|
[1] Iob aunswered, and sayde
[2] I knowe it is so of a trueth: For how may a man [compared] vnto God be iustified
[3] If he wil argue with hym, he can not aunswere hym one thing of a thousande
[4] He is wyse in heart and mightie in strength: who hath ben fearce against hym, and hath prospered
[5] He translateth the mountaynes, or euer they be aware it is he that ouerthroweth them in his wrath
[6] He remoueth the earth out of her place, that the pillers therof shake withall
[7] He commaundeth the sunne, and it ryseth not: he closeth vp the starres as vnder a signet
[8] He hym selfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and goeth vpon the waues of the sea
[9] He maketh the Waynes of heauen, the Orion, the seuen starres, and the secret places of the south
[10] He doth great thinges & vnsearcheable, yea and wonders without number
[11] Lo, when he goeth by me, I shal not see hym, and when he passeth, I shall not perceaue hym
[12] If he be hastie to take away, who wil make him restore it? or who will say vnto hym, what doest thou
[13] God will not withdraw his anger, and the most mightie helpes do stowpe vnder hym
[14] Howe much lesse shall I aunswere him? or howe shoulde I finde out my wordes with him
[15] For though I were righteous, yet might I not geue him one word againe, but mekely submit my selfe to hym as my iudge
[16] If I had called vpon hym, and he had aunswered me, yet woulde I not beleue that he hearde my voyce
[17] He troubleth me so with the tempest, and woundeth me out of measure without a cause
[18] He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse
[19] If [men will speake] of strength, lo he is strong: if [men will speake] of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade
[20] If I will iustifie my selfe, myne owne mouth shall condempne me: if I will [put foorth my selfe for] a perfect man, he shall proue me a wicked doer
[21] For though I be an innocent and my conscience cleare, yet am I weery of my lyfe
[22] This is one poynt, and therefore I sayd, He destroyeth both the perfect and vngodly
[23] And though he slay sodaynly with the scourge, yet will he laugh at the punishment of the innocent
[24] As for the worlde it is geuen ouer into the hande of the wicked, and he shall couer the faces of the iudges therof: if not, where is he, or who is he [that can shewe the contrarie?
[25] My dayes are more swyft then a runner, they are gone & haue seene no good thing
[26] They are passed away as the shippes that be good vnder sayle, & as the eagle that fleeth to the pray
[27] If I say, I will forget my complayning, I will ceasse from my wrath, and comfort my selfe
[28] Then am I afrayde of all my sorowes, for I knowe that thou wilt not iudge me innocent
[29] If I be wicked, why then labour I in vayne
[30] If I washe my selfe with snowe water, and make myne handes neuer so cleane at the well
[31] Yet shalt thou dippe me in the myre, and mine owne clothes shal defile me
[32] For he that I must geue aunswere vnto, and with whom I go to the lawe, is not a man as I am
[33] Neither is there any dayesman to lay his hande betweene vs
[34] Let hym take his rodde away from me, yea let hym make me no more afrayde of him
[35] And then shall I aunswere hym without any feare: but because I am not so, I holde me still
|