Ver. 1. THEN answered Bildud the Shubite, and said,] When Job had made an end of his discourse, Bildad (another great friend of his, descended from Shuah, one of Abraham's sons by Keturah) reprehended him in the same manner as Eliphaz had done, saying;

Ver. 2. How long wilt thou speak these things? and bow long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?] Why dost thou persist to talk on this fashion, and with such vehemence expostulate with

God?

Ver. 5. Doth GOD pervert judgement? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?] Dost thou imagine the supreme Judge will not do thee right? or that he who needs nothing, will swerve from the rules of equity?

Ver. 4. If thy children have sinned against him, and bave cast them away for their transgression;] Is it not now reasonable to think that thy children had highly offended him; for which cause he took a sudden and hasty vengeance on them?

Ver. 5. If thou wouldest seek unto GOD betimes, and make thy supplications to the Almighty;] And that if thou didst now (instead of complaining) implore his grace and favour with humble supplication;

Ver. 6. If thou wert pure and upright, surely now be would awake for thee, and make the babitation of thy righteousness prosperous.] And wert thyself sincere in heart, and upright in thine actions, he would certainly have a regard to thee, and restore thy family to its former splendour.

Ver. 7. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.] I am confident, thou art not now so low, but in time he would make thee as high, nay, far more eminent than thou wast before.

Ver. 8. For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers.] I do not desire thee to take my word for it; but let those who are gone before thee instruct thee, and search diligently into the histories of the most ancient

times.

Ver. 9. (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow.)] (For, alas! we are not old enough to understand much; being able to make but few observations, by reason of the exceeding shortness of our lives.)

Ver. 10. Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart ?] They will not fail to inform thee aright; and out of their long experience, and the prudent observations of many ages, justify the truth of my words.

Ver. 11. Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water ?] The rushes and flags, we see, can shoot up no higher, when they want their mud and moisture.

Ver. 12. While it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.] There is no need to stop their growth by cutting them down; for they will wither of themselves, even when they

are fresh and green: while smaller herbs, which want not water, continue their beauty.

Ver. 13. So are the paths of all that forget GOD, and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:] Just such is the condition of all those who neglect God, (without. whose blessing none can flourish); who knows him also that counterfeits piety, and will defeat him of the happiness he expects.

Ver. 14. Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.] He may flatter himself with vain hopes, and be so much the more miserable; for the things wherein he trusts, are as weak as a spider's web.

Ver. 15. He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.] He may fancy his family to be so great and potent, that it will support him; but it shall fall as well as himself: he may endeavour to keep it up by strong alliances, but to no purpose.

Ver. 16. He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in bis garden] Nay, he may seem to all the world, as well as to himself, to be like a flourishing tree, which spreads its branches in a fair garden.

Ver. 17. His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones] Whose roots have wreathed themselves thick about the earth, and whose head lifts up itself above the highest edifices.

Ver. 18. If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.] But when God blasts him, and plucks him up by the roots, there shall remain no remembrance that such a man ever lived in that place.

Ver. 19. Behold this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.] Believe it, the pleasure such men take in their prosperous estate is no better than this; and out of the dust shall others spring up, and flourish in their stead.

Ver. 20. Behold, GOD will not cast away a perfect man, neither will be help the evil-doers.] It is a certain truth, that God will not desert the upright, nor will he uphold the wicked.

Ver. 21. Till be fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.] Thou thy self (if thou art upright) shalt still be so blessed by him, that thou shalt not be able to contain thy joy within thy heart; but it shall appear in thy countenance, and burst out into joyful songs.

Ver. 22. They that hate thee shall be cloathed with shame, and the dwelling-place of the wicked shall come to nought.] They that rejoiced at thy fall, shall be perfectly confounded at thy happy restoration, and never recover themselves, but utterly perish.

CHAP. IX.

THE ARGUMENT.-Job allows what Bildad had welt spoken in the beginning of his speech; and very religiously adores the justice, wisdom, and sovereignty of the Almighty; with whom he protests he had no intention to quarrel or dispute, but only

to assert the contrary maxim to that which they maintained, that piety will not secure us from all calamities, which do not ever fall upon those that deserve them. Witness, on one hand, the prospe rous estate of wicked princes, ver. 24. (particularly of one great prince, who then somewhere reigned in their neighbouring countries), and, on the other hand, his own infelicity, notwithstanding his known integrity, ver. 25. About this he confesses he was very much unsatisfied; though he knew it was in vain to argue with God about it, nor would his affliction suffer him to do it.

Ver. 1. THEN Job answered, and said,] When he had done, Job began again, and replied

in this manner:

Ver. 2. I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?] There need not so many words to prove what thou saidst in the entrance of thy speech; for I know very well, that God never perverts judgement, and that frail man cannot justify himself before him.

Ver. 3. If he will contend with him, he cannot ansaver him one of a thousand.] If he should go about to answer to a thousand things which may be objected to him, he would hardly clear himself in one.

Ver. 4. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?] I adore also his wisdom and power, as well as his justice; and am sensible that no men can be safe who obstinately oppose him.

Ver. 5. Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.] Though they were as big and as strong as the mountains, he can hastily overturn them in a moment, before they think of it.

Ver. 6. Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.] For he is able to remove the whole earth out of its place, and shatter the very foundations of it.

Ver. 7. Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and sealeth up the stars.] Nor are the heavens less subject to his power; for neither sun nor stars can shine if he forbid them.

"

Ver. 8. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and trendeth upon the waves of the sea.] He alone commands the clouds to cover them, and makes the sea swell and lift up its waves.

Ver. 9. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.] All the constellations of heaven obey him in their several seasons: both those which we see, and those in the other hemi'sphere.

Ver. to. Which doth great things past finding out, gea, and wonders without number.] In short, I agree with Eliphaz, (ver. 9.), that the wonders he doth are innumerable, and past my comprehension. A

Ver. 11. Lo be goeth by me, and I see him not be parseth on elso, but I perceive him not.] He sets them before my eyes continually, and yet I am not able to understand them.

Ver. 12. Behold he taketh away, who can hinder him? VOL. III.

the

who will say unto kim, What dost thou ] If he snatch away any thing suddenly, who can make him restore it, or cause him to give an account why he did it? Ver. 13. If GOD will not withdraw his anger, proud helpers do stoop under him.] If he will continue his displeasure, there is no remedy; but the proudest undertakers must confess their inability to relieve us.

Ver. 14. How much less shall I answer him, and chuse out my avords to reason with him?] What am I then, poor wretch, that I should contend with his anger? Or where shall I find out words choice enough to plead with him?

Ver. 15. Whom, though I avere righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.] It is not fit for me to open my mouth before him in the justest cause, unless it be to supplicate his favour when he judges me.

Ver. 16. If I bad called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe he bad hearkened unto my voice.] And if I had made supplication, and he had granted my desire, I would not think my prayer had done the business, (or believe myself to be out of danger).

Ver. 17. For he breaketh me with a tempest, and mul tiplieth my wounds without cause.] For I am not conscious of any guilt; and yet you see with what violent blasts he hath shattered me and my family in pieces, and given me one wound after another.

Ver. 18. He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filled me with bitterness.] No sooner was one past, but another immediately followed, which have left me not the least pleasure in life.

Ver. 19. If I speak of strength, la, he is strong and if of judgement, who shall set me a time to plead?] If I stand upon my might; alas! it is not to be named with his: If upon my right; what judge is there above him, to appoint us a day of hearing?

Ver. 20. If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemu me; if I say I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.] If I should justify myself, there would be something in my very plea to condemn me: it will render my cause worse to pretend I am innocent.

Ver. 21. Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul; I would despise my life.] Though I were so, yet I would not be mine own judge in the case: I do not value my life so much, as to contend about it.

Ver. 22. This is one thing, therefore I said it, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.] All that I affirm is this, and I persist in that opinion, that he lets the innocent suffer sad things, as well as the guilty.

Ver. 23. If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.] When a plague comes which kills in a moment, he regards not though it fall on the innocent.

Ver. 24. The earth is given into the band of the wicked; he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?] And on the other sides, (so false is your discourse), we see the government of the earth given into the hands of a wicked prince, who blinds the eyes of his judges. If you deny this, tell me, where is the man, and what is his name -who administers things uprightly?

Ver. 25. Now my days are swifter than a post; they

Ver. 26. They are passed away as the swift ships; as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.] The ships that are carried with the most rapid stream, or the hungry eagle in chase of her prey, do not make more haste

away.

Ver. 27. If I say I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:] I think sometimes with myself, that I will forget the miseries of which I complain, and be more chearful and courageous:

Ver. 28. I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.] But then, my grief frights away that resolution; knowing thou will not release me, but make me still groan under them.

Ver. 29. If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain ?] I am wicked in thine account, and therefore it is to no purpose to vindicate mine innocence.

Ver. 30. If I wash myself with snow-water, and make my hands never so clean ;] Were I never so pure and clean from all filthiness in heart and life;

Ver. 31. Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own cloaths shall abhor me.] Thou wouldest, notwithstanding, cover me with filthy ulcers, and make my nearest relations abhor to approach me.

Ver. 32. For he is not a man as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgement.] For God is not like me, that we should dispute upon

even terms.

Ver. 33. Neither is there any days-man betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.] Nor is there any body above us, both to compose our differences, and command silence, when either of us exceeds our

bounds.

Ver. 34. Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me.] As for myself, his rod, which is upon me, keeps me in such awe, that I cannot speak freely.

Ver. 35. Then would I speak, and not fear him, but it is not so with me.] Let him remove that, and then I shall utter my mind with less dread: For I am not so bad as you imagine.

CHAP. X.

THE ARGUMENT.-In this chapter the passionate complaints and expostulations with God, from which Job tells us (in the foregoing chapter) he intended hereafter, to refrain, break out afresh; and he earnestly desires to know what his guilt is: which God who made him, he was sure, could not but perfectly understand, if there was any; and needed not, for the discovery of it, to expose him to these severe torments. Which, he still is of the opinion, may justify his wishes of never being born, or of dying presently after. Though, those wishes being vain, he acknowledges it is more rational to desire, that God would be pleased to intermit his pain a while, if he did not think fit quite to remove it.

complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.] And since life is a burden to me, which can find no ease but only in complaining, I will take that liberty, (for it is in vain to contend against it, ix. 27.), though no words can express my anguish and misery.

Ver. 2. I will say unto GOD, Do not condemn me ; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.] O thou supreme Judge of all, do not pronounce thy final sentence against me, till thou hast first shewn me what the crimes are for which I suffer.

Ver. 3. Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress? that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands? and shine upon the counsel of the wicked ?] What benefit wilt thou receive by my spoils ? or is it agreeable to thee to slight thine own workmanship, and to countenance the reasonings and designs of evil men?

Ver. 4. Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?] Dost thou judge of things as men do, who can see no farther than the outside, or are led by their affections?

Ver. 5. Are thy days as the days of man? are thy gears as man's days?] Must thou take time, as we do, to find out the truth, and understand the bottom of a business?

Ver. 6. That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin? Is that the reason thou usest me thus severely, and hast laid me upon a rack, and as it were examinest what I have done amiss?

Ver. 7. Thou knowest that I am not wicked, and there is none that can deliver me out of thine hand.] Surely thou (whose vengeance none can escape) knowest, without the help of such torments, that Í am not guilty.

Ver. 8. Thine hands have made me, and fashioned me together, round about; yet thou dost destroy me.] There is no part of me but was most elaborately made and fashioned by thee, (and therefore thou canst not be ignorant of me), though now thou art about to ruin

me.

Ver. 9. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay, and wilt thou bring me into dust again ?] Need I put thee in mind that I was formed by thee, as the potter works the clay into what shape he pleases, and now thou art crumbling me in pieces again?

Ver. 10. Hast thou not poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese?] Didst not thou gather all the scattered parts together, and compact them in my mother's womb?

Ver. 11. Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews;] And first cover them with skin, and then with flesh, and at last strengthen them with bones and sinews;

Ver. 12. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.] And in due time bring me into the world, and give me all the comforts of life, and by thy constant care preserve both it and them.

Ver. 13. And these things hast thou hid in thine heart : I know that this is with thee.] Thou canst not have

forgotten these things; and I am sure that this misery I now endure is not without thy order.

Ver. 14. If I sin, then thou markest me; and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.] I cannot offend thee in the least, but thou (by whom I was thus formed) must needs know and observe it, and I cannot avoid thy punishment for it.

Ver. 15. If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if 1 be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head: I am full of confusion, therefore see thou mine affliction.] If 1 be wicked, I am undone; and if I be righteous, I am so oppressed that I cannot look upon what a lamentable confusion I am in, beholding nothing but misery which way soever I cast mine eyes.

Ver. 16. For it increaseth: thou huntest me as a fierce lion; and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.] For it grows greater and greater, while thou pursuest me as a lion doth his prey; and when I hope there is an end of my troubles, sendest more to fill me with new astonishment and horror.

Ver. 17. Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.] Fresh witnesses of thine anger rise up against me thou multipliest thy plagues upon me, so that there is no end, but only a change of my conflicts.

Ver. 18. Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me !] And therefore I cannot but wish, as I did at the first, that my mother's womb had been my grave: happy had it been for me if I had died there, and never come into this miserable world:

Ver. 19. I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.] Or that I had died as soon as I was born, and been carried from the womb to the grave;

Ver. 20. Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little: To which I am now very near. May I beg, therefore, but this one favour, that since thou wilt not quite remove thy hand, thou wilt forbear a while to strike, and let me breathe and refresh myself a little ;

Ver. 21. Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness, and the shadow of death;] Before I depart thither from whence I shall not return, (to ask any more favours), be laid, I mean, in my grave, the place of dismal darkness:

Ver. 22. A land of darkness, as darkness itself, and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.] Where it is as dark as dark can and there is no succession of day and night, as we have here, but one perpetual night.

be;

CHAP. XI.

THE ARGUMENT.-This chapter gives an account of the sense of Zophar about the business in dispute. It is uncertain whence he was descended; but probably he dwelt upon the borders of Idumæa, for there we find an ancient city called Naama, (Josh. xv. 41.) and from thence came to visit Job in his afiction. But instead of joining with him in his

prayer for a little respite from his pain, (with which Job had concluded his last discourse), he calls him an idle talker, and accuses him of irreverence towards God. Concerning whose incomprehensible counsels, and irresistible power, &c. he discourses with great sense, and gives Job exceeding good auvice; but still follows the opinion of the other two friends, that he would not have been so miserable, if he had not been wicked.

Ver. 1. THEN answered Z phar the Naamathite, and said,] Here a third friend of Job's (Zophar of Naama) began to speak with no small pas

sion;

Ver. 2. Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?] Dost thou think to stop our mouths with abundance of words; and by thy talkativeness to persuade us thou art innocent?

Ver. 3. Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed ?】 Must we not confute thy false allegations, but suffer thee to be insolent, because thou art miserable?

Ver. 4. For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and 1 am clean in thine eyes.] For thou pretendest not to have offended either in word or deed, and that God himself can find no reason to condemn thee.

Ver. 5. But, Oh that GOD would speak, and open his lips against thee;] O that he would vouchsafe to shew thee thine error, and with his own mouth confute thee!

!

Ver. 6. And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is know, therefore, that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.] That he would shew thee the secret reasons of his wise counsels (which far surpass thine) in this affliction; and make thee know that he would be just, if he should punish sin more severely.

Ver. 7. Canst thou by searching find out GOD? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?] Art thou able, after all thy busy inquiries, to give an account of God's judgements, and perfectly comprehend the reasons of his providence ?

Ver. 8. It is as high as heaven, what canst thou do? deeper than hell, what canst thou know?] Thou mayest as well take a measure of the height of heaven, or of the depth of hell.

Ver. 9. The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.] The earth and the sea, as long and as broad as they are, have their bounds, but that hath none.

Ver. 10. If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?] If he seize upon any thing, and shut it up, (as a hunter doth his in a prey net), he will gather it, and who shall force him to restore it?

Ver. 11. For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wicked. ness also, will he not then consider it ?] For he knows vain men, (who mind not what they say or do), he sees their most hidden wickedness, and will not he punish it?

Ver, 12. For vain man would be wise, though man

be born like a wild ass's colt.] Shall man void of understanding take the confidence to dispute with God? man, who is naturally as rude and blockish as a wild ass's colt?

Ver. 13. If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands towards him;] If thou art truly wise, cease disputing, and fall to prayer.

Ver. 14. If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness drwell in thy tabernacles.] If thou art guilty of any sin, banish it quite away, and reform thyself and thy family.

Ver. 15. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear :] For then shalt thou look chearfully again, and be perfectly freed from this loathsome condition; yea, thou shalt be settled without any fear of losing thy happi

ness.

Ver. 16. Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:] Which shall be so great, that it shall blot out the remembrance of thy past miseries; or thou shalt think of them as of waters that are run away, and will return no more.

Ver. 17. And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morn.. ing.] The rest of thy life shall be more glorious than the sun at noon: even thy darkness shall be like the morning-light.

Ver. 18. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.] Thou shalt be confident though any evil threaten thee, because there is hope God will deliver thee; thou shalt dig wells of water, and none shall disturb thy tents or thy flocks.

Ver. 19. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.] Thou shalt be in perfect peace, and none shall disquiet thee: yea, the multitude shall sue to thee for thy favour, and the greatest persons shall desire thy friendship.

Ver. 20. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape; and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost. But the wicked shall in vain look for happiness: they shall not escape their deserved punishment, but their hope of deliverance shall faint away.

CHAP. XII.

THE ARGUMENT. In this chapter Job taxes all his three friends with too great a conceit of their own wisdom, which had not, as yet, taught them common humanity to the miserable: And lets them understand, that he needs not come to them to learn, but might rather teach them the falseness of that proposition, wherewith Zophar had concluded his speech, concerning the infelicity of the wicked. For the contrary, he tells them, was obvious to sense, ver. 7. 8. &c. And as for what Zophar had discoursed of the wisdom and power of God, he I would have them know, that he was as well skilled in those points as the best of them, and understood ratas much of the history of ancient times; particu

larly of the vain attempt at the tower of Babel, unto which it is probable he hath respect in the 14th verse; as, in the following, he seems to have to what you read in Gen. xiv. 5.-8. of the rooting out of those fierce giants the Rephaim, and other such like barbarous and rapacious people; of the particulars of which we have now no records remaining.

Ver. 1.

AND

ND Job answered and said,] To this Job replied in such words as these ; Ver. 2. No doubt but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.] You believe, then, there are no men of sense in the world besides yourselves: so that if you were dead, there would be no wisdom left among us.

Ver. 3. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? Let not your vanity abuse you; 1 have understanding as well and as much as you; and so hath every body else: for I see nothing singular in all you have said.

Ver 4. I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon GOD, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.] I am not so simple but I see how you deride your friend, when you bid him call upon God that he may answer him. But this is no new thing, the best of men have been mocked at on this fashion.

Ver. 5. He that is ready to ship with his feet, is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.] Though he be as a lamp, yet they who are dazzled with the splendour of worldly prosperity despise him : the upright is never acceptable to him who is not stedfast in his goings.

Ver. 6. The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke GOD are secure; into whose hands GOD bringeth abundantly.] For they thrive and flourish, though they rob the just; and even such men live without disturbance, as provoke God with those very things which he bestows upon them with his own hand.

Ver. 7. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the foruls of the air, and they shall tell thee.] Thou needest not go any farther than the beasts or birds, to learn how well the wicked fare.

Ver. 8. Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.] The earth brings forth her fruit to them abundantly, and the fishes of the sea deny them not their service.

Ver. 9. Who knoweth not, in all these, that the band of the LORD bath wrought this?] Who is so stupid as not to understand, by all these, that God hath or dered it should be thus?

Ver. 10. In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.] Whose right. it is to dispose of all creatures, as well as of mankind.

Ver. 11. Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste meat?] Cannot the mind distinguish truth from falsehood, as exactly as the palate sweet from bitter?