Chap. I. II. The prosperite of Iob, and how
God geueth Satan power ouer his body &abar;d
goodes, which he is content withall
Chap. III. The flesh can not suffre: and here
is described the vnpacient man, that grudgeth
agaynst the iudgment of God.
Chap. IIII. Iobs frendes comforte him, and
geue his synnes the blame of his punyshm&ebar;t.
Chap. V. That no man is without synne.
A prayse off the allmightynesse and louynge
kyndnesse of God.
Chap. VI. Iob excuseth his owne vnpacience,
layeth ypocrysie to his fr&ebar;des charge, &abar;d
sayeth they are but dyssemblers.
Chap. VII. A frendly contencion that Iob
maketh with God, shewinge the myserable
life and trauayle of man.
Chap. VIII. Baldad reproueth Iob. The nature
of ypocrytes.
Chap. IX. All men are synners in the sight
of God, and rightuousnesse commeth only of
him. He punysheth also whom he will.
Chap. X. No man is without synne, nether
maye eny man escape the honde of God
Chap. XI. Sophar reproueth Iob of synne:
and for so moch as no man maye withstonde
God, he byddeth him be paci&ebar;t.
Chap. XII. All thinges come off the mightie
ordinaunce of God. The wicked haue better
dayes then the godly.
Chap XIII. Iob speaketh as he thinketh, reproueth
the ypocrysy of his frendes, and c&obar;mendeth
the wisdome of God.
Chap. XIIII. The miserable life off man.
Chap. XV. XVI. No man is innoc&ebar;t before God.
The conuersacion of the vngodly.
Chap. XVII. Iob declareth his mysery.
Chap. XVIII. Baldad reproueth Iob as vngodly,
and sheweth the punyshment off the wicked.
Chap. XIX. Iob sheweth his miserable estate,
and reproueth his frendes, in that they
increace his payne.
Chap. XX. Punysment off the proude, vngodly
and ypocrytes.
Chap. XXI. Wicked men haue prosperite in
this worlde. God punysheth acordinge to his
owne will.
Chap. XXII. They tell Iob, that is punyshment
commeth for his synnes.
Chap. XXIII. XXIIII. Iob defendeth his innoc&ebar;cy
Chap. XXV. No m&abar; is innoc&ebar;t before God.
Chap. XXVI. Iob mocketh his fr&ebar;des, because
they go aboute to proue the thynge, that
he denieth not. The power of God.
Chap. XXVII. God punysheth vs not acordinge
to oure merites, but is mercifull and spareth
euen the vngodly Agayne, he chasteneth the
most righteous (as Iob was) with aduersite.
Chap. XXVIII. The wisdome &abar;d foreknowlege
of God.
Chap. XXIX. The prosperite that Iob was in afore.
His innocency and good dedes.
Chap. XXX. He complayneth of his mysery:
how the ignoraunt and symple people laugh
him to scorne.
Chap. XXXI. He rehearseth his innoc&ebar;t life.
Chap. XXXII. Iobs frendes are angrie, and
forsake him.
Chap. XXXIII. God punysheth for synne, yet
heareth he a meke prayer.
Chap. XXXIIII. Iob withst&obar;deth the wordes of
them, which saye, that the wicked only are punyshed.
Chap. XXXV. Iob is reproued, for holdinge
himself rightuous.
Chap. XXXVI. An argument, that God punisheth
no man, excepte he haue deserued it.
Chap. XXXVII. The power of God is here descrybed.
Iob is reproued.
Chap. XXXVIII. XXXIX. XL. XLI. The foreknowlege
and wisdome of God.
Chap. XLII. Iobs frendes are reproued,
and he himself is restored to his prosperite agayne.
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The first Chapter.
A note In the l&obar;de of Hus there was
a man called Iob: an innocent
and vertuous man, soch one as
feared God, and eschued euell.
This man had vij. sonnes, and
iij. doughters. note His substaunce was vij. M.
shepe, iij.M. camels, v.C. yock of oxen, v.C.
she asses, and a very greate housholde: so þt;
he was one of the most principall men am&obar;ge
all them of the east countre. His sonnes
now wente on euery man, and made banckettes:
one daye in one house, another daye in another,
and sent for their iij. sisters, to eate ∧
drinke with them. So when they had passed
ouer the tyme of their banckettinge rounde
aboute, Iob sent for them, and clensed them
agayne, stode vp early, and offred for euery
one a br&ebar;tofferinge. For Iob thought thus:
peraduenture my sonnes haue done some offence,
and haue bene vnthankfull to God in
their hertes. And thus dyd Iob euery daye.
-- --
note
B Now vpon a tyme, when the seruauntes
of God came and stode before the LORDE,
Sathan came also amonge them. And the
LORDE sayde vnto Sathan: From whence
commest thou? Sathan answered the LORDE,
and sayde: I haue gone aboute the l&obar;de,
and walked thorow it. note
Then sayde the LORDE vnto Sath&abar;: hast
thou not considered my seruaunt Iob, how
that he is an innoc&ebar;t and vertuous m&abar;: soch
one as feareth God, and eschueth euell, and
that there is none like him in the londe? Sathan
answered, and sayde vnto the LORDE:
Doth Iob feare God for naught? hast thou
not preserued him, his house, and all his substaunce
on euery syde? hast thou not blessed
the workes of his hondes? Is not his possession
encreaced in the londe? But laye thyne
honde vp&obar; him a litle, touch once all that he
hath, and (I holde) he shall curse the to thy
face. And the LORDE sayde vnto Sathan: lo
all that he hath, be in thy power: only vpon
himself se that thou laye not thine honde.
Then wente Sathan forth from the LORDE.
C Now vpon a certayne daye when his sonnes
and doughters were eatinge, and drynkinge
wyne in their eldest brothers house, there
came a messaunger vnto Iob, and sayde:
Whyle the oxen were a plowinge, and the
Asses goinge in the pasture besyde them: the
Sabees came in viol&ebar;tly, and toke them all
awaye: yee they haue slayne the seruauntes
with the swearde, and I only ranne my waye,
to tell the.
And whyle he was yet speakynge, there
came another, and sayde: The fyre of God is
fallen from heauen, it hath consumed ∧ br&ebar;t
vp all the shepe and seruauntes: and I only
ranne my waye, to tell the. In the meane season
whyle he was yet speakinge, there came
another, and sayde: The Caldees made thre
armies, and fell in vpon the camels, which
they haue caried awaye, yee and slayne the
seruauntes with the swearde: and I only am
gott&ebar; awaye, to tell the.
D Whyle he was speakinge,
there came yet another, &abar;d sayde: Thy
sonnes and doughters were eatinge &abar;d drynkinge
wyne in their eldest brothers house, &abar;d
sodenly there came a mightie greate wynde
out off the South, and smote the iiij. corners
of the house: which fell vpon thy children,
so that they are deed: and I am gotten
awaye alone, to tell the.
Then Iob stode vp, and rente his clothes
shaued his heade, fell downe vpon the gro&ubar;de,
worshipped, and sayde: note Naked came I
out of my mothers wombe, and naked shall
I turne thither agayne. note The LORDE gaue,
and the LORDE hath taken awaye (the LORDE
hath done his pleasure) now blessed be þe;
name off the LORDE. note In all these thinges
dyd Iob not offende, ner murmured foolishly
agaynst God.
The II. Chapter.
A note It happened also apon a tyme, that
when the seruauntes of God came ∧
stode before the LORDE, Sathan came
also amonge them, and stode before him.
And the LORDE sayde vnto Sathan:
From whence commest thou? Sathan answered
and sayde: I haue gone aboute the l&obar;de,
and walked thorow it. note
Then sayde the LORDE vnto Sathan:
Hast thou not considered my seruaunt Iob,
how that he is an innocent ∧ vertuous man
soch one as feareth God, and eschueth euell,
and that there is none like him in the londe?
But thou mouedest me agaynst him, to punysh
him: yet is it in vayne, for he contynueth
still in his godlynesse.
Sathan answered the LORDE, and sayde:
Skynne for skynne? yee a man will geue all þt;
euer he hath, for his life. But laye thine honde
vpon him, touch him once vpon the bone
and flesh, and (I holde) he shall curse the to
thy face. Then sayde the LORDE vnto Sath&abar;:
lo, there hast thou him in thy power, but
spare his life.
B So wente Sathan forth from the LORDE,
and smote Iob with maruelous sore byles,
from the sole off the fote vnto his crowne:
so that he sat vpon the grounde in the asshes,
and scraped of the etter off his sores
with a potsherde.
note Then sayde his wife vnto him: Dost thou
yet c&obar;tynue in thy perfectnesse? curse God, ∧
dye. But Iob sayde vnto her: Thou speakest
like a foolish wom&abar;. Seinge we haue receaued
prosperite at the honde of God, wherfore
shulde we not be content with aduersite also?
In all these thinges, dyd not Iob synne
with his lippes. note
C Now when Iobs frendes herde of all þe;
trouble, that happened vnto him, there came
thre off them, euery one from his owne
place: namely, Eliphas the Themanite,
Baldad the Suhite, and Sophar the Naamathite.
For they were agreed together to come,
to shewe their compassion vpon him, and to
comforte him. So when they lifte vp their
eyes a farre off, they knewe him not.
-- --
Then they cried, and wepte: then euery
one off them rente his clothes, and sprynckled
dust vpon their heades in the ayre. They
sat them downe by him also vpon the grounde,
vij. dayes and vij. nightes. Nether was
there eny of them that spake one worde vnto
him, for they sawe that his payne was very
greate.
The III. Chapter.
A note After this opened Iob his mouth, and
cursed his daye, and sayde: lost be that
daye, wherin I was borne: and the
night, in the which it was sayde: there is a
manchilde conceaued. The same daye be turned
to darcknesse, and not regarded of God
from aboue, nether be shyned vp&obar; &wt; light:
but be couered with darcknesse, and the shadowe
of death. Let the dymme cloude fall
vpon it, and let it be lapped in with sorowe.
Let the darckstorme ouercome þe; night,
let it not be reckened amonge the dayes off
the yeare, ner counted in the monethes. Despysed
be that night, and discommended: let
them that curse the daye, geue it their curse
also, euen those that be ready to rayse vp Leuiathan.
Let the starres be dymme thorow
darcknesse of it. Let it loke for light, but let it
se none, nether the rysynge vp of the fayre
mornynge: because it shut not vp the wombe
that bare me, ner hyd these sorowes fro
myne eyes.
B note Alas, why dyed I not in þe; byrth? Why
dyd not I perysh, as soone as I came out of
my mothers w&obar;be? Why set they me vp&obar; þe;ir
knees? Why gaue they me suck with their
brestes? Then shulde I now haue lyen still,
I shulde haue slepte, and bene at rest: like as
the kynges &abar;d lordes of þe; earth, which buylde
them selues speciall places: As the prynces
that haue greate substaunce of golde, ∧
their houses full of syluer. O that I vtterly
had no beynge, or were as a th&ibar;ge borne out
of tyme (that is put asyde) ether as yonge
children, which neuer sawe the light.
C There
must the wicked ceasse from their tyranny,
there soch as are ouerlaboured, be at rest: there
are those letten out fre, which haue bene
in preson, so that they heare nomore the voyce
of the oppressoure: There are small and
greate: the bonde man, and he that is fre fr&obar;
his master.
Wherfore is the light geuen, to him that
is in mysery? and life vnto them, that haue
heuy hertes? (Which longe for death, and
it commeth not: for yf they might fynde their
graue, they wolde be maruelous glad, as
those that dygge vp treasure) To the man
whose waye is hyd, which God kepeth backe
from him.
This is the cause, that I syghe before I
eate, and my roaringes fall out like a water
floude. For the thynge that I feared, is come
vpon me: and the thynge that I was afrayed
of, is happened vnto me. Was I not
happy? Had I not quyetnesse? Was I not
in rest? And now commeth soch mysery vpon
me.
The IIII. Chapter.
A Then answered Eliphas of Theman
and sayde vnto him: Yf we begynne
to comon with the, peradu&ebar;ture thou
wilt be myscontent, but who can witholde
himself from speakynge? Beholde, thou hast
bene a teacher of many, and hast comforted
the weery hondes.
Thy wordes haue set vp those that were
fallen, thou hast refresshed the weake knees.
But now that the plage is come vpon the,
thou shr&ebar;ckest awaye: now that it hath touched
thyself, thou art faint harted. note Where is
now thy feare of God, thy stedfastnesse, thy
pacience, and the perfectnesse of thy life?
Considre (I praye the) who euer peryshed, beynge
an innocent? Or, when were the godly
destroyed? As for those that plowe wickednesse
(as I haue sene myself) and sowe myschefe,
they reape þe; same. note For wh&ebar; God bloweth
vpon them, they perysh, and are destroyed
thorow the blast of his wrath. The roaringe
of the lyon, the cryenge off the lyonesse, ∧ þe;
teth off þe; ly&obar;s whelpes are brok&ebar;. The greate
lyon perysheth, because he c&abar; get no pray
and the lyons whelpes are scatred abrode.
B note There is spoken vnto me a thynge in councell,
which hath geuen a terrible sounde in
myne eare, with a vision in the night, when
men are fallen a slepe. Soch feare and drede
came vp&obar; me, that all my bones shoke. And
when the wynde passed ouer by me, the hayres
of my flesh stode vp.
Then stode there one before me, whose face
I knewe not: an ymage there was, and the
wether was still, so that I herde this voyce:
Maye a man be iustified before God? Maye
there eny man be iudged to be clene, by reason
of his owne workes? note Beholde, he hath
founde vnfaythfulnesse amonge his owne
seruauntes, and proude disobedience amonge
his angels.
How moch more th&ebar; shal they (that dwell
-- --
in houses of claye, whose foundacion is but
earth) be moth eaten? They shalbe destroyed
from the mornynge vnto the euenynge:
yee they shall perish, or euer they be awarre:
and be taken awaye so clene, that none of th&ebar;
shall remayne, but be deed, or euer they be awarre
off it.
The V. Chapter.
A Name me one els, yf thou canst fynde
eny: yee loke aboute the, vpon eny of
the holy men. As for the foolish man
displeasure kylleth him, and anger slayeth þe;
ignoraunt. I haue sene my self, when the foolish
was depe roted, note that his bewty was sod&ebar;ly
destroyed: that his children were without
prosperite or health: that they were slayne
in the dore, and no m&abar; to delyuer them: that
his haruest was eaten vp off the hungrie: note
that the weapened man had spoyled it, and
that the thurstie had droncke vp his riches.
It is not the earth that bryngeth forth trauayle,
nether commeth sorow out of þe; gro&ubar;de:
but it is man, that is borne vnto mysery, like
as the byrde for to fle.
B But now will I speake off the LORDE,
and talke of God: which doth thinges, that
are vnsearcheable, and marueles without n&obar;bre:
note Which geueth rayne vp&obar; the earth, and
poureth water vpon all thinges: which setteth
vp them of lowe degre, and sendeth prosperite,
to those that are in heuynesse: Which
destroyeth the deuyces of the sotyll, so that
they are not able to perfourme the thynges
that they take in h&obar;de: note which compaseth þe;
wyse in their owne craftynesse, and ouertroweth
the councell of the wicked: In so moch
that they runne in to darcknesse by fayre daye,
note and grope aboute them at the noone daye,
like as in the night.
note And so he delyuereth the poore from the
swearde, from their mouth, and from the h&obar;de
of the cruell: that the poore maye haue hope,
∧ that the mouth of the oppressoure maye
be stopped.
C note Beholde, happie is the man, whom God
punysheth: therfore, despyse not thou þe; chastenynge
of the Allmighty. For though he
make a wounde, he geueth a medicyne agayne:
though he smyte, his honde maketh whole
agayne.
He delyuereth the out of sixe troubles, so
that in the seuenth there can no harme touch
the. In the myddest of honger he saueth þe;
from death: and when it is warre, from the
power of the swearde.
He shall kepe the from the perlous tonge
so that when trouble commeth, thou shalt
not nede to feare. note In destruccion and derth
thou shalt be mery, and shalt not be afrayed
for the beastes of the earth: But the castels
in the londe shal be confederate with the, ∧
the beastes of the felde shall geue the peace:
Yee thou shalt se, that thy dwellynge place
shalbe in rest: thou shalt beholde thy substaunce,
and be nomore punyshed for synne.
Thou shalt se also, that thy sede shall encreace,
and that thy posterite shalbe as the grasse
vpon the earth. Thou shalt come to thy
graue in a fayre age, like as þe; corne sheeues
are brought in to the barne in due season.
Lo, this is the matter, as we oure selues haue
proued by experience. Therfore now that
thou hearest it, take better hede to thy selff.
The VI. Chapter.
A Iob answered, and sayde: O that my
misery weere weyed, and my punyshment
layed in the balaunces: for then
shulde it be heuyer, then the sonde of the see.
This is the cause, that my wordes are so soroufull.
For the allmighty hath shott at me with
his arowes, whose indignacion hath droncke
vp my sprete, and þe; terrible feares of God
fight agaysnt me. Doth the wilde asse roare
when he hath grasse? note Or crieth the oxe, wh&ebar;
he hath fodder ynough? Maye a thynge be
eaten vnseasoned, or without salt? What
taist hath þe; whyte within the yoke an egg?04Q0001
The thinges that sometyme I might not awaye
withall, are now my meate for very sorow.
O that I might haue my desyre: O þt;
God wolde graunte me the thynge, that I
longe for: That he wolde begynne and smyte
me: that he wolde let his honde go, ∧ hew
me downe. Th&ebar; shulde I haue some c&obar;forte:
yee I wolde desyre him in my payne, that he
shulde not spare, for I will not be agaynst þe;
wordes of the holy one.
B What power haue I to endure? Or? what
is myne ende, that my soule might be paci&ebar;t?
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or,
is my flesh made of brasse? Am I able to helpe
my self? Is not my strength gone fro me,
like as yf one withdrewe a good dede from
his frende, and forsoke the feare of God? Myne
owne brethren passe ouer by me as the waterbroke,
that hastely runneth thorow þe; valleys.
But they that feare the horefrost, the
snowe shal fall vpon them. note
-- --
When their tyme c&obar;meth, they shalbe destroyed
and perishe: and when they be set on
fyre, they shalbe remoued out of their place,
for the pathes þt; they go in, are croked: they
haist after vayne thinges, and shal perish.
Considre the pathes off Theman, ∧ the wayes
off Saba, wherin they haue put their
trust. Confounded are they, that put eny c&obar;fidence
in them: For wh&ebar; they came to opteyne
the thynges that they loked for, they were
brought to confucion.
C Eu&ebar; so are ye also come vnto me: but now
that ye se my mysery, ye are afrayed. Dyd
I desyre you, to come hyther? Or, to geue me
eny off youre substaunce? To delyuer me
me from the enemies honde, or to saue me
from the powers off the mightie? Teach me
and I will holde my tonge: and yf I do erre,
shewe me wherin.
Wherfore blame ye then the wordes, that
are well and truly spoken? which of you can
reproue them? Sauynge only that ye are sotyll
to check mens sayenges, and can speake
many wordes in the wynde. Ye fall vpon the
fatherlesse, &abar;d go aboute to ouerthrowe youre
owne frende. Wherfore loke not only vpon
me, but vpon youre selues: whether I
lye, or no. Turne into youre owne selues (I
praye you) be indifferent iudges, and considre
myne vngyltinesse: whether there be eny
vnrightuousnesse in my tonge, or vayne wordes
in my mouth.
The VII. Chapter.
A Is not the life off m&abar; vpon earth a
very batayll? Are not his dayes, like
the dayes of an hyred seruaunte? For
like as a bonde seruaunt desyreth the shadowe,
and as an hyrelinge wolde fayne haue
an ende of his worke: Euen so haue I laboured
whole monethes longe (but in vayne) and
many a carefull night haue I tolde. When
I layed me downe to slepe, I sayde: note O when
shal I ryse? Agayne, I longed sore for the
night. Thus am I full off sorowe, till it be
darcke. My flesh is clothed with wormes,
fylthinesse and dust: my skynne is wythered,
and crompled together: note my dayes passe ouer
more spedely, th&ebar; a weeuer can weeue out his
webbe, and are gone, or I am awarre. O remembre,
that my life is but a wynde, &abar;d that
myne eye shal nomore se the pleasures therof
yee and that none other mans eye shall se me
eny more. For yf thou fasten thine eyes vpon
me, I come to naught like as a cloude is c&obar;sumed
and vanyshed awaye, euen so he that
goeth downe to hell, commeth nomore vp,
ner turneth agayne in to his house, nether
shall his place knowe him eny more.
B Therfore I will not spare my mouth, but
will speake in the trouble of my sprete, in þe;
bytternesse of my mynde will I talke. Am I
a see or a whalfysh, that thou kepest me so in
preson? When I thynke: my bedd shall comforte
me, I shall haue some refresshinge by
talkynge with myself vpon my couche: Th&ebar;
troublest thou me with dreames, note &abar;d makest
me so afrayed thorow visions, that my soule
wyssheth rather to be hanged, and my bones
to be deed.
I can se no remedy, I shall lyue nomore:
O spare me then, for my dayes are but vayne
note What is man, that thou hast him in soch reputacion,
and settest so moch by him? Thou
takest diligent care for him, and sod&ebar;ly doest
thou trye him.
Why goest thou not fro me, ner lettest me
alone, so longe till I swalow downe my spetle?
I haue offended, what shal I do vnto þe;,
O thou preseruer off men? Why hast thou
made me to stonde in thy waye, and am so heuy
a burden vnto myself? Why doest thou
not forgeue me my synne? Wherfore takest
thou not awaye my wickednesse? Beholde,
now must I slepe in the dust: and yff thou sekest
me tomorow in the mornynge, I shalbe
gone.
The VIII. Chapter.
A Then answered Baldad the Suhite,
and sayde: How longe wilt thou talke
of soch thinges? how longe shal þi;
mouth speake so proude wordes? Doth God
peruerte the thinge that is laufull? Or, doth
the Allmightie destroye the thynge that is
right? note Wh&ebar; thy sonnes synned agaynst him,
dyd not he punysh th&ebar; for their wickednesse?
note Yff thou woldest now resorte vnto God by
tymes, and make thine humble prayer to þe;
Allmightie: yf thou woldest lyue a pure and
a godly life: shulde he not wake vp vnto the
immediatly, ∧ geue the the bewtie of rightuousnesse
agayne? In so moch, that where
&ibar; so euer thou haddest litle afore, thou shuldest
now haue greate abundaunce. Enquere
of them that haue bene before the, search diligently
amonge thy forefathers: Namely, þt;
we are but of yesterdaye, and considre not,
that oure dayes vpon earth are buth a very
shadow. note They shall shewe the, they shall
tell the, yee they will gladly confesse the same.
-- --
B Maye a resshe be grene without moystnesse?
maye the grasse growe without water?
No: but (or euer it be shot forth, and or
euer it be gathered) it wythereth, before eny
other herbe. Euen so goeth it with all them,
that forget God: and euen thus also shal the
ypocrytes hope come to naught. His confidence
shalbe destroyed, for he trusteth in a
spyders webbe.
He leeneth him vp&obar; his house, but he shal
not stonde: he holdeth him fast by it, yet shal
he not endure. Oft tymes a thinge doth
florish, and men thynke that it maye abyde
the Sonneshyne: it shuteth forth the braunches
in his garden, it taketh many rotes, in
so moch that it is like an house off stones.
But yf it be taken out off his place, euery
man denyeth it, sayenge: I knowe the not.
Lo, thus is it &wt; him, that reioyseth in his
owne doinges: and as for other, they growe
out of the earth.
Beholde, God will not cast awaye a vertuous
man, nether wil he helpe the vngodly.
Thy mouth shall he fyll with laughynge, &abar;d
thy lyppes with gladnesse. They that hate
the, shalbe confounded, ∧ þe; dwellinges of þe;
vngodly shal come to naught.
The IX. Chapter.
A note Iob answered, and sayde: As for þt;
I knowe it is so of a treuth, þt; a man
compared vnto God, can not be iustified.
Yf he wil argue with him, he shall not
be able to answere him vnto one amonge a
thousande. He is wyse of hert, and mightie in
strength. Who euer prospered, that toke parte
agaynst him? He translateth the mo&ubar;taynes,
or euer they be awarre, ∧ ouerthroweth
them in his wrath. He remoueth the earth
out of hir place, that hir pilers shake withall.
He commaundeth the S&obar;ne, ∧ it ryseth
not: he closeth vp the starres, as it were vnder
a signet. He himself alone spredeth out þe;
heauens, and goeth vpon the wawes of the
see. He maketh the waynes of heauen, note the Orions,
the note vij. starres and the secrete places
of the south. He doth greate thinges, soch as
are vnsearcheable, yee and wonders without
nombre.
Yf he came by me, I might not loke vp&obar;
him: yf he wente his waye, I shulde not perceaue
it.
B Yf he be haisty to take eny thinge
awaye, who wil make him restore it agayne?
Who wil saye vnto him: what doest thou? note
He is God, whose wrath no man maye with
st&obar;de: but the proudest of all must stoupe vnder
him. How shulde I then answere him? or,
what wordes shulde I fynde out agaynst
him? Yee though I be rightuous, yet will I
not geue him one worde agayne, but mekely
submytte my self to my iudge. All be it that
I call vpon him, and he heare me, yet am I
not sure, þt; he hath herde my voyce: he troubleth
me so with the tempest, and woundeth
me out of measure without a cause. He will
not let my sprete be in rest, but fylleth me &wt;
bytternesse.
C Yf men will speake of strength, he is the
st&obar;gest of all: yf m&ebar; will speake of rightousnes,
who darre be my recorde? yf I will iustifie
my self, myne owne mouth shall c&obar;demne
me: yf I will put forth my self for a perfecte
man, he shal proue me a wicked doer: For
that I shulde be an innocent, my c&obar;science
knoweth it not, yee I my self am weery off
my life.
note This one th&ibar;ge wil I saye: He destroyeth
both the rightuous ∧ vngodly. And though
he slaye sodenly &wt; the scourge, yet laugheth
he at the punyshment of the innocent. As
for the worlde, he geueth it ouer in to the power
of the wicked, soch as the rulers be, wherof
all londes are full. Is it not so? where is
there eny, but he is soch one?
D note My dayes haue bene more swifte, then a
runner: they are gone sodenly, and haue sene
no good thinge. They are passed awaye, as
the shippes that be good vnder sale, and as
the Aegle that haisteth to the pray. When
I am purposed to forget my complayninges
to chaunge my countenaunce, and to c&obar;forte
my self: then am I afrayed of all my workes,
for I knowe, thou fauourest not an euell
doer. Yf I be then a wicked one, why haue I
laboured in vayne? Though I wasshed my
self with snowe water, and made myne hondes
neuer so clene, yet shuldest thou dyppe
me in þe; myre, ∧ myne owne clothes shulde defyle
me. For he þt; I must geue answere vnto,
and with whom I go to lawe, is not a man
as I am. Nether is there eny dayes man to
reproue both the partes, or to laye his h&obar;de
betwixte vs. Let him take his rod awaye
fro me, yee let him make me nomore afrayed
of him, and then shal I answere him without
eny feare. For as longe as I am in soch
fearfulnesse, I can make no answere: And
why? it greueth my soule to lyue.
The X. Chapter.
A Neuerthelesse, now will I put forth
my wordes: I wil speake out of the
very heuynesse off my soule, and will
-- --
saye vnto God: O do not condemne me, but
shewe me the cause, wherfore thou iudgest
me on this maner. Thinkest thou it well done,
to oppresse me, to cast me of (beinge a worke
of thy hondes) and to manteyne the councell
of the vngodly? Hast thou fle&esset;shy eyes
then, or doest thou loke as man loketh? Are
thy dayes as the dayes of man, and thy yeares
as mans yeares? that thou makest soch
inquisicion for my wickednesse, and searchest
out my synne? where as (notwithstondinge)
thou knowest that I am no wicked person, ∧
that there is no man able to delyuer me out
of thine honde. Thy hondes haue made me, note
∧ fashioned me alltogether rounde aboute,
wilt thou then destroye me sod&ebar;ly? O remembre
(I beseke the) how that thou madest me
of the moulde of the earth, and shalt brynge
me to earth agayne.
B Hast thou not milked me, as it were mylck:
and turned me to cruddes like chese? Thou
hast couered me with skynne and flesh, and
ioyned me together with bones ∧ synowes.
Thou hast graunted me life, and done me
good: and the diligent hede that thou tokest
vpon me, hath preserued my sprete.
Though thou hydest these thinges in thine
hert, yet am I sure, that thou remembrest
th&ebar; all. Wherfore didest thou kepe me, when
I synned, and hast not clensed me fro myne
offence? Yf I do wickedly, wo is me therfore:
Yf I be rightuous, yet darre I not lift
vp my heade: so full am I of confucion, and
se myne owne misery.
C Thou huntest me out (beynge in heuynesse)
as it were a Lyon, and troublest me out of
measure. Thou bringest fresh witnesses agaynst
me, thy wrath increasest thou vpon
me, very many are the plages that I am in.
note Wherfore hast thou brought me out of my
mothers wombe? O that I had perished, ∧
that no eye had sene me. Yf they had caried
me to my graue, as soone as I was borne,
then shulde I be now, as though I had neuer
bene.
Shall not my short life come soone to an
ende? O holde the fro me, let me alone, that
I maye ease myself a litle: afore I go thyther,
from whence I shal not turne agayne:
Namely, to that londe of darcknesse ∧ shadowe
of death: yee into that darck clowdy
londe ∧ deadly shadowe, where as is no ordre,
but terrible feare as in the darcknesse.
The XI. Chapter.
A Then answered Sophar the Naamathite,
and sayde: Shulde not he that
maketh many wordes, be answered?
Shulde he that bableth moch, be commended
therin? Shulde men geue eare vnto the
only? Thou wilt laugh other men to scorne,
∧ shal no body mocke the agayne? Wilt thou
saye vnto God: The thinge that I take in
honde, is perfecte, ∧ I am clene in thy sight?
O that God wolde speake, and open his lippes
agaynst the, that he might shewe the
(out of his secrete wy&esset;dome) how manyfolde
his lawe is: then shuldest thou knowe,
that God had forgotten the, because of thy
synnes.
Wilt thou fynde out God with thy sekynge?
wilt thou attayne to the perfectnesse of
the Allmightie? He is hyer th&ebar; heau&ebar;, what
wilt thou do? Deper th&ebar; hell, how wilt thou
then knowe him? His length exceadeth the
length of the earth, and his bredth þe; bredth
of the see. Though he turne all thinges vpsyde
downe, close them in, or thrust th&ebar; together,
who darre check him therfore?
B note For it is he, that knoweth the vanite of
men: he seyth their wickednesse also, shulde
he not then considre it? A vayne body exalteth
him self, and the sonne of man is like a
wylde asses foale. Yf thou haddest now a
right herte, ∧ liftest vp thine hondes towarde
him: yf thou woldest put awaye the wickednesse,
which thou hast in honde, so that
no vngodlynesse dwelt in thy house: Then
mightest thou lift vp thy face without shame,
th&ebar; shuldest thou be sure, and haue no nede
to feare.
Then shuldest thou forget thy misery,
and thynke nomore vpon it, then vpon the
waters that runne by. Then shulde thy life
be as cleare as the noone daye, and sprynge
forth as the mornynge. Then mightest thou
haue comforth, in the hope that thou hast:
∧ slepe quyetly, when thou art buried. Then
shuldest thou take thy rest, and no m&abar; to make
the afrayed, yee many one shulde set moch
by the. As for the eyes of the vngodly, they
shal be consumed, and not escape: their hope
shalbe misery and sorow of mynde.
The XII. Chapter.
A So Iob answered, and sayde: Then
(no doute) ye are the men alone, and
wy&esset;dome shal perish with you. But
I haue vnderst&obar;dinge as well as ye, and am
no lesse then ye. Yee who knoweth not these
thinges? Thus he that calleth vp&obar; God, and
whom God heareth, is mocked of his neghboure:
the godly ∧ innocent man is laughed
to scorne. Godlynesse is a light despysed
in þe; hertes of the rich, ∧ is set for them to
stomble vpon.
-- --
The houses of robbers are in wealth and
prosperite, ∧ they that maliciously medle agaynst
God, dwel without care: yee God geueth
all thinges richely with his honde.
B Axe the catell, ∧ they shal enfourme the:
the foules of the ayre, and they shall tell þe;:
Speake to the earth, and it shall shewe the:
Or to the fyshes of the see, and they shal certifie
the. What is he, but he knoweth, that þe;
h&obar;de of the LORDE made all these? In whose
honde is the soule of euery lyuynge thinge,
and the breth of all men. note Haue not the eares
pleasure in hearinge, note and the mouth in
tastinge the thinge that it eateth? Amonge
olde personnes there is wy&esset;dome, and amonge
the aged is vnderst&obar;dinge. Yee with God
is wy&esset;dome and strength, it is he that hath
councell ∧ foreknowlege. Yf he breake downe
a thinge, who can set it vp agayne? Yf he
shutt a thinge, who wil open it? note Beholde, yf
he witholde the waters, they drye vp: Yf he
let th&ebar; go, they destroye the earth. With him
is strength and wy&esset;dome: he knoweth both
the disceauer, and him that is disceaued.
C He carieth awaye the wyse men, as it were
a spoyle, and bryngeth the iudges out of
their wyttes. He lowseth the gyrdle of kynges,
and gyrdeth their loynes with a bonde.
he ledeth awaye the prestes into captiuyte,
and turneth the mightie vp syde downe. He
taketh the verite from out of the mouth, note ∧
disapoynteth þe; aged of their wy&esset;dome. He
poureth out confucion vpon prynces, and c&obar;forteth
them that haue bene oppressed. note Loke
what lyeth hyd in darcknesse, he declareth
it op&ebar;ly: and the very shadowe of death bringeth
he to light. He both increaseth the people,
and destroyeth them: He maketh them
to multiplie, and dryueth them awaye. He
chaungeth the herte of the prynces and kynges
of the earth, and disapoynteth them: so
that they go w&abar;dringe out of the waye, and
grope in the darke without light, stackeringe
to and fro like droncken men.
The XIII. Chapter.
A Lo, all this haue I sene with myne
eye, herde with myne eare, ∧ vnderstonde
it. Loke what ye knowe, that
same do I knowe also, nether am I inferior
vnto you. Neuerthelesse I am purposed to
talke with the Allmightie, and my desyre is
to comon with God. As for you, ye are workmasters
of lyes: and vnprofitable Phisicians
alltogether. Wolde God ye kepte youre
tonge, that ye might be taken for wyse men.
note Therfore heare my wordes, and pondre the
sentence of my lippes. Will ye make answere
for God with lyes, and m&abar;teyne him with
disceate? Wil ye accepte þe; personne of God,
and intreate for him? Shal that helpe you,
when he calleth you to rekenynge? Thynke
ye to begyle him, as a man is begyled? Punysh
you shall he and reproue you, yf ye do
secretly accepte eny personne. Shall he not
make you afrayed, when he sheweth himself?
Shal not his terrible feare fall vp&obar; you? youre
remembraunce shalbe like the dust, ∧ youre
pryde shalbe turned to claye.
B Holde youre tonges now, and let me speake,
for there is some thinge come in to my
mynde. Wherfore do I beare my flesh in my
teth, and my soule in myne hondes? Lo, there
is nether c&obar;forte ner hope for me, yf he wil
slaye me. note But yf I shewe and reproue myne
owne wayes in his sight, he is euen the same,
that maketh me whole: and why? there maye
no Ypocrite come before him, Heare my wordes,
and pondre my sayenges with youre eares.
Beholde, though sentence were geuen vpon
me, I am sure to be knowne for vngilty.
What is he, that will go to lawe with me?
For yf I holde my tonge, I shal dye. Neuerthelesse
graunte me ij. thinges, and then will
I not hyde my self from the.
C Withdrawe thine honde fro me, ∧ let not
the fearfull drede of the make me afrayed.
And then sende for me to the lawe, þt; I maye
answere for my self: or els, let me speake, and
geue thou the answere. How greate are my
my&esset;dedes ∧ synnes? Let me knowe my tr&abar;sgressions
∧ offences. Wherfore hydest thou
thy face, and holdest me for thine enemye?
Wilt thou be so cruell ∧ extreme vnto a flyenge
leaf, and folowe vpon drye stubble? that
thou layest so sharply to my charge, and wilt
vtterly vndoo me, for þe; synnes of my yougth?
note Thou hast put my fote in the stockes: thou
lokest narowly vnto all my pathes, ∧ marckest
the steppes of my fete: where as I (notwithstondinge)
must consume like as a foule
carion, and as a cloth that is moth eaten.
The XIIII. Chapter.
A Man that is borne of a woman, hath
but a shorte tyme to lyue, and is full
of dyuerse miseries. He c&obar;meth vp,
and falleth awaye like a floure. He flyeth as
it were a shadowe, and neuer continueth in
one state. Thinkest thou it now well done, to
open thine eyes vpon soch one, and to brynge
me before the in iudgment? Who can make
it cleane, that commeth of an vncleane thinge?
No body. The dayes of man are shorte,
þe; nombre of his monethes are knowne only
vnto the. Thou hast apoynted him his boundes,
-- --
he can not go beyonde them. Go from
him, that he maye rest a litle: vntill his daye
come, which he loketh for, like as an hyrelinge
doth.
B Yf a tre be cutt downe, there is some hope
yet, that it will sproute and shute forth the
braunches againe: For though a rote be waxen
olde and deed in the grounde, yet wh&ebar; the
stocke getteth the sent of water, it will budde,
and brynge forth bowes, like as when it
was first planted. But as for man, when he
is deed, perished and consumed awaye, what
becommeth of him? note The floudes when they
be dryed vp, ∧ the ryuers when they be emptie,
are fylled agayne thorow the flowinge
waters of the see: note but when man slepeth, he
ryseth not agayne, vntill the heauen perish:
he shal not wake vp ner ryse out of his slepe.
O that thou woldest kepe me, and hyde me in
the hell, vntill thy wrath were stilled: ∧ to appoynte
me a tyme, wherin thou mightest remembre
me. Maye a deed man lyue agayne?
note All the dayes of this my pilgremage am I
lokynge, when my chaunginge shal come. Yf
thou woldest but call me, I shulde obeie the:
only despyse not the worke of thine owne
hondes. note
C For thou hast nombred all my goynges,
yet be not thou to extreme vpon my synnes.
Thou hast sealed vp myne offences, as it were
in a bagg: but be mercifull vnto my wickednesse.
The mountaynes fall awaye at the
last, the rockes are remoued out of their place,
the waters pearse thorow the very stones
by litle and litle, the floudes wa&esset;she awaye
the grauell ∧ earth: Euen so destroyest thou
the hope of man in like maner. Thou preuaylest
agaynst him, so that he passeth awaye:
thou chaungest his estate, and puttest him
from the. Whether his children come to worshipe
or no, he can not tell: And yf they be
men of lowe degre, he knoweth not. Whyle
he lyueth, his flesh must haue trauayle: and
whyle the soule is in him, he must be in sorowe.
The XV. Chapter.
A Then answered Eliphas the Themanite,
and sayde: Shulde a wyse man
geue soch an answere (as it were one
that spake in the wynde) and fyll his stomacke
with anger? Thou reprouest &wt; wordes,
that are nothinge wroth: and speakest the
thinges, which can do no good. As for shame,
thou hast set it asyde, els woldest thou
not make so many wordes before God: but
thy wickednesse teacheth thy mouth, and so
thou hast chosen the a craftie tonge. Thine
owne mouth condemneth the, and not I: yee
thine owne lippes shappe the an answere.
Art thou the first man, that euer was borne?
Or, wast thou made before the hylles? hast
thou herde the secrete councell of God, that
all wy&esset;dome is to litle for þe;? What knowest
thou, þt; we knowe not? What vnderstondest
thou, but we can the same? With vs are olde
and aged men, yee soch as haue lyued longer
then thy forefathers.
B Dost thou nomore regarde the comforte
of God? but thy wicked wordes wil not suffre
the. Why doth thine herte make the so
proude? Why stondest thou so greatly in thine
owne conceate? Where vnto loke thine
eyes, þt; thy mynde is so puft vp agaynst God
∧ lettest soch wordes go out of thy mouth?
What is man, that he shulde be vncleane?
what hath he (which is borne of a woman)
wherby he might be knowne to be rightuous?
Beholde, he hath founde vnfaithfulnesse
am&obar;ge his owne sanctes: note yee the very heauens
are vnclene in his sight. How moch more
then an abhominable and vyle m&abar;, which
dryncketh wickednesse like water? I will tell
the, heare me: I wil shewe the a thinge, that
I knowe: which wyse men haue tolde, ∧ hath
not bene hyd from their fathers: vnto whom
only the londe was geuen, that no straunger
shulde come amonge them.
C note The vngodly despayreth all the dayes of
his life, ∧ the nombre of a tyrauntes yeares is
vnknowne. A fearfull sounde is euer in his eares,
∧ when it is peace, yet feareth he destruccion:
He beleueth neuer to be delyuered out
of darcknesse, the swearde is allwaye before
his eyes. When he goeth forth to get his lyuinge,
he thinketh planely, that the daye of
darcknesse is at honde. Sorow and carefulnesse
make him afrayed, ∧ c&obar;passe him rounde
aboute, like as it were a kinge with his
hoost redy to the battayll. For he hath stretched
out his honde agaynst God, ∧ armed
himself agaynst þe; Allmightie. He runneth
proudly vpon him, ∧ with a stiff necke fighteth
he agaynst him: where as he couereth
his face with fatnesse, and maketh his body
well lykynge. Therfore shall his dwellynge
be in desolate cities, ∧ in houses which no m&abar;
inhabiteth, but are become heapes of stones.
D He shall not be rich, nether shall his substaunce
continue, ner encrease vpon earth.
He shal neuer come out of darcknesse, the flame
shal drye vp his braunches, with þe; blast
of the mouth of God shal he be tak&ebar; awaie.
He wil nether applye himself to faithfulnes
ner treuth, so sore is he disceaued &wt; vanite.
-- --
He shall perish, afore his tyme be worne
out, and his honde shal not be grene. He shalbe
pluckte of as an vntymely grape from þe;
vyne, and shal let his floure fall, as the olyue
doth. For the congregacion of Ypocrites is
vnfrutefull, ∧ the fyre shal consume the houses
of soch, as are gredy to receaue giftes. note He
conceaueth trauayle, he beareth myschefe, ∧
his body bryngeth forth disceate.
The XVI. Chapter.
A Iob answered, and sayde: I haue oft
tymes herde soch thinges. Miserable
geuers of comforte are ye, all the sorte
of you. Shall not thy vayne wordes come
yet to an ende? Or, hast thou yet eny more to
saye? I coude speake, as ye do also. But wolde
God, that youre soule were in my soules
steade: then shulde I heape vp wordes agaynst
you, and shake my heade at you. I
shulde comforte you with my mouth, and release
youre payne with þe; talkinge of my lyppes.
But what shall I do? For all my wordes,
my sorow wil not ceasse: and though I
holde my t&obar;ge, yet wil it not departe fro me.
And now that I am full of payne, and all
that I haue destroied (wherof my wryncles
beare wytnesse) there st&obar;deth vp a dyssembler
to make me answere with lyes to my face.
He is angrie at me, he hateth me, and gnassheth
vpon me with his teth. Myne enemy
skouleth vpon me with his eyes.
B note They haue opened their mouthes wyde
vpon me, and smytten me vpon the cheke despitefully,
they haue eased th&ebar; selues thorow
myne aduersite. God hath geuen me ouer to
the vngodly, and delyuered me in to the hondes
of þe; wicked. I was somtyme in wealth,
but sodenly hath he brought me to naught.
He hath taken me by the neck, he hath rente
me, and set me, as it were a marck for him to
shute at. He hath compased me rounde aboute
with his dartes, he hath wounded my loynes,
∧ not spared. My bowels hath he poured
vpon the grounde. He hath geu&ebar; me one
wounde vpon another, and is fall&ebar; vpon me
like a giaunte. I haue sowed a sack cloth vpon
my skynne, and lye with my strength in
the dust.
C My face is swoll&ebar; with wepinge, ∧ myne
eyes are waxen dymne. Howbeit there is no
wickednesse in my hondes, and my prayer is
clene. O earth, couer not my bloude, and let
my crienge fynde no rowme. For lo, my witnesse
is in heauen, and he that knoweth me,
is aboue in the heyth. My frendes laugh me
to scorne, but myne eye poureth out teares
vnto God. Though a body might pleate &wt;
God, as one man doth with another, yet the
nombre of my yeares are come, ∧ I must go
the waye, from whence I shal not turne agayne.
The XVII. Chapter.
A My breth fayleth, my dayes are shortened,
I am harde at deathes dore.
I haue disceaued no man, yet must
myne eye c&obar;tinue in heuynesse O delyuer me,
and set me by the, who shall then be able to
thrust my hondes together? Thou hast withhold&ebar;
their hertes from vnderst&obar;dinge, therfore
shall they not be set vp an hye. He promiseth
his fr&ebar;des parte of his good, but his
owne childr&ebar; spende it. He hath made me as
it were a byworde of the comon people, I
am his gestinge stocke am&obar;ge th&ebar;. My countenaunce
is heuy for very anger, ∧ the membres
of my body are become like a shadowe.
Vertuous m&ebar; therfore shall wel c&obar;sidre this,
and the innocent shal take parte agaynst the
Ypocrite.
B The rightuous wil kepe his waye, and he
þt; hath cleane handes, wil euer be stronger ∧
stronger. As for you, turne you, ∧ get you hence,
for I can not se one wyse m&abar; amonge you.
My dayes are past, my thoughtes are vanished
awaye, which haue vexed myne herte,
chaunginge the night in to daye, ∧ þe; light in
to darcknes. Though I tary neuer so moch,
yet the graue is my house, and I must make
my bed in the darcke. I call corrupcion my
father, and the wormes call I my mother
and my sister. What helpeth then my longe
tarienge? Or, who wil fulfill the thinge, that
I loke for? All that I haue, shall go downe
in to the pytt, ∧ lye with me in the dust.
The XVIII. Chapter.
A Then answered Baldad the Suhite,
and sayde: when wil ye make an ende
of youre wordes? Marcke well, and
considre, we wil speake also. Wherfore are we
counted as beestes, ∧ reputed so vyle in youre
sight? Why destroyest thou thy self with
anger? Shal þe; earth be forsaken, or the stones
remoued out of their place because of
þe;? Shal not the light of the vngodly be put
out? yee the flame of his fyre shal not burne.
The light shalbe darcke in his dwellinge, ∧
his candle shalbe put out with him. His presumptuous
goinges shal be kepte in, and his
owne councell shal cast him downe. For his
fete shalbe taken in the nett, and he shal walke
in the snare. His fote shalbe holden in the
gilder, and the thurstie shal catch him. The
snare is layed for him in the grounde, and a
pytfall in the waye.
-- --
B Fearfulnesse shal make him afrayed on euery
syde, that he shall not knowe, where to
get out. Honger shalbe his substaunce, and
my&esset;fortune shall hange vpon him. He shall
eate his owne skynne, yee his owne armes
shall he deuoure, beynge a firstborne of death.
All his comforte and hope shalbe roted
out of his dwellynge, very fearfulnesse shall
brynge him to the kynge. Other men shall
dwel in his house (which now is none of his)
and brymstone shalbe scatered vpon his habitacion.
His rotes shalbe dryed vp beneth,
∧ aboue shall his haruest be cut downe. His
remembraunce shall perish from the earth, ∧
his name shall not be praysed in the stretes:
he shalbe dryuen from the light into darcknesse,
and be cast clene out of the worlde. He
shall nether haue children ner kyn&esset;folkes amonge
his people, no ner eny posterite in his
countre: yonge ∧ olde shalbe astonyshed at
his death. Soch are now the dwellynges of
the wicked, and this is þe; place of him that
knoweth not God.
The XIX. Chap.
A Iob answered, ∧ sayde: How l&obar;ge wil
ye vexe my mynde, ∧ trouble me with
wordes? Lo, ten tymes haue ye reproued
me: are ye not ashamed, for to laugh me
so to scorne? yf I go wronge, I go wronge to
my self. But yf ye wil enhaunce yo&highr; selues agaynst
me, ∧ accuse me to be a wicked personne
because of the shame that is come vpon
me: knowe this then, þt; it is God, which hath
handled me so viol&ebar;tly, ∧ hath compased me
aboute with his scourges. Beholde, though
I crie, note yet viol&ebar;ce is done vnto me, I can not
be herde: Though I complane, there is none
to geue sent&ebar;ce with me. He hath hedged
vp my path, I c&abar; not get awaye, he hath set
darcknesse in my gate.
B note He hath spoyled me of myne honoure, ∧
taken the crowne awaye fro my heade. He
hath destroyed me on euery syde, and I am
vndone: My hope hath he taken awaye fro
me, as it were a tre plucte vp by the rote. His
wrath is kyndled agaynst me, he taketh me,
as though I were his enemy.
His men of warre came together, which
made their waye ouer me, and beseged my
dwellinge rounde aboute. note He hath put my
brethren farre awaye fro me, and soch as were
of myne acquauntaunce, are become stra&ubar;gers
vnto me. Myne owne kyn&esset;folkes haue
forsaken me, and my frendes haue put me out
of remembraunce. The seruauntes and maydens
of myne owne house take me for a stra&ubar;ger,
and I am become as an aleaunt in their
sight.
C When I call vpon my serua&ubar;t, he geueth
me no answere: no though I praie him with
my mouth. Myne owne wyfe maye not abyde
my breth, I am fayne to speake fayre vnto
the children of myne owne body. Yee the very
deserte fooles despyse me, and when I am
gone from them, they speake euell vpon me.
All soch as were my most familiers, abhorre
me: and they whom I loued best, are turned
agaynst me. My bone hangeth to my skynne,
and the flesh is awaye, only there is left
me the skynne aboute my teth. Haue pite vpon
me, haue pite vpon me (o ye my frendes)
for the hande of the LORDE hath touched
me. Seynge God persecuteth me, wil ye vexe
me also? Haue ye not yet ynough of the trouble
of my flesh?
D O that my wordes were written, O that
they were put in a boke: wolde God they were
grau&ebar; &wt; an yron p&ebar;ne in leade or in stone.
For I am sure, that my redemer lyueth, and
that I shall ryse out of the earth in the latter
daye: that I shal be clothed againe with
this skynne, and se God in my flesh. Yee I
my self shal beholde him, not with other but
with these same eyes. My reynes are consumed
within me, when yee saye: Why do not
we persecute him? we haue founde an occasion
agaynst him. But bewarre of the swearde,
for the swearde wylbe avenged of wickednesse,
and be sure, that there is a iudgment.
The XX. Chapter.
A Then answered Sophar the Naamathite,
and sayde: For the same cause
do my thoughtes compell me to answere.
And why? my mynde is tossed here and
there. I haue sufficiently herde the checkynge
∧ reprofe, therfore am I purposed to make
answere after my vnderst&obar;dinge. Knowest
thou not this, namely: that from the begynninge
(euer sence the creacion of man vpon
earth) the prayse of the vngodly hath bene
shorte, and that the ioye of Ypocrytes continued
but þe; twincklinge of an eye? Though
he be magnified vp to the heau&ebar;, so that his
heade reacheth vnto the cloudes: yet he perisheth
at the last like donge: In so moch þt;
they which haue sene him, saye: Where is he?
He vanysheth as a dreame, so that he can nomore
be founde, ∧ passeth awaye as a vision
in þe; night. So that the eye which sawe him
before, getteth now no sight of him, ∧ his place
knoweth him nomore. His childr&ebar; go a begginge,
their handes bringe th&ebar; to sorow and
heuynesse.
B From his youth his bones are ful of vyce,
which shal lie downe &wt; him in þe; earth. Wh&ebar;
-- --
wickednesse is swete in his mouth, he hydeth
it vnder his tonge. That he fauoureth, that
wyll he not forsake, but kepeth it close in his
throte. The meate that he eateth, shalbe turned
to the poyson of serp&ebar;tes within his body.
The riches þt; he deuoureth, shall he perbreake
agayne, for God shal drawe them out
of his bely. The serpentes heade shall sucke
him, and the adders tonge shall slaye him:
so that he shal nomore se the ryuers and brokes
of hony and butter: But laboure shal he,
∧ yet haue nothinge to eate. Greate trauayle
shal he make for riches, but he shal not enioye
them. And why? he hath oppressed the
poore, and not helped them: houses hath he
spoyled, and not buylded them. His bely coude
neuer be fylled, therfore shall he perish in
his couetousnesse.
C He deuoured so gredely, þt;
he left nothinge behynde, therfore his goodes
shal not prospere. note Though he had plenteousnesse
of euerythinge, yet was he poore,
∧ therfore he is but a wretch on euery syde.
For though þe; wicked haue neuer so moch
to fyll his bely, yet God shal sende his wrath
vpon him, and cause his battayll to rayne ouer
him: so that yf he fle the yron weapens,
he shall be shott with the stele bowe. The arowe
shal be taken forth, ∧ go out at his backe,
and a glisteringe swearde thorow þe; gall
of him, feare shal come vp&obar; him. There shal
no darcknes be able to hyde him. An vnkyndled
fyre shal consume him, and loke what remayneth
in his house, it shall be destroyed.
The heauen shall declare his wickednesse, ∧
the earth shal take parte agaynst him. The
substaunce that he hath in his house, shalbe
taken awaye and perish, in the daye of the
LORDES wrath. This is the porcion that þe;
wicked shal haue of God, and the heretage
that he maye loke for of the LORDE. note
The XXI. Chapter.
A Iob answered, and sayde: O heare my
wordes, and amende yo&highr; selues. Suffre
me a litle, that I maye speake also,
and th&ebar; laugh my wordes to scorne, yf ye
will. Is it with a man, that I make this disputaci&obar;?
Which yf it were so, shulde not my
sprete be th&ebar; in sore trouble? Marck me well,
be aba&esset;shed, and laye youre h&abar;de vpon youre
mouth. For wh&ebar; I pondre ∧ considre this,
I am afrayed, and my flesh is smytten with
feare. note Wherfore do wicked m&ebar; lyue in health
and prosperite, come to their olde age, ∧ increase
in riches? Their childers children lyue
in their sight, ∧ their generacion before their
eyes. Their houses are safe from all feare, note for
the rodd of God doth not smyte th&ebar;. Their
bullocke gendreth, and that not out of tyme:
their cow calueth, and is not vnfrutefull.
B They sende forth their children by flockes,
and their sonnes lede the daunce. note They beare
with them tabrettes and harpes, and haue
instrumentes of musick at their pleasure.
They spende their dayes in welthynesse: but
sodenly they go downe to hell. They saye vnto
God: go from vs, we desyre not the knowlege
of thy wayes. note What maner of felowe
is the Allmightie, that we shulde serue him?
What profit shulde we haue, to submitte oure
selues vnto him? Lo, there is vtterly no goodnesse
in them, therfore will not I haue to
do with the councell of the vngodly. How
oft shal the candle of þe; wicked be put out? note
how oft commeth their destruccion vpon
them? O what sorowe shall God geue them
for their parte in his wrath? Yee they shal be
euen as chaffe before the wynde, and as dust
that the storme carieth awaye. note
C And though God saue their childr&ebar; from
soch sorowe, yet wil he so rewarde th&ebar;selues,
that they shal knowe it. Their owne destruccion
and misery shal they se with their eyes,
and drynke of the fearfull wrath of the Allmighty.
For whath careth he, what become
of his housholde after his death? whose monethes
passe awaye swifter then an arowe.
In as moch th&ebar; as God hath þe; hyest power
of all, who can teach him eny knowlege? One
dyeth now when he is mightie ∧ at his best,
rich and in prosperite: euen when his bowels
are at the fattest, and his bones full of mary.
Another dyeth in sorowe and heuynesse, and
neuer had good daies. Now slepe they both
a like in the earth, ∧ the wormes couer them.
But I knowe what ye thinke, yee and what
ye ymagin agaynst me vnrightuously. note For
ye saye: where is the prynces palace? where
is the dwellynge of the vngodly: Axe eny
man that goeth by the waye, and (yf ye will
not regarde their tokens ∧ dedes) he shal tell
you, note that the wicked is kepte vnto the daye
of destruccion, and that the vngodly shalbe
brought forth in the daye of wrath. Who
darre reproue him for his wayes to his face?
who rewardeth him for the vngraciousnesse
that he doth? Yet shal he be brought to his
graue, and watch amonge the heape of the
deed. Th&ebar; shal he be fayne to be buried am&obar;ge
the stones by the broke syde. All men must
folowe him, ∧ there are innumerable gone
before him. O how vayne is the comforte þt;
ye geue me? Are not youre answeres cleane
contrary to right and treuth?
The XXII. Chapter.
-- --
A So Eliphas the Themanite gaue answere,
∧ sayde: Maye a man be c&obar;pared
vnto God in wy&esset;dome, though
he seme to himself, for to be like him? What
pleasure hath God in þt; thou art rightuous?
Or what doth it profite him, þt; thy waies are
perfecte? Is he afrayed to reproue the, ∧ to
steppe forth &wt; the in to iudgment? note C&obar;meth
not this for þe; greate wickednesse, note ∧ for thine
vngracious dedes which are innumerable?
Thou hast tak&ebar; the pledge from thy brethr&ebar;
for naught, ∧ robbed the naked of their clothinge:
note To soch as were weery, hast thou geu&ebar;
no water to drynke, thou hast withdraw&ebar;
bred fr&obar; the hungrie: Shulde soch one th&ebar; as
vseth viol&ebar;ce, wr&obar;ge ∧ oppression (doinge all
thinges of parcialyte, ∧ hauynge respecte of
personnes) dwell in the l&obar;de? Thou hast sent
wyddowes awaye emptie and oppressed the
poore fatherlesse.
B Therfore art thou compased aboute with
snares on euery syde, ∧ sod&ebar;ly vexed &wt; feare.
Shuldest thou th&ebar; se no darcknesse? Shulde
not the water floude runne ouer the? Now
because þt; God is hyer th&ebar; the heauens, ∧ because
thou seist þt; the starres are so hye, wilt
thou therfore saye: note Tush, how shulde God
knowe? Doth his dominion reach beyonde
the cloudes? Tush, the cloudes couer him, þt;
he maye not se, for he dwelleth in heauen.
Well, thou wilt kepe the olde waye, þt; all wicked
m&ebar; haue gone: both olde ∧ yonge, whose
foundacion is a runnynge water, which saye
vnto God: go from vs, and after this maner:
Tush, what wil the Allmightie do vnto vs? note
where as he (not with st&obar;dinge) fylleth their
houses &wt; all good. Which meanynge of the
vngodly be farre fro me. note For &wt; ioy shal the
godly, and with gladnesse shal the innocent
se, that their increase shal be hewen downe, ∧
their posterite consumed with the fyre.
C Therfore rec&obar;cile the vnto God, ∧ be content,
so shal all thinges prospere &wt; the right
well. note Receaue the lawe at his mouth, ∧ laye
vp his wordes in thine herte. For yf thou
wilt turne to the Allmightie, note thou shalt stonde
fast, ∧ all vnrightuousnesse shall be farre
from thy dwellinge: He shal geue the an haruest,
which in plenty ∧ abundaunce shall exceade
the dust of the earth, and the golde of
Ophir like ryuer stones. Yee the Allmightie
his owne self shalbe thine haruest, ∧ the heape
of thy money. Then shalt thou haue thy
delyte in the Allmightie, ∧ lift vp thy face vnto
God. Th&ebar; shalt thou make thy prayer vnto
him, ∧ he shal heare the, ∧ thou shalt kepe
thy promyses. Th&ebar;, loke what thou takest in
honde, he shal make it to prospere with the,
and the light shall shyne in thy wayes. For
who so humbleth himself, him shal he set vp:
and who so loketh mekely, shalbe healed. Yf
thou be innoc&ebar;t, he shal saue the: and thorow
the vngiltynesse of thyne handes shalt thou
be delyuered.
The XXIII. Chapter.
A Iob answered, and sayd: My sayenge
is yet this daye in bytternes, and my
hande heuy amonge my groninges.
O that I might se him ∧ fynde him: O that
I might come before his seate, to pleate my
cause before him, and to fyll my mouth with
argumentes: That I might knowe, what answere
he wolde geue me: ∧ that I might vnderstonde,
what he wolde saye vnto me. Wil
he pleate agaynst me with his greate power
∧ strength, or wyll he leane him self vtterly
vpon me? Oh no, let him not do so with me.
But let hym geue me like power to go to lawe,
then am I sure to wynne my matter. For
though I go before, I fynde him not: yf I
come behynde, I c&abar; get no knowlege of him:
Yf I go on the left syde to pondre his workes,
I can not atteyne vnto them: Agayne,
yf I go on the right syde, he hydeth himself,
þt; I can not se him. But as for my waye, he
knoweth it: ∧ trieth me as þe; golde in þe; fyre. note
B Neuertheles my fete kepe his path, his
hye strete haue I holden, and not gone out
of it. I haue not forsaken the c&obar;maundem&ebar;t
of his lippes, but loke what he charged me
with his mouth, that haue I shutt vp in my
herte. It is he himself alone, who will turne
him back? He doth as him listeth, and bryngeth
to passe what he wil. He rewardeth me
into my bosome, ∧ many other thinges mo
doth he, as he maye by his power. This is þe;
cause, that I shrenke at his presence, so that
when I considre him, I am afrayed of him.
For in so moch as he is God, he maketh my
herte soft: and seynge that he is Allmightie,
he putteth me in feare. Thus can not I get
out of darcknesse, the cloude hath so couered
my face.
The XXIIII. Chapter.
A Consideringe then that there is no tyme
hyd from the Allmightie, how happeneth
it, that they which knowe him,
wil not regarde his dayes? For some m&ebar; there
be, that remoue other m&ebar;s londe markes: note
that robbe them of their catell, and kepe the
same for their owne: that dryue awaye the asse
of the fatherlesse: that take þe; wyddowes
oxe for a pledge: that thrust the poore out of
the waye, note ∧ oppresse the symple of the worlde
-- --
together. Beholde, the wilde asses in þe; deserte
go by tymes (as their maner is) to spoyle:
Yee the very wildernesse ministreth foode
for their children. They reape the corne felde
that is not their owne: and gather the grapes
out of his vynyarde, whom they haue
oppressed by violence. They are the cause þt;
so many men are naked and bare, hauynge
no clothes to couer them and kepe them
from colde:
B So that when the showers in
the mountaynes haue rayned vpon them, ∧
they be all wett, they haue none other sucoure,
but to kepe them amonge the rockes.
They spoyle the suckinge fatherlesse children,
and put the poore in preson: In so moch
that they let them go naked without clothinge,
and yet the hungrie beare the sheeues.
The poore are fayne to laboure in their oyle
mylles, yee and to treade in their wyne presses,
and yet to suffre thyrst. The whole cite
crieth vnto the LORDE with sighinge, the
soules of the slayne make their complaynte: note
But God destroyeth them not for all this,
where as they (not &wt; st&obar;dinge) are rebellious
and disobedient enemies: which seke not his
light and waye, ner turne agayne in to his
path. note Tymely in the mornynge do they aryse,
to murthur the symple and poore, ∧ in the
night they go a stealinge.
C The eye of the vngodly is like the aduouterer,
that wayteth for the darcknesse, and sayeth
thus in him self: Tush, there shal no m&abar;
se me, ∧ so he disgyseth his face. In the night
season they search the houses, and hyde them
selues in the daye tyme, but wil not knowe þe;
light. For as soone as the daye breaketh, the
shadowe of death commeth vp&obar; them, and
they go in horrible darcknesse. The vngodly
is very swyft: O þt; his porci&obar; also vp&obar; earth
were swyfter then þe; runnynge water, which
suffreth not þe; shipm&abar; to beholde the fayre ∧
pleasa&ubar;t vyniardes. O þt; they (for the wickednesse
which they haue done) were drawen to
the hell, sooner th&ebar; snowe melteth at the heate.
D O þt; all c&obar;passion vpon th&ebar; were forgott&ebar;:
þt; their daynties were wormes: that they were
clene put out of remembraunce, ∧ vtterly
hew&ebar; downe like an vnfrutefull tre. For they
manteyne the baren, ∧ make them þt; they can
not beare, ∧ vnto wyddowes they do no good.
They plucke downe the mightie &wt; their
power, ∧ when they them selues are gotten
vp, they are neuer without feare, as longe as
they liue. And though they might be safe, yet
they wil not receaue it, for their eyes loke vpon
their owne wayes. They are exalted for
a litle, but shortly are they gone, brought to
extreme pouerte, ∧ tak&ebar; out of the waye: yee
∧ vtterly plucte of as the eares of corne. Is
it not so? Who wil th&ebar; reproue me as a lyar,
∧ saye þt; my wordes are nothinge worth?
The XXV. Chapter.
A Then answered Baldad the Suhite,
∧ sayde: Power ∧ feare is with him
aboue, that maketh peace (sittinge) in
his hynesse, whose men of warre are innumerable,
and whose light aryseth ouer all. note But
how maye a man c&obar;pared vnto God, be iustified?
Or, how can he be clene, that is borne of
a woman? Beholde, the Moone shyneth nothinge
in comparison to him, ∧ the starres are
vnclene in his sight. How moch more th&ebar;,
m&abar;, that is but corrupcion: and the sonne of
man, which is but a worme?
The XXVI. Chapter.
A Iob answered, and sayde: O how helpest
thou the weake? what comforte
geuest thou vnto him that hath no
str&ebar;gth? Where is þe; co&ubar;cell þt; thou shuldest
geue him, which hath no wy&esset;dome? Wilt
thou so shewe thine excellent rightuousnes?
Before whom hast thou spoken those wordes?
Who made the breth to come out of þe;
mouth? The giauntes ∧ worthies þt; are slayne,
∧ lye vnder þe; worlde &wt; their c&obar;panions:
yee ∧ all they which dwell beneth in the hell
are not hyd fr&obar; him, ∧ the very destruccion it
self c&abar; not be kepte out of his sight. He stretcheth
out þe; north ouer the emptie, ∧ h&abar;geth
þe; earth vp&obar; nothinge. He byndeth þe; water
in his cloudes, that they fall not downe together.
B He holdeth back his stole, that it ca&abar; not
be sene, and spredeth his cloudes before it.
note He hath c&obar;pased the waters &wt; certayne
boundes, vntill the daye ∧ night come to an
ende. The very pilers of heau&ebar; tr&ebar;ble ∧ quake
at his reprofe. note He stilleth the see with his
power, ∧ thorow his wy&esset;dome hath he set
forth þe; worlde. With his sprete hath he garnished
the heau&ebar;s, ∧ with his hande hath he
wounded the rebellious serp&ebar;t. This is now
a shorte summe of his doynges. But who is
able sufficiently to rehearce his workes?
Who can perceaue and vnderstonde þe; thondre
of his power?
The XXVII. Chap.
A Iob also proceaded and w&ebar;te forth in
his communicacion, say&ebar;ge: As truly
as God lyueth (which hath taken
awaye my power fro me) ∧ the Allmightie,
that hath vexed my mynde: My lippes shall
talke of no vanite, and my tonge shal speake
no disceate, whyle my breth is in me, and as
longe as the wynde (that God hath geuen
me) is in my nostrels.
-- --
God forbydde, that I shulde graunte youre
cause to be right. As for me, vntill myne
ende come wil I neuer go fro myne innocency.
My rightuous dealynge wil I kepe fast,
∧ not forsake it: For my conscience reproueth
me not in all my conuersacion. Therfore myne
enemy shalbe founde as the vngodly, ∧ he
þt; taketh parte agaynst me, as the vnrightuous.
What hope hath þe; Ypocrite, though
he haue greate good, and though God geue
him riches after his hertes desyre? Doth
God heare him the sooner, wh&ebar; he crieth vnto
him in his necessite?
B Hath he soch pleasure
∧ delyte in the Allmightie, that he darre allwaye
call vpon God? I wil teach you in the
name of God, ∧ the thinge that I haue of þe;
Allmightie, wil I not kepe from you. Beholde,
ye stonde in yo&highr; owne conceate, as though
ye knew all thinges. Wherfore then do ye go
aboute &wt; soch vayne wordes, say&ebar;ge: This
is the porcion that the wicked shall haue of
God, ∧ the heretage that Tyrauntes shal receaue
of þe; Allmightie. Yf he get many childr&ebar;,
they shal perish &wt; the swearde, ∧ his posterite
shall haue scarcenesse of bred. Loke
whom he leaueth behinde him, they shal dye
∧ be buried, ∧ no man shall haue pite of his
wyddowes.
C Though he haue as moch money
as the dust of the earth, ∧ raym&ebar;t as ready
as the claye, he maye well prepare it: but
the godly shal put it vpon him, and the innoc&ebar;t
shal deale out the money. His house shal
endure as the moth, ∧ as a bothe that the
watch man maketh. When the rich man dyeth,
he carieth nothinge with him: he is gone
in þe; twincklynge of an eye. Destruccion
taketh holde vp&obar; him as a water floude, ∧ þe;
t&ebar;pest stealeth him awaye in the night season.
A vehement wynde carieth him hence, ∧
departeth: a storme plucketh him out of his
place. It ru&esset;sheth in vpon him, and spareth
him not, he maye not escape from the power
therof. Than clappe m&ebar; their h&obar;des at him,
yee and ieast of him, wh&ebar; they loke vpon his
place.
The XXVIII. Chapter.