbred be;
Upon whom doth not his fair light
ariſe moſt pleaſantlie?
4 How then with God be juſtified
can man, who is forlorne?
Or how can he be cleane that is
even of a woman borne?
5 Behold even up unto the Moone,
and it not ſhineth bright;
Yea more the gliſtring ſtarres above
are not pure in his ſight.
6 How much leſſe man that is a worme,
ſhould he be reput ſo?
Or yet the ſon of man likewiſe,
which is a worme alſo?
Chap. 26.
BUt Job anſwred incontinent,
how thou the weake at length
Now helped haſt? How ſaveſt thou
the arme that hath no ſtrength?
3 How haſt thou counſeld him at laſt,
who ſurely is unwiſe,
And clearly haſt declard the thing
even truely as it lyes?
4 To whom haſt thou uttred ſuch words
of fooliſh vanity;
And whoſe ſprite with great gifts adornd
did once proceed from thee?
5 Dread things from under waters deep
are form'd, and who there dwell?
6 Deſtruction is not cov'rd, nor hid,
before him is the hell:
7 The North laid ov'r the empty place,
he wiſely doth extend:
He this hudge earth without a prop
on nothing doth ſuſpend.
8 The waters in his thickeſt clouds
he bindes incontinent;
And yet the cloud which ſeemes ſo weak
them under is not rent.
9 By his great ſtrength he holdeth back
the fair face of his throne,
And upon it moſt wondrouſly
he ſpreads his cloud anone,
10 He compaſſ'd hath the waters great,
with bounds them to defend,
Untill that both the day and night
ſhall come unto an end.
11 The mountaines high which (pillar like)
uphold the heavenly roofe,
Do tremble, and aſtoniſh'd are
at his angry reproofe.
12 Ev'n with his power moſt excellent
he doth divide the ſea,
By underſtanding through the proud
he ſmitteth valiantly.
13 By his Almighty Spirit he hath
the heav'ns adorn'd alſo,
His hand the ſerpent formed hath,
which crookedly doth goe.
14 Loe theſe are but ſome parcells of
his wayes that are ſupreme,
But little is that portion all
that we doe heare of him.
But who among all mortall men
can underſtand the thunders
Of his great might, which doth the earth
fill with moſt fearfull wonders:
Chap. 26.
MOreover yet afflicted Job,
in greevous troubles laid,
Continued as he did before
his parable, and ſaid,
2 As lives the Lord, who taken hath
my judgement clean away,
And th'Almighty who vexed hath
my greev'd ſoul every way.
3 While breath, or GODS Sprite ſhall be in
my noſtrils all the while:
4 My mouth not wickedneſſe ſhall ſpeak,
nor yet deceit or guile.
5 No, GOD forbid that I ſhould you
once minde to juſtifie;
Untill I die I will not quite
mine own integrity.
6 My righteouſneſſe I ſtill hold faſt,
and will not let it go;
My heart ſhall not me while I live
with this reproach alſo.
7 As the moſt wicked on the earth
let th'enemy to me
Be, and theſe that againſt me riſe
as the unrighteous be.
8 For what hope hath the Hypocrite,
though he a wealthy prey
Hath gained by his guile, when GOD
ſhall take his ſoul away?
9 Will GOD in Heaven incline his ear
once for to hear his cry,
When trouble great ſhall fiercely come
upon him by and by.
10 In th'Almighty will he himſelf
with joyfulneſſe delight?
Or will he alwayes call on GOD,
by day or yet by night.
11 I by the mighty hand of GOD
will teach you and reveale;
That which with the Almighty is
I will not now conceale.
12 Behold! and now conſider well,
it ye your ſelves have ſeene:
Why are ye then thus vaine, as they
who ever fools have beene?
13 This is the wickeds portion all
which he from GOD ſhall have,
Oppreſſours ſhall this heritage
from th'Almighty receive.
14 If multipli'd his children be,
it's for the ſword indeed:
His offspring begging ſtill ſhall not
be ſatiſfi'd with bread.
15 Theſe that after remaine of him
ſhall buri'd be in death;
And for diſgrace his widowes ſhall
not weepe for him on earth.
16 Though he make rayment as the clay,
and ſilver heape as duſt,
17 The godly ſhall the ſilver get,
his robes ſhall cloth the juſt.
18 If he build houſes faire, it is
but l…ke the naughtie moth,
He ſhall at laſt conſume his houſe,
as it doth fret the cloth.
His houſe alſo is like a booth,
which keepers ſet up ſoone
And in the turning of an hand
againe is pulled downe
19 The rich man ſhall anone lie downe,
but ſhall not gathred be,
Hee opneth clearely both his eyes,
but after where is he?
20 As waters great ſo terrors doe
take hold on him with might,
A tempeſt great him ſteals away
in darkeneſſe of the night.
21 Th'eaſt winde away him caries ſtill,
as by a fearefull chace,
And he departs; and as a ſtorme
him hurles out of his place.
22 For GOD in his fierce fury ſhall
great weights upon him caſt;
He ſhall not ſpare, moſt faine would he
out of his hand fl…e faſt:
23 Men at him ſhall ſtill clap their hands,
in ſigne of great diſgrace
They all combin'd with great diſdaine
ſhall hiſſe him from his place.
Chap. 28.
SUrely there is a wealthly veine
for ſilver that doth ſhine;
There is alſo a place for gold
where they from droſſe it fine.
2 Iron out of earth with labour great
is taken, and anone
The braſſe into a purer maſſe
is molten out of ſtone.
3 To darkneſſe he wiſe ſets an end,
and well he ſea…cheth out
Perfection all; and makes good uſe
of hid Mines all about
4 He ſo diſpoſeth of the floods
that they flow by and by,
Againe by his almighty power
they become wholly dry.
5 As for the earth, its ſurface doth
yeeld bread for mans deſire,
And under it there mater is
combuſtible for fire.
6 The ſtones thereof are als the place
of Saphires in great ſtore,
Abundantly among the duſt
it hath the golden ore.
7 There is a path unknow'n to fooles,
not ſeene by vultures eye;
8 The lions whelps have not it trode,
the lion paſſ'd not by.
9 His hand upon the rockes he puts,
with ſledge he ſlents them downe,
The ſteepeſt mountaines by the rootes
he als doth overturne.
10 Among the flintie rocks he doth
great rivers ſoone cut out,
His eye ſees every precious thing
in all the land about.
11 The floods (that they not overflow,)
he bindeth with his might,
The thing that is moſt ſecret hid
he bringeth foorth to light.
12 But wh…re ſhall wiſedome now be found?
where is its dwelling place?
13 Its price men knowes not; of the earth
it is not on the face,
14 Its not in me the gulfie depth
doth moſt clearlie confeſſe;
It's not with me als ſith the ſea,
yea neither more nor leſſe.
15 For gold, that is moſt precious,
it can not gotten be,
Nor ſilver for the price thereof
ſhall weighed be ſurelie.
16 It can not ſo be valued well
with gold of Ophir dea…e,
With the moſt precious Onix ſtone,
or with the Saphire cleare.
17 The gold and Chryſtall can not als
with it equall compare:
Th'exchange of it ſhall not be for
fine golden jewels rare.
18 No mention of the corall ſhall,
or yet of pearles be made
For wiſedomes price is farre above
the Rubies glauncing red.
19 No Ethiopian Topaze ſhall
it equall here or there;
The pureſt gold in furnace fin'd
with it may not compare.
20 But whence is then that wiſdome comes,
where's underſtandings place?
21 Since it from all the livings eyes,
and fouls hath hid its face.
22 Death and deſtruction in their ſpeach
do alwayes ſay the ſame:
We only thereof with our ears
have heard the noble fame.
23 GOD by his wiſdome great thereof
doth underſtand the way,
He well doth know the place thereof
where it abides for ay.
24 For he unto the farreſt ends,
of earth looks with his eyes,
What is under the cope of Heaven
He it moſt clearly ſees.
25 He makes the weights for ſtormy windes,
according to his pleaſure,
The waters alſo which run deep
he weigheth all by meaſure.
26 When for the rain by wiſdome great
He made a ſure decree:
And for the Thunders lighning als
a way appointed he.
27 Then did he ſee it, and declare,
and ſo did clear all doubt.
He it prepared wiſely and
it fully ſearched out.
28 And unto man at laſt he ſaid,
Beholds GODS only fear
Is wiſdome, and to ceaſe from ill
is underſtanding dear.
Chap. 29.
MOreover in his mourning Job
to ſpeak made no delay:
In parable he did proceed,
and thus began to ſay.
2 Oh that I were as in dayes paſt,
when GOD preſerved me!
3 When his lamp on mine head did ſhine,
and I did walk ſafely.
4 As I was in the former dayes,
before my youth was ſpent,
When of the LORD the ſecret was
well ſeene upon my tent.
5 When the Almighty by his grace
was yet even ſtill with me;
When all my ch…ldren with great joy
I round about did ſee.
6 When I my ſteps with butter waſh'd,
without labour or toile,
And as the rock (as in a ſhowre)
powr'd out rivers of oile.
7 When I did through the citie go,
and went upon my feet
Out to the gate, when I prepar'd
my ſeate even in the ſtreet.
8 The young men ſaw me excellent,
and under this pretence
Did hide themſelves; the ag'd ſtood up,
to beare me reference,
9 The Princes talking did refraine,
that they might underſtand
My wiſe diſcourſe, and on their mouth
they all did lay their hand.
10 The nobles likewiſe held their peace,
and which was a great proof,
Of my wiſe wordes, the tongues of all
did cleave unto their roof.
11 When that the ear of man me heard
it ſurely me did bleſſe,
And when the eye me ſaw alſo,
it gave to me witneſſe.
12 Becauſe I did deliver theſe
who poore to me did cry,
The Orphans, and him thar had none
to help him by and by,
13 Bleſſings of ſuch as ready were,
to periſh came on me,
And I did cauſe the widowes heart
to ſing moſt joyfully,
14 I righteouſneſſe anone put on,
which (as a glorious gowne)
Me cloth'd; my judgement was a rob,
and a moſt ſtately crowne.
16 I as the moſt cleare ſeeing eyes
unto the blind became,
And als in humane charitie
I feete was to the lame;
16 I was a father to the poore,
in all the land about
The cauſe which I not underſtood
with care I ſearched out.
17 The jawes of wicked men I brake,
and gave them all the foile,
And with a mighty arme did pluck
out of their teeth the ſpoile.
18 Then in my fond conceite I ſaid,
I ſhall die in my neſt,
My dayes as ſand I'le multiply,
and after goe to reſt.
19 Out by the waters blooming faire
my root was ſpread anone,
And all the night the pleaſant dew
lay ſtill my branch upon.
20 My glory was ſtill freſh in me,
as all did underſtand;
And als the bow of my great ſtrength.
renu'd was in my hand.
21 Unto me men moſt wiſe gave eare,
to heare what I would tell,
They waited well, and ſilence keept,
when I did give counſell.
22 After that they had heard my words
they ſpake no more againe,
My ſpeach upon them dropped all,
as doth a pleaſant raine.
23 As for the raine that fruitfull is,
they for me did abide;
As for the latter raine their mouth
they op'ned very wide.
24 If I did laugh on them, then they
beleev'd it not at all;
They were afraid to cauſe the light
of my viſage to fall,
25 I ſat as cheefe, I chooſe their way
moſt meekly without boaſt;
I dwelt even as a King, that is
amid an armed hoaſt.
And as a wiſe man that in time
his comforts ſweet powres out,
Amide th…ſe who for greef of minde
are mourning him about.
Chap. 30.
BUt now theſe young ones me deride,
whoſe ragged fathers I
Would have diſdain'd even with the dogs,
of my flock to ſet by.
2 Yea of their hands whereto the ſtrength
could ever profite me
In whom old age all periſh'd was
as all might clearly ſee?
3 For want and famine deſolate
they were; they did flee faſt
To wil ferneſſe in former times,
moſt barran all and waſte.
4 Who mallowes hungry do cut up,
by buſhes heer and there,
And have no other thing for meat
but roots of Juniper.
5 From among men they were driven foorth
as men given to miſchief;
They cry'd aloud all after them,
even as after a thief.
6 To dwell in the unpleaſant clifts
of valleyes like vile ſlaves;
And in the ſhelters of the rocks,
or ſhadows of the caves.
7 Among the buſhes lying they
in miſery did bray:
They under nettles gathred were
together every day.
8 They of vain fools the children were,
yea, of men of no name
Moſt baſe, then earth they viler were,
to owne them men thought ſhame.
9 And now their ſong am I become,
and by-word of diſgrace,
10 They me abhor, they flee from me,
and ſpit even in my face.
11 Becauſe that he hath looſde my cord,
and me afflicted ſore;
They have the bridle now let looſe,
not ſparing me before.
12 Upon my right hand riſe the youth,
my feet they puſh away
The wayes of their deſtruction great
they 'gainſt me raiſe alway.
13 Moſt bitterly they marre my path,
they moſt backward indeed
Set foreward my calamitie,
of help they have no need.
14 As a breaking of waters wide
they all come upon me;
They in the deſolation great
did roll themſelves fiercely.
15 Upon me terrours turned are,
my ſoul pu…ſue do they
Even as the winde; my welfare als
as clouds doth paſſe away.
16 And now my Soul is powred out
with terrours manifold;
The dayes of great affl…ction now
on me have taken hold:
17 In the night Seaſon are my bones
all pierc'd in me and preſt,
My ſinewes all are ſhrunk with paines,
that they can get no reſt.
18 By the great force of my diſeaſe
my garment which is hote
Is changd, about it binds me as
the collar of my coat.
19 He hath by a great violence
me in a deep myre thruſt,
And I diſtreſſed am become
like aſhes and like duſt.
20 I cry to thee, but thou doſt not
me hear in grief enſnaird,
When I ſtand up to look for help
thou doſt me not regard.
21 Now thou art cruell alſo turnd
unto me in the land,
Thy ſelf gainſt me thou doſt oppoſe
with ſtrong and mighty hand.
22 Up to the winde thou lifts me up,
and on it makes me ride:
Thou ſo diſſolves my ſubſtance all,
that nothing doth abide▪
23 For I do this moſt clearly know,
that thou, LORD, me wilt bring
To death, yea to the houſes that
ſet for the living be.
24 Howbeit his hand unto the grave
Hee'l not ſtretch by and by▪
Though they in his deſtruction great
continually ſhould cry.
25 For him that in great trouble was
did I not weep right ſore?
Was not my ſoul in miſery
much grieved for the poor.
26 When I good things did well expect
diſtreſſe came me upon;
And when I waited for the light
there darkneſſe came anone.
27 My bowels boiled with great paine,
they reſted not ſurely;
The dayes of great affliction als
moſt ſwift prevented me.
28 I griev'd without the light of Sun
went mourning by and by,
And in the congregation great
with anguiſh I did cry.
29 A brother I to dragons am,
with owles I do abide,
30 My bones are burnt with ſcorching heat,
black is my withred hide.
31 To mourning alſo turned is
my harp that was moſt ſweet;
My organ turn'd is in the voice
of them that ſadly weep.