The Sceptics of the Old Testament: Job - Koheleth - Agur Part 34

[276] Literally: tyrannical.

[277] This line is no longer found in the Hebrew or Greek texts. It is required, however, by the sense and metre, and is inserted by Professor Bickell.

[278] Here the Hebrew text contains a play of words which cannot be reproduced in English.

[279] "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall." ("Measure for Measure.")

[280] _I.e._, for mankind.

[281] Here a portion of the text is evidently lost. Professor Bickell suggests that it ran somewhat as follows: "Who received him with applause and reviled the old king. For inasmuch as he had spurned the counsel of the wise, in order to misgovern and grind down the people, therefore they hated him as those had hated him" who were before them.

[282] As an antidote to the so-called "piety" founded upon the scrupulous observance of the law, which had become a very Upas tree of self-complacency. Mankind is already encompa.s.sed by so many and such terrible evils, that it would be sheer madness to turn religion into a means of multiplying them.

[283] Another pa.s.sage is wanting here, which most probably was to the effect that they know not that G.o.d asks no sacrifices at their hands but only works of justice; and that therefore they take courage "to work evil."

[284] Various commentators have offered various explanations of this obscure pa.s.sage. As none of them is convincing, I prefer to leave them unnoticed. It is not impossible that it may contain an allusion to some popular tale or fable, a.n.a.logous to that of the man who called upon death in his despair, and when the grim visitor made his appearance, asked him merely to help him to carry his burden.

[285] Professor Bickell supposes that here some words have fallen out, such as: "Brood not over that which is too marvellous and too lofty for thee, neither say of the dreams of thy heart and the babbling of thy lips, 'I have found the knowledge of the Holy One.'"

[286] This pa.s.sage is a bitterly ironical onslaught on bureaucracy.

[287] This distich is rhymed in Hebrew.

[288] What Kant would call _das Ding an sich_. Everything we see and know is but appearance. The underlying substance, "that which is," is unknowable.

[289] Political plots.

[290] _I.e._, the king.

[291] Ironical.

[292] By his unconsidered acts.

[293] Literally, "it must be the more l.u.s.tily wielded."

[294] This line is found only in the Septuagint.

[295] Probably a proverbial way of saying that a man knows nothing.

[296] The words in brackets are supplied conjecturally by Professor Bickell.

[297] The Authorised Version has "in this life." But it deviates from the Hebrew original.

[298] The nether world where the dead are but shadows.

[299] This and the following quatrain are rhymed in the original; as is also the preceding distich.

[300] Thy wife.

[301] The arms.

[302] The legs.

[303] The eyes.

[304] The ears.

[305] The voice.

[306] The tones.

[307] The teeth.

[308] The white hair.

[309] Fascinum.

[310] [Greek: Kreis].

[311] The epilogue forms no part of the original text.

THE SAYINGS OF AGUR

TRANSLATION OF THE RESTORED TEXT

THE SAYINGS OF AGUR

FIRST SAYING

_On G.o.d_

I

Sentence of the man who has worried himself about G.o.d: I have worried myself about G.o.d and succeeded not; For I am more stupid than other men, And in me there is no human understanding.

Neither have I learned wisdom, So that I might comprehend the science of sacred things.

II

Who has ascended into heaven and come down again?

Who can gather the wind in his fists?

Who can bind the waters in a garment?

Who can grasp all the ends of the earth?

Such an one would I question about G.o.d: What is his name?

And what is the name of his sons, if thou knowest it?[312]