The Sceptics of the Old Testament: Job - Koheleth - Agur Part 19

And upon such an one dost thou open thine eyes!

And him thou bringest into judgment with thee!

Though he is gnawed as a rotten thing, As a garment that is moth-eaten.

CXXIII

If his days are determined upon earth, If the number of his months are with thee; Look then away from him that he may rest, Till he shall accomplish his day, as an hireling.

CXXIV

For there is a future for the tree, And hope remaineth to the palm: Cut down, it will sprout again, And its tender branch will not cease.

CXXV

Though its roots wax old in the earth And its stock lie buried in mould, Yet through vapour of water will it bud, And bring forth boughs like a plant.

CXXVI

But man dieth, and lieth outstretched; He giveth up the ghost, where is he then?

He lieth down and riseth not up; Till heaven be no more he shall not awake.

CXXVII

Oh that thou wouldst hide me in the grave!

That thou wouldst secrete me till thy wrath be pa.s.sed!

That thou wouldst appoint me a set time and remember me!

If so be man could die and yet live on!

CXXVIII

All the days of my warfare I then would wait, Till my relief should come; Thou wouldst call and I would answer thee, Thou wouldst yearn after the work of thine hands.

CXXIX

But now thou renumberest my steps, Thou dost not forgive my failing; Thou sealest my transgressions in a bag, And thou still keepest adding to my guilt.

Cx.x.x

ELIPHAZ:

Should a wise man utter empty knowledge, And fill his belly with the east wind?

Should he reason with bootless prattle?

Or with speeches that profit him nothing?

Cx.x.xI

Yea, thou makest void the fear of G.o.d, And weakenest respect before him; For thine own iniquity instructeth thy mouth, And thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

Cx.x.xII

Art thou the first man born?

Or wast thou made before the hills?

Wast thou heard in the council of G.o.d?

And hast thou drawn wisdom unto thyself?

Cx.x.xIII

What knowest thou that we know not?

What understandest thou which is not in us?

Doth the solace of G.o.d not suffice unto thee, And a word to thee whispered softly?

Cx.x.xIV

Why doth thine heart carry thee away, And what do thine eyes wink at, That thou turnest thy spirit against G.o.d, And lettest go such words from thy mouth?

Cx.x.xV

Behold he putteth no trust in his saints; Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight; How much less the foul and corrupt one,-- Man, who lappeth up wickedness like water.

Cx.x.xVI

What the wise announce unto us, Their fathers did not withhold it from them; Unto them alone the land was given, And no stranger pa.s.sed among them.[220]

Cx.x.xVII

The wicked man travaileth all his days with pain, And few are the years appointed to the oppressor: A sound of dread is in his ears: In prosperity the destroyer shall overtake him.

Cx.x.xVIII

He has no hope of return out of darkness, And he is waited for by the sword.

The day of gloom shall terrify him, Distress and anguish shall fasten upon him.

Cx.x.xIX

For he stretched out his arm against G.o.d, And girded himself against the Almighty: Rushing upon him with a stiff neck, Guarded by the thick bosses of his buckler.

CXL

The glow shall dry up his branches, And his blossom shall be snapped by the storm-wind.

Let him not trust in vanity--he is deluded, For his barter[221] shall prove worthless.

CXLI

His offshoot shall wither before his time, And his branch shall not be green; He shall shake off his unripe grape, like the vine, And shall shed his flower like the olive.

CXLII

For the tribe of the wicked shall be barren, And fire shall consume the tents of bribery: They conceive mischief, and bring forth disaster, And their belly breeds abortion.

CXLIII