but has sublimely adapted the inspired volume to the nature of the human intellect and imagination; so that its pages are full of ever increasing delight, as well as sanctifying influence, to the wisest and most cultivated mind. THE BENEFIT OF AFFLICTION. CHAPTER V. VERSES 17-27. BEHOLD, happy is the man whom God correcteth; Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. For he bruiseth, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and his hands make whole. He will deliver thee in six troubles, Yea, in seven shall no evil touch thee. In famine he will redeem thee from death, And in war from the power of the sword. Thou shalt be safe from the scourge of the tongue, And shalt not be afraid of the wild beasts of the land. THE WRETCHEDNESS OF THE WICKED. CHAPTER XVIII. VERSES 5-21. BEHOLD! the light of the wicked shall be put out, Light shall become darkness in his tabernacle, The springe layeth hold of him by the heel, A net is secretly laid for him on the ground, His limbs are consumed; Yea, his limbs are devoured by the first-born of death. And his branches above are withered. He hath no son, nor kinsman amongst his people, They, that come after him shall be amazed at his fate, THE HAPPINESS OF THE VIRTUOUS. CHAPTER XXII. VERSES 21-30. BE reconciled to Him, and thou shalt have peace; Receive, I pray thee, instruction from his mouth, If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up; Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, And the gold of Ophir as stones of the brook. Yea, treasures of silver unto thee; For then shalt thou have delight in the Almighty, Thou shalt pray unto him, and he shall hear thee, And thou shalt perform thy vows. The purpose which thou formest, shall prosper with thee, And light shall shine upon thy ways. When men are cast down, thou shalt say, “There is exaltation !" And the humble person he will save. He will deliver even him, that is not innocent; The purity of thy hands shall save him. THE HOLINESS AND POWER OF GOD. THEN answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said: Dominion and fear are with Him; Is there any numbering of his armies? And the stars are not pure in his sight. And the son of man, a reptile ! Then Job answered and said: How hast thou helped the weak, Departed spirits beneath tremble; And Destruction hath no covering. He stretcheth out the North over empty space, He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds, He covereth the face of his throne, And spreadeth his clouds upon it. He hath drawn a circular bound upon the waters, To the confines of light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble, And are confounded at his rebuke. By his power he stirreth up the sea, TRUE WISDOM. CHAPTER XXviii. VERSES 12-28. BUT where shall wisdom be found? Nor can it be found in the land of the living. The deep saith, It is not in me; And the sea saith, It is not with me. STUDIES IN POETRY. Nor shall silver be weighed out as the price thereof. Gold and crystal are not to be compared with it; Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding? We have heard of its fame with our ears. He only knoweth its dwelling-place. For he seeth to the ends of the earth, And surveyeth all things under the whole heaven. Behold! the fear of the Lord, that is thy wisdom, THE JUSTICE AND THE POWER OF GOD. FROM CHAPTER XXXVI. VERSE 22, THROUGH CHAPTER XXXVIII. BEHOLD, God is exalted by his power; What potentate is like him? Who hath prescribed to him his way? Or who can say to him, "Thou hast done wrong." Which men celebrate with songs. All mankind gaze upon it; Mortals behold it from afar. Behold, God is great; we cannot know him, THE HEBREW POETS. Behold, he spreadeth around himself his light, And by these he giveth food in abundance. At this my heart trembleth, Hear, O hear the sound of his voice, And the noise, which issueth from his mouth. He thundereth with the voice of his majesty, 451 And restraineth not the tempest, when his voice is heard. Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. That all his labourers may acknowledge him. go And abide in their caverns. Out of the South cometh the whirlwind, By the breath of God ice is formed, And the broad waters are made solid. He causeth the clouds to descend in rain, And his lightning scattereth the mists. He leadeth them about by his wisdom, That they may execute his commands throughout the world; Whether he cause them to come for punishment, Give ear unto this, O Job! Stand still, and consider the wond'rous works of God. Dost thou know when God ordained them, And caused the lightning of his cloud to flash? Dost thou understand the balancing of the clouds, The wondrous works of him that is perfect in wisdom? How thy garments become warm, When he maketh the earth sultry by his south wind? Canst thou like him spread out the sky, Firm like a molten mirror? Teach us what we shall say to him, |