The Sceptics of the Old Testament: Job - Koheleth - Agur Part 24

Why do the times of judgment depend upon the Almighty, And yet they who know him do not see his days?[239]

The wicked remove the landmarks; They rob flocks and lead them to pasture.

CCXXII

They drive away the a.s.s of the fatherless, The widow's ox they seize for a pledge; They turn the needy out of the way, All the poor of the earth have to hide themselves.[240]

CCXXIII

Lo, these things mine ear hath heard, Mine eye hath seen them, and so it is.[241]

And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, And render my speech meaningless?

CCXXIV

BILDAD:

Dominion and fear are with him, Who maketh peace in his high places.

Is there any number to his armies?

And upon whom doth his light not arise?

CCXXV

By his power the sea groweth calm, And by his understanding he smiteth the sea-dragon.

By his breath the heavens become splendour; His hand hath pierced the bolt-serpent.

CCXXVI

But the thunder of his power, Who understands its working?

And how can man be deemed just before G.o.d, And how can he be clean who is born of a woman?

CCXXVII

Behold, even the moon shineth not, Yea, the stars are not pure in his sight; How much less man, the worm; And the son of man, the maggot!

CCXXVIII

JOB:

How hast thou helped him that is without power?

How upholdest thou the arm that hath no strength?

To whom hast thou uttered words?

And whose spirit went out from thee?

CCXXIX

As G.o.d liveth who hath taken away my right, And the Almighty who hath made my soul bitter, Never shall my lips confess untruth, Nor my tongue give utterance to falsehood!

CCx.x.x

Far be it from me to agree with you!

Till I die I will not yield up my integrity!

My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go, My heart doth not censure any one of my days.

CCx.x.xI

I will teach you about the hand of G.o.d, The counsel of the Almighty will I not conceal.

Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it.[242]

Why then do ye utter such empty things?

CCx.x.xII

For there is a mine for silver, And a place for gold where they fine it; Iron is taken out of the dust, And copper is smolten out of the stone.

CCx.x.xIII

He that hovers far from man hath made an end to gloom,[243]

He turneth the mountains upside down.

He cutteth out stulms among the rocks, And the thing that is hid he bringeth forth to light.

CCx.x.xIV

But wisdom--whence shall it come?

And where is the place of understanding?

It is hid from the eyes of all living, Our ears alone have heard thereof.[244]

CCx.x.xV

G.o.d understandeth its way, And he knoweth its dwelling-place; For he looketh to the ends of the earth, And seeth under the entire heaven.

CCx.x.xVI

When he made the weight for the winds, And weighed the waters by measure, Then did he see and declare it, He prepared it, yea, and searched it out.

CCx.x.xVII

Then he said unto man, "Desist!

Worry not about things too high for thee.

Behold, fear of me, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil, that is understanding."

CCx.x.xVIII

ZOPHAR:

May the lot of the wicked befall mine enemy, And that of the unG.o.dly him who riseth up against me!

For what can be the hope of the iniquitous, When G.o.d cutteth his soul away?

CCx.x.xIX

Will G.o.d hear his cry, When trouble overtaketh him?