The Garden of Zion, Part 11 · Biblical figure · Chapter 31 – Chapter 33
Chap. 31.
A Covenant ſure then with mine eyes
moſt carefully I made
Why in great foly thus ſhould I
even thinke upon a maid?
2 For what portion of GOD is there
appointed from above?
Or alſ' inheritance is there
from the Almighties love?
3 Is not deſtruction ordain'd to
theſe that do wickedly?
Strange puniſhment is als for theſe
that work iniquitie.
4 Doth he not with his cleareſt eyes
perfectly ſee my wayes?
He als with obſervation ſtrict
my ſteps counts all my dayes:
5 If in my fooliſhneſſe I have
ev'n walk'd in vanitie,
Or if unto deceit my foot
hath haſted wickedly.
6 Then let me in an ballance even
be weighed narrowly,
That the Almighty God may well
know mine integritie.
7 If my ſtep turn'd hath from the way,
and my heart did believe
Mine eyes, and if unto my hand
the leaſt blot once did cleave;
8 Then let me ſow my precious ſeed
in all my fields about,
And let another eat; yea, let
my race be rooted out.
9 If that my heart by women hath
(as by a ſnairing baite)
Deceived been; or if I at
my neighbours door laid waite;
10 Then let my wife by recompence
unto another grinde,
Let others als on her bow downe
even in my ſins own kinde.
11 For this is a moſt hainous crime,
a great iniquitie
Which righteous judges ſhould correct
with great ſeveritie.
12 For it a fire conſuming is
to waſt ev'n round about
All mine increaſe which I enjoy
it would anone root out.
13 If I als did deſpiſe the cauſe
of manſervant, or maide,
When they in any humour hote
with me contention made.
14 What ſhall I do when that the LORD
againſt me up ſhall riſe,
And when he viſits what ſhall I
to anſwer enterpriſe?
15 Did not he that made me, him make,
as all may underſtand,
And did not one within the womb
us faſhion with his hand?
16 If I by rigour have the poor
withheld from their deſire,
Or of the widow poor the eyes
have cauſde to faile or tyre;
17 Or if my morſell mine alone
I eaten have apart,
So that the fatherleſſe thereof
not eaten have a part.
18 For from my youth the fatherleſſe
was well brought up with me,
The widow from my mothers womb
I guided carefully.
19 If I for want of clothing warm
have any periſh ſeene,
Or any poor diſtreſt, that had
without a covering beene:
20 If his loins have not bleſſed me
to keep me from all harm,
If by the ſoft fleece of my ſheep
he was not then made warm:
21 If I againſt the fatherleſſe
have once lift up my hand,
When I my help even in the gate
did ſee and underſtand,
22 Then rotting from my ſhoulder-blade
let fall mine arme anone:
Yea more I ſay, even let mine arme
be broken from the bone:
23 For from GOD the deſtruction great
a terrour was moſt ſure,
By reaſon of his highneſſe great
I could it not indure.
24 If I have made the gold my hope
in any exigence,
Or have ſaid to the fineſt gold
Thou art my confidence:
25 If I rejoic'd, becauſe my wealth
was great as ſuch and ſuch,
Or yet becauſe at any tyme
mine hand had gotten much,
26 If I beheld the ſhinning Sunne
to worſhip with his light,
Or yet the Moone, fair in the sky,
with glory walking bright,
27 Or that my heart entiſed hath
been ſecretly thereby,
Or that my mouth hath kiſſd mine hand
on ſuch for to rely.
28 This als were an iniquitie,
which Judges ſhould remove;
For I thus ſhould denied have
the God that is above.
29 If I at the deſtruction great
of him that hated me
Rejoic'd, or yet lift up my ſelf
at his great miſerie:
30 Or have I ſuffred once my mouth
with libertie to ſinne
By wiſhing fearefull plagues and curſe
unto his ſoul within.
31 If the men of my tabernacle
yea ſaid, Not oh that we
Had of his fleſh! Such are his wrongs
he can not ſatisfie.
32 The ſtranger ſurely did not lodge
in open ſtreet alway;
My doores I opned unto theſe
that travail'd by the way.
33 If I my great tranſgreſſions als
did cover craftily,
As Adam, and did cloſely cloak
my vile iniquity:
34 Did fear of many or contempt
of men me terifie,
That I keept ſilence and not went
out at my doores ſtraitly?
35 O that one among mortall men
could happily be found
Who would me heare, and of my words
conſider well the ground.
That the Lord God would anſwere me,
this is my cheefe deſire,
And that my foe would wickedly
to write a booke conſpire.
26 I it upon my ſhoulder would
moſt gladely take and beare;
And as a crowne upon mine head
I dayly would it weare.
37 Of all my ſteps the number I
would unto him declare,
I as a Prince would goe to him
and all my wrongs repaire.
38 But if my land for my miſdeeds
againſt me cry amaine,
Or that the furrowes als indeed
likewiſe thereof complaine.
39 If I once of the fruits thereof,
without money made uſe,
Or yet have cauſed wickedly
their life the owners loſſe.
40 Let pricking thiſtles grow in ſtead
of moſt excellent wheat,
And cockle even moſt noiſome weeds
for barley be my meat▪
Heere Job did pauſe.
Chap. 32.
SO theſe three men to anſwere Job
incontinent did ceaſe,
Becauſe they hopeleſſe ſaw that he
was righteous in his eyes.
2 Then of the wrath of Elihu
ſore kindled was the flame,
This Buzite ſon of Barachel
was of the race of Ram;
Againſt poor Job he was in rage,
becauſe his words implyd
That he himſelf more then the LORD
even alwayes juſtifyd.
3 Againſt his three friends kindled was
his wrath, becauſe they had
No anſwere found to him, and yet
they had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waited long,
In his great modeſtie
Till Job had ſpoken, becauſe they
were elder all then he.
5 When Elihu ſaw that theſe three,
to anſwere Job ſurceaſt,
His wrath then with a burning zeal
was kindled in his breaſt;
6 Then anſwred he, and ſaid I am
right young, and ye are old,
Wherefore to ſhew to you my mind
I durſt not well be bold;
7 I ſaid within my heart that dayes
were fit to take the ſpeach,
And that the multitude of yeares
ſhould ſurely wiſedome teach.
In man indeed a ſprit there is,
but that he things can ſift
With underſtanding good, it is
of GOD a ſpeciall gift.
9 They ſurely are not alwayes wiſe
who are great in the land,
Nor yet doe theſe that are of age
good judgement underſtand:
10 Therefore I at the laſt did ſay,
Now hearken unto me;
I alſo mine opinion will
unto you ſhew freely.
11 Behold I for your words did wait,
I gave good ear alway,
While by your wiſdome yee profound
did ſearch out what to ſay:
12 Yea, unto you I did attend
even as unto a Prince;
But none of you could anſwer Job,
or yet his words convince.
13 Leſt yee ſhould ſay, We have now found
great wiſdome as a crown,
GOD by his ſtrong and mighty arme,
and not man thruſts him down.
14 Now he hath not his hauty words
directed againſt me:
Nor yet mine anſwer unto him
ſhall with your ſpeaches be.
15 They altogether were amaz'd,
they anſwerd me no more;
They being all thus in the dumps
left off to ſpeak therefore.
16 When I had waited long with grief,
(for they all could not ſpeak,
But ſtood ſtill, they like naughty fools
their anſwer had to ſeek)
17 I ſaid unto them, At the laſt
I anſwer will my part,
I alſo mine opinion all
unto you will impart.
18 For I am full of matter wiſe,
as clearly yee ſhall ſee;
The ſprite that lodgeth me within
it now conſtraineth me
19 Behold as wine my belly is,
which can not get a vent;
Like bottels new it ready is
to be in pieces rent.
20 I will now ſpeak, ſo that I may
thereby refreſhed be:
My lips anone I open will,
and anſwer ſpeedily.
21 I humbly pray you let me not
mens perſons now accept,
Nor let me flattring give to men
the titles of reſpect.
32 For flattring titles ſurely I
unto men can not give:
If I did ſo, my maker would
me not permit to live.
Chap. 33.
VVHerefore I pray thee Job now heare
me with attentive head,
And hearken well unto the words
that from my mouth proceed.
2 Behold, I ſurely now my mouth
have opned at the laſt,
In my mouth ſpoken hath my tongue,
and told how things are paſt.
3 Of my hearts perfect uprightneſſe
my words ſhall ſurely be,
And als my lips great knowledge ſhall
even utter moſt clearly.
4 The ſprite of God who makes all things
by his ſtrength made me hath,
And the Almighty hath to me
given life even by his breath.
5 If thou by thy great wiſedome canſt
me anſwere leſſe or more,
Stand up now, and well ſet thy words
in order me before.
6 I am according to thy wiſh,
even in Gods ſtead the day
I alſo am as others are
form'd of the duſt and clay.
7 So for my terrour thou needſt not
greatly affrighted be,
My hand be well aſſur'd ſhall not
upon thee heavy be.
8 Thou in my hearing ſpoken haſt,
which I have heard clearly,
9 I am without tranſgreſſion all,
no ſin there is in me.
10 He doth againſt me quarrels pick,
he counts me for his fo;
11 He in the ſtocks doth put my feet,
he marks my paths alſo.
12 Behold in this thou juſt not art,
to thee now well I can
Make anſwer; this I may affirm,
GOD greater is than man.
13 Why doſt thou this moſt fooliſhly
againſt him contend and ſtrive:
For of his matters he a count
will not to any give.
14 For God ſpeakes once, yea twiſe, yet man
perceives not what is ſaid,
15 In dreame, or viſion, or deep ſleep,
or ſlumbrings on the bed.
Then opneth he the ears of men,
and doth inſtruction ſeale,
17 That he may ſtop men from his worke,
and pride from man conceale.
18 His ſoule and life he from the pit,
and ſword doth ſafe maintaine,
19 He chaſtned is upon his bed,
his bones all ſuffer paine.
20 So that his life through troubles great
abhors his bread to eat,
His ſoul alſo doth ſtill refuſe
to take moſt dainty meat.
21 His fleſh conſumed is away,
that it cannot be ſeene,
His bones that were all hid, ſtick out
his body is ſo leane.
22 In this meane time his troubled ſoul
drawes neer unto the grave,
And his life likewiſe unto theſe
that ſtill deſtruction crave.
23 If with him be a meſſenger
on choiſe of a thouſand,
To ſhew to man his uprightneſſe
and make him underſtand.
24 Then he is gracious unto him,
and ſaith anone him ſave,
From going to the pit, for I
a ranſome now found have.
25 Then than a childes fleſh certainly
ſhall freſher be his fleſh,
Unto the dayes of luſtie youth
he ſhall returne afreſh.
26 He ſhall then pray, and GOD to him
ſhall favour ſhew, and he
Shall ſee his face with joy; to man
hee'l render righteouſlie.
27 He lookes on men, If any ſay
I have ſinn'd grievouſly,
And als the right perverted have,
but did no profit ſee.
28 He from the pit his ſoul will ſave,
his life ſhall ſee the light,
29 Lo all theſe things the Lord with man
workes often by his might.
30 To bring back from the pit his ſoule
for to enlightned be,
31 Marke well O Job, heare, hold thy peace,
and I will ſpeake to thee.
32 If thou canſt ſpeak me anſwere, for
I would thee juſtifie
33 If not, me hear, and hold thy peace,
and I will now teach thee,