In this historie is set before our eyes the example of a singular patience. For this holy man Iob was not onely extremely afflicted in outwarde things and in his body, but also in his minde and conscience, by the sharpe tentations of his wife, and chiefe friendes: which by their vehement wordes, and subtill disputations brought him almost to despaire: for they set forth God as a seuere Iudge, and mortall enemie vnto him, which had cast him off, therefore in vaine he should seeke vnto him for succour. These friendes came vnto him vnder pretence of consolation, and yet they tormented him more then did all his affliction. Notwithstanding he did constantly resist them, and at length had good successe. In this story we haue to marke that Iob maintaineth a good cause, but handleth it euill: againe his aduersaries haue an euill matter, but they defend it craftily. For Iob held that God did not alway punish men according to their sinnes, but that he had secrete iudgements, whereof man knewe not the cause, and therefore man could not reason against God therein, but he shoulde be conuicted. Moreouer, he was assured that God had not reiected him, yet through his great torments, and affliction he brasteth forth into many inconueniences both of wordes and

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sentences, and sheweth himselfe as a desperate man in many things, and as one that would resist God: and this is his good cause which he doth not handle well. Againe the aduersaries maintaine with many goodly arguments, that God punisheth continually according to the trespasse, grounding vpon Gods prouidence, his iustice, and mans sinnes, yet their intention is euill: for they labour to bring Iob into despaire, and so they maintaine an euill cause. Ezekiel commendeth Iob as a iust man, Ezek.14.14. and Iames setteth out his pacience for an example, Iam.5.11.

1 The holinesse, riches, and care of Iob for his children. 10 Satan hath permißion to tempt him. 13 Hee tempteth him by taking away his substance, and his children. 20 His faith and patience.

¹ There was a man in the lande of [Note: [a] That is, of the countrey of Idumea, as Lamen.4. 21, or bordering thereupon: for the land was called by the name of Vz the sonne of Dishan the sonne of Seir, Gen.36.28. ] Vz called Iob, & this man [Note: [b] Forasmuch as he was a Gentile, and not a Iewe, and yet is pronounced vpright, and without hypocrisie, it declareth that among the heathen God hath his. ] was an vpright and iust man, [Note: [c] Hereby is declared, what is meant by an vpright and iust man. ] one that feared God, and eschewed euill.

² And he had seue sonnes, & three daughters.

³ His [Note: [d] His children and riches are declared, to commende his vertue in his prosperitie, and his pacience, and constancie, when God had taken them from him. ] substance also was seuen thousande sheepe, and three thousand camels, and fiue hundreth yoke of oxen, and fiue hundreth shee asses, and his family was very great, so that this man was the greatest of all the [Note: Ebr. children. ] men of [Note: [e] Meaning, the Arabians, Chaldeans, Idumeans, &c. ] the East.

⁴ And his sonnes went & banketted in their houses, euery one his day, and sent, & called their three sisters to eate and to drinke with them.

⁵ And when the dayes of their banketting were gone about, Iob sent, and [Note: [f] That is, commaunded them to be sanctified: meaning, that they shoulde consider the faultes, that they had committed, and reconcile themselues for the same. ] sanctified them, and rose vp early in the morning, and [Note: [g] That is, he offred for euery one of his children an offring of reconciliation, which declared his religion towarde God, and the care that hee had towarde his children. ] offred burnt offrings according to the nomber of them all. For Iob thought, It may be that my sonnes haue sinned, & [Note: [h] In Ebrewe it is, and blessed God, which is sometime taken for blaspheming and cursing, as heere, and 1.King.21.10. and 13. &c. ] blasphemed God in their hearts: thus did Iob [Note: [i] While the feast lasted. ] euery day.

⁶ ¶ Nowe on a day when the [Note: [k] Meaning, the Angels which are called the sonnes of God, because they are willing to execute his will. ] children of God came and stoode [Note: [l] Because our infirmitie cannot comprehende God in his maiestie, he is set forth vnto vs as a King, that our capacitie may bee able to vnderstande that which is spoken of him. ] before the Lorde, Satan [Note: [m] This declareth that although Satan bee aduersarie to God, yet he is compelled to obey him, and doe him all homage, without whose permission and appoyntment he can doe nothing. ] came also among them.

⁷ Then the Lord sayde vnto Satan, Whence [Note: [n] This question is asked for our infirmitie: for God knewe whence hee came. ] commest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, saying, [Note: [o] Herein is described the nature of Satan, which is euer ranging for his pray, 1.Pet.5.8. ] From compassing the earth to and fro, and from walking in it.

⁸ And the Lord saide vnto Satan, Hast thou not considered my seruant Iob, how none is like him in the earth? an vpright and iust man, one that feareth God, and escheweth euill?

⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord, and sayde, Doeth Iob feare God for [Note: [p] He feareth thee not for thine owne sake, but for the commoditie that hee receiueth by thee. ] nought?

¹⁰ Hast thou not made [Note: [q] Meaning, the grace of God, which serued Iob, as a rampart against all tentations. ] an hedge about him and about his house, & about all that he hath on euery side? thou hast blessed the worke of his hands, & his substance is increased in the land.

¹¹ But stretch out now thine hand & [Note: [r] This signifieth, that Satan is not able to touche vs, but it is God that must doe it. ] touch all that he hath, to see if he will not blaspheme thee to [Note: [s] Satan noteth the vice, whereunto men are commonly subiect: that is, to hide their rebellion, and to be content with God in the time of prosperitie, which vice is disclosed in the time of their aduersitie. ] thy face.

¹² Then the Lorde sayde vnto Satan, Lo, all

that he hath is in [Note: [t] God giueth not Satan power ouer man to gratifie him, but to declare that he hath no power ouer man, but that which God giueth him. ] thine hand: onely vpon himselfe shalt thou not stretch out thine hand. So Satan departed from the [Note: [u] That is, went to execute that which God had permitted him to doe: for else hee can neuer goe out of Gods presence. ] presence of the Lord.

¹³ ¶ And on a day, when his sonnes and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house,

¹⁴ There came a messenger vnto Iob, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding in their places,

¹⁵ And the [Note: [x] That is the Arabians. ] Shabeans came violently, and tooke them: yea, they haue slayne the seruants with the edge of the sworde: but I onely am escaped alone to tell thee.

¹⁶ And whiles he was yet speaking, another came, and sayde, The [Note: [y] Which thing was also done by the craft of Satan, to tempt Iob the more grieuously, for as much as he might see, that not onely men were his enemies, but that God made warre against him. ] fire of God is fallen from the heauen, & hath burnt vp the sheepe and the seruants, and deuoured them: but I onely am escaped alone to tell thee.

¹⁷ And whiles he was yet speaking, another came, and sayd, The Caldeans set on three bands, and fell vpon the camels, and haue taken them, and haue slayne the seruantes with the edge of the sworde: but I onely am escaped alone to tell thee.

¹⁸ And whiles he was yet speaking, came an other, and sayd, Thy [Note: [z] This last plague declareth that when one plague is past which seemeth hard to be borne, God can send vs another farre more grienous, to trie his, and teache them obedience. ] sonnes, and thy daughters were eating, and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house,

¹⁹ And behold, there came a great wind from beyonde the wildernesse, and smote the foure corners of the house, which fel vpon the children, and they are dead, and I onely am escaped alone to tell thee.

²⁰ Then Iob arose, and [Note: [a] Which came not of impaciencie, but declareth that the children of God are not insensible like blockes, but that in their pacience they seele affliction, and griefe of minde: yet they keepe a meane herein, and rebell not against God, as the wicked doe. ] rent his garment, and shaued his head, and fel downe vpon the ground, and worshipped,

²¹ And sayd, [Note: Eccle.5.14. 1.tim.6 7. ] Naked came I out of my mothers wombe, and naked shall I returne [Note: [b] That is, into the bellie of the earth, which is the mother of all. ] thither: the Lord hath giuen, and the Lord hath taken it: [Note: [c] Hereby he confesseth that God is iust, and good, although his hand be sore vpon him. ] blessed be the Name of the Lord.

²² In all this did not Iob sinne, nor charge God [Note: [d] But declared that God did all things according to iustice and equitie. ] foolishly.

6 Satan hath permißion to afflict Iob. 9 His wife tempteth him to forsake God. 11 His three friends visite him.

¹ And on a day the [Note: [a] That is, the Angels, as Chap.1.6. ] children of God came and stood before the Lord, and [Note: [b] Read Chap.1.6. ] Satan came also among them, and stoode before the Lord.

² Then the Lord sayde vnto Satan, Whence commest thou? And Satan answered the Lorde, and sayd, From compassing the earth to and fro, and from walking in it.

³ And the Lord sayd vnto Satan, Hast thou not considered my seruant Iob, how none is like him in the earth? [Note: Chap.1.1. ezek. 14.14. ] an vpright and iust man, one that feareth God, and escheweth euill? for yet he continueth in his vprightnesse, [Note: [c] He proueth Iobs integritie by this that he ceased not to feare God when his plagues were grieuously vpon him. ] although thou mouedst me against him, to destroy [Note: [d] That is, when thou hadst nought against him, or whe thou wast not able to bring thy purpose to passe. ] him without cause.
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⁴ And Satan answered the Lorde, and sayde, [Note: [e] Hereby hee meant that a mans owne skin is dearer vnto him then another mans. ] Skin for skin, and all that euer a man hath, will he giue for his life.

⁵ But stretch now out thine hand, and touch his [Note: [f] Meaning, his owne person. ] bones and his flesh, to see if he will not blaspheme thee to thy face.

⁶ Then the Lorde said vnto Satan, Lo, he is in thine hand, but saue [Note: [g] Thus Satan can goe no further in punishing, then God hath limited him. ] his life.

⁷ ¶ So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord, and smote Iob with sore [Note: [h] This sore was most vehement, wherewith also God plagued the Egyptians, Exod 9.9, and threatneth to punish the rebellious people, Deuter.28.27. so that this tentation was most grieuous: for if Iob had measured Gods fauour by the vehemencie of his disease, hee might haue thought that God had cast him off. ] boyles, from the sole of his foote vnto his crowne.

⁸ And he tooke a [Note: [i] As destitute of all other helpe and meanes, and wonderfully afflicted with the sorowe of his disease. ] potsharde to scrape him, and he sate downe among the ashes.

⁹ Then said his [Note: [k] Satan vseth the same instrument against Iob, as he did against Adam. ] wife vnto him, Doest thou [Note: [l] Meaning, what gaynest thou to serue God, seeing he thus plagueth thee as though he were thine enemie? This is the most grieuous tentation of the faithfull, when their faith is assayled, and when Satan goeth about to perswade them, that they trust in God in vayne. ] continue yet in thine vprightnes? [Note: [m] For death was appoynted to the blasphemer, and so shee meant that he shoulde be soone ridde out of his payne. ] Blaspheme God, and dye.

¹⁰ But he said vnto her, Thou speakest like a foolish woman: what? shall we receiue good at the hande of God, and not [Note: [n] That is, to be patient in aduersitie, as wee reioyce, when he sendeth prosperitie, and so to acknowledge him to bee both mercifull and iust. ] receiue euill? In all this did not Iob sinne with his [Note: [o] Hee so brideled his affections, that his tongue through impaciencie did not murmure against God. ] lippes.

¹¹ Nowe when Iobs three [Note: [p] Which were men of authoritie, wise and learned, and as the Septuagint write, Kings, and came to comfort him, but when they sawe howe he was visited, they conceiued an euill opinion of him, as though hee had bene but an hypocrite, and so iustly plagued of God for his sinnes. ] friends heard of all this euill that was come vpon him, they came euery one from his owne place, to wit, Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they were agreed together to come to lament with him, and to comfort him.

¹² So when they lift vp their eyes a farre off, they knewe him not: therefore they lift vp their voyces and wept, and euery one of them rent his garment, and sprinkled [Note: [q] This was also a ceremonie, which they vsed in those countreyes, as the renting of their clothes in signe of sorowe, &c. ] dust vpon their heads toward the heauen.

¹³ So they sate by him vpon the ground seuen dayes, and seuen nights, and none spake a worde vnto him: for they sawe, that the griefe was very [Note: [r] And therefore thought that he would not haue hearkened to their counsell. ] great.

1 Iob complayneth and curseth the day of his birth. 11 He desireth to dye, as though death were the ende of all mans miserie.

¹ Afterward [Note: [a] The seuen daies ended, Chap.2.13. ] Iob opened his mouth, and [Note: [b] Here Iob beginneth to feele his great imperfection in this battel betweene ye spirit & the flesh, Rom.7.18. and after a maner yeeldeth, yet in the ende he getteth victorie, though he was in the meane time greatly wounded. ] cursed his day.

² And Iob cryed out, and sayd,

³ Let the day [Note: [c] Men ought not to be wearie of their life, & curse it because of the infirmities that it is subiect vnto, but because they are giuen to sinne & rebellion against God. ] perish, wherein I was borne, and the night when it was sayde, There is a man childe conceiued.

⁴ Let that day bee darkenesse, let not God [Note: [d] Let it be put out of the nomber of dayes, and let it not haue the light of the sunne to separate it from the night. ] regarde it from aboue, neyther let the light shine vpon it,

⁵ But let darkenesse, and the [Note: [e] That is, most obscure darkenesse, which maketh them afraid of death, that are in it. ] shadowe of death staine it: let the cloude remayne vpon it, and let them make it fearefull as a bitter day.

⁶ Let darkenesse possesse that night, let it not be ioyned vnto the dayes of the yeere, nor let it

come into the count of the moneths.

⁷ Yea, desolate be that night, and let no ioy be in it.

⁸ Let them that curse the day, (being [Note: [f] Which curse the day of their birth, let them lay that curse vpon this night. ] readie to renue their mourning) curse it.

⁹ Let the starres of that twilight be dimme through darkenesse of it: let it looke for light, but haue none: neither let it [Note: [g] Let it be alwayes night, and neuer see day. ] see [Note: Ebr. The eye liddes of the morning. ] the dawning of the day,

¹⁰ Because it shut not vp the dores of my mothers wombe: nor hid sorowe from mine eyes.

¹¹ [Note: [h] This and that which followeth, declareth that when man giueth place to his passions, he is not able to stay nor keepe measure, but runneth headlong into all euil, except God call him backe. ] Why died I not in the birth? or why dyed I not, when I came out of the wombe?

¹² Why did the knees preuent me? and why did I sucke the breasts?

¹³ For so shoulde I now haue [Note: [i] The vehemencie of his afflictions made him to vtter these words, as though death were the ende of all miseries, & as if there were no life after this, which hee speaketh not as though it were so, but the infirmities of his flesh caused him to brast out into this errour of the wicked. ] lyen and bene quiet, I should haue slept then, and bene at rest,

¹⁴ With the Kings & counselers of the earth, which haue buylded themselues [Note: [k] He noteth the ambition of them, which for their pleasure, as it were, change the order of nature, & build in most barren places, because they woulde hereby make their names immortall. ] desolate places:

¹⁵ Or with the princes that had golde, and haue filled their houses with siluer.

¹⁶ Or why was I not hid, as an vntimely birth, either as infants, which haue not seene the light?

¹⁷ The wicked [Note: [l] That is, by death the crueltie of the tyrants hath ceased. ] haue there ceased from their tyrannie, and there they that laboured valiantly, are at rest.

¹⁸ The [Note: [m] All they that sustaine any kind of calamitie and miserie in this worlde: which he speaketh after the iudgement of the flesh. ] prisoners rest together, and heare not the voyce of the oppressour.

¹⁹ There are small and great, and the seruant is free from his master.

²⁰ Wherefore is the light giuen to him that is in miserie? and [Note: [n] He sheweth that the benefites of God are not comfortable, except the heart be ioyfull, and the conscience quieted. ] life vnto them that haue heauie hearts?

²¹ Which long for death, and if it come not, they would euen search it more then treasures:

²² Which ioy for gladnes, and reioyce, when they can finde the graue.

²³ Why is the light giuen to the man whose way is [Note: [o] That seeth not how to come out of his miseries, because he dependeth not on Gods prouidence. ] hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

²⁴ For my sighing commeth before I eate, and my roarings are powred out like the water.

²⁵ For the thing I [Note: [p] In my prosperitie I looked euer for a fall, as is come now to passe. ] feared, is come vpon me, and the thing yt I was afraid of, is come vnto me.

²⁶ I had no peace, neither had I quietnesse, neither had I rest, [Note: [q] The feare of troubles that shoulde ensue, caused my prosperitie to seeme to me as nothing, and yet I am not exempted from trouble. ] yet trouble is come.

5 Iob is reprehended of impaciencie, 7 and vniustice, 17 and of the presumption of his owne righteousnesse.

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and sayde,

² If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieued? but [Note: [a] Seeing this thine impaciencie. ] who can withholde himselfe from speaking?

³ Behold, thou hast taught many, and [Note: [b] Thou hast comforted others in their afflictions, & canst not now cofort thy selfe. ] hast strengthened the wearie hands.

⁴ Thy wordes haue confirmed him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the weake knees.

⁵ But now it is come vpon thee, and thou art grieued: it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

⁶ Is not this thy [Note: [c] This he concludeth that Iob was but an hypocrite, and had no true feare not trust in God. ] feare, thy confidence, thy pacience, and the vprightnesse of thy wayes?

⁷ Remember, I pray thee: who euer perished,

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being an [Note: [d] He concludeth that Iob was reprooued, seeing that God handled him so extreemely, which is the argument that the carnall men make against the children of God. ] innocent? or where were the vpright destroyed?
⁸ As I haue seene, they that [Note: [e] They that doe euill, can not but receiue euill. ] plow iniquitie, and sowe wickednesse, reape the same.

⁹ With the [Note: [f] He sheweth that God needeth no great preparation to destroy his enemies: for he can doe it with the blast of his mouth. ] blast of God they perish, and with the breath of his nostrels are they cosumed.

¹⁰ The roaring of the [Note: [g] Though men according to their office do not punish tyrants (whome for their crueltie he compareth to lyons, and their children to their whelpes) yet God both is able, and his iustice will punish them. ] Lion, and the voyce of the Lionesse, & the teeth of the Lions whelpes are broken.

¹¹ The Lyon perisheth for lacke of pray, and the Lyons whelpes are scattered abroade.

¹² But a thing was brought to me [Note: [h] A thing that I knewe not before, was declared vnto me by vision: that is, that whosoeuer thinketh him selfe iust, shall be found a sinner, when he commeth before God. ] secretly, and mine eare hath receiued a litle thereof.

¹³ In the thoughtes of ye visions of the night, when sleepe falleth on men,

¹⁴ Feare came vpon me, & dread which made all my bones [Note: [i] In these visions which God sheweth to his creatures, there is euer a certaine feare ioyned, that the authoritie thereof might be had in greater reuerence. ] to tremble.

¹⁵ And the wind passed before me, and made the heares of my flesh to stande vp.

¹⁶ Then stoode one, and I knewe not his face: an image was before mine eyes, and in [Note: [k] When all things were quiet, or when the feare was somewhat asswaged, as God appeared to Eliah, 1.King.19.12. ] silence heard I a voyce, saying,

¹⁷ Shall man be more [Note: [l] He proueth that if God did punish the innocent, the creature should be more iust then the Creator, which were a blasphemie. ] iust then God? or shall a man be more pure then his maker?

¹⁸ Beholde, he founde no stedfastnesse in his Seruants, and laid follie vpon his [Note: [m] If God find imperfection in his Angels, when they are not maintained by his power, how much more shal he lay follie to mans charge. when he would iustifie him selfe against God? ] Angels.

¹⁹ Howe much more in them that dwell in houses of [Note: [n] That is, in this mortall bodie, subiect to corruption, 2.Cor.5.1. ] clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which shalbe destroyed before the moth?

²⁰ They be destroyed from [Note: [o] They see death continually before their eyes, and daily approching toward them. ] the morning vnto the euening: they perish for euer, [Note: [p] No man for al this doth consider it. ] without regarde.

²¹ Doeth not their dignitie goe away with them? do they not die, & that without [Note: [q] That is, before that any of them were so wise as to thinke on death. ] wisdom?

1. 2 Eliphaz sheweth the difference betweene the children of God and the wicked. 3 The fall of the wicked. 9 Gods power who destroyeth the wicked, and deliuereth his.

¹ Call nowe, if any will [Note: [a] He willeth Iob to consider the example of all them that haue liued or doe liue godly, whether any of them be like vnto him in raging against God as he doeth. ] answere thee, and to which of the Saintes wilt thou turne?

² Doubtlesse [Note: [b] Murmuring against God in afflictions increaseth the paine, and vttereth mans follie. ] anger killeth the foolish, and enuie slayeth the idiote.

³ I haue seene the [Note: [c] That is, the sinner that hath not ye feare of God ] foolish well rooted, and suddenly I [Note: [d] I was not moued with his prosperitie, but knewe that God had cursed him and his. ] cursed his habitation, saying,

⁴ His [Note: [e] Though God sometime suffer the fathers to passe in this worlde, yet his iudgements will light vpon their wicked childre. ] children shalbe farre from saluation, and they shall be destroyed in the [Note: [f] By publique iudgement they shalbe condemned, and none shall pitie them. ] gate, & none shall deliuer them.

⁵ The hungrie shall eate vp his haruest: yea, they shall take it from among the [Note: [g] Though there be but two or three eares left in the hedges, yet these shalbe taken from him. ] thornes, and the thirstie shall drinke vp their substance.

⁶ For miserie commeth not foorth of the dust, [Note: [h] That is, the earth is not the cause of barrennesse and mans miserie, but his owne sinne. ] neither doeth affliction spring out of the earth.

⁷ But man is borne vnto [Note: [i] Which declareth that sinne is euer in our corrupt nature: for before sinne it was not subiect to paine and affliction. ] trauaile, as the sparkes flie vpwarde.

⁸ But I would inquire [Note: [k] If I suffred as thou doest, I would seeke vnto God. ] at God, and turne my talke vnto God:

⁹ Which [Note: [l] He counselleth Iob to humble himselfe vnto God, to whome all creatures are subiect, and whose workes declare that man is inexcusable, except he glorifie God in all his workes. ] doeth great things and vnsearchable, and marueilous things without nomber.

¹⁰ He [Note: [m] He sheweth by particular examples, what the workes of God are. ] giueth raine vpon the earth, and powreth water vpon the streetes,

¹¹ And setteth vp on hie them that be lowe, that the sorowfull may be exalted to saluation.

¹² He scattereth the deuices of the craftie: so that their handes can not accomplish that which they doe enterprise.

¹³ [Note: 1.Cor.3.19. ] He taketh the wise in their craftinesse, and the counsel of the wicked is made foolish.

¹⁴ They meete with [Note: [n] In things plaine and euident they shewe them selues fooles in steade of wise men. ] darkenesse in the day time, and [Note: [o] This declareth that God punisheth the worldly wise, as he threatned, Deut.28.29. ] grope at noone day, as in the night.

¹⁵ But he saueth the [Note: [p] That is, he that humbleth himselfe before God. ] poore from the sword, from their [Note: [q] He compareth the slaunder of the wicked to sharpe swordes. ] mouth, and from the hande of the violent man,

¹⁶ So that the poore hath his hope, but iniquitie shall [Note: [r] If the wicked be compelled at Gods works to stoppe their mouthes, much more they that professe God. ] stop her mouth.

¹⁷ Beholde, blessed is the man whome God correcteth: therefore refuse not thou the chastising of the Almightie.

¹⁸ For he maketh the wound, and bindeth it vp: he smiteth, and his handes make whole.

¹⁹ He shall deliuer thee in [Note: [s] He will sende trouble after trouble, that his children may not for one time, but continually trust in him: but they shall haue a comfortable issue, euen in the greatest and the last, which is here called the seuenth. ] sixe troubles, and in the seuenth the euill shall not touch thee.

²⁰ In famine he shal deliuer thee from death: and in battel from the power of the sworde.

²¹ Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue, and thou shalt not be afraid of destruction when it commeth.

²² But thou shalt [Note: [t] Where as the wicked lament in their troubles, thou shalt haue occasion to reioyce. ] laugh at destruction and dearth, and shalt not be afraide of the beast of the earth.

²³ For the stones of the fielde [Note: [u] When we are in Gods fauour, all creatures shall serue vs. ] shall be in league with thee, and the beastes of the field shal be at peace with thee.

²⁴ And thou shalt knowe, that peace shall be in thy tabernacle, and thou shalt visite thine habitation, and shalt not [Note: [x] God shall so blesse thee, that thou shalt haue occasion to reioyce in all things, and not to be offended. ] sinne.

²⁵ Thou shalt perceiue also, that thy seede shalbe great, and thy posteritie as the grasse of the earth.

²⁶ Thou shalt goe to thy graue in [Note: [y] Though the children of God haue not alwayes this promise perfourmed, yet God doeth recompense it otherwise to their aduantage. ] a ful age, as a ricke of corne commeth in due season into the barne.

²⁷ Lo, [Note: [z] We haue learned these points by experience, that God punisheth not the innocent, that man can not compare in iustice with him, that the hypocrites shall not long prosper, and that the affliction which man susteineth, commeth for his owne sinne. ] thus haue we inquired of it, and so it is: heare this and knowe it for thy selfe.

1 Iob answereth, that his paine is more grieuous then his fault. 8 He wisheth death. 14 He complaineth of his friendes.

¹ Bvt Iob answered, and said,

² Oh that my griefe were well weighed, and my miseries were layed together in the [Note: [a] To knowe whether I complaine without iust cause. ] balance.

³ For it woulde be nowe heauier then the sande of the sea: therefore my wordes are [Note: [b] My griefe is so great, that I lacke wordes to expresse it. ] swallowed vp.

⁴ For the arrowes of the Almightie are in me, the venime whereof doeth drinke vp my spirit, and the terrours of God [Note: [c] Which declareth that he was not onely afflicted in bodie, but wounded in conscience, which is the greatest battell that the faithfull can haue. ] fight against me.
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⁵ Doeth the [Note: [d] Thinke you that I crie without cause, seeing the bruite beastes doe not complaine when they haue what they would? ] wilde asse bray when he hath grasse? or loweth the oxe when he hath fodder?

⁶ That which is [Note: [e] Can a mans taste delite in that hath no sauour? meaning, that none take pleasure in affliction, seeing they can not away with things that are vnsauerie to the mouth. ] vnsauerie, shall it be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egge?

⁷ Such things as my soule refused to touch, as were sorowes, are my meate.

⁸ Oh that I might haue my [Note: [f] Herein he sinneth double, both in wishing through impaciencie to dye, and also in desiring of God a thing which was not agreeable to his wil ] desire, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

⁹ That is, that God would destroy me: that he would let his hand go, and cut me off.

¹⁰ Then should I yet haue comfort, (though I burne with sorowe, let him not spare) [Note: [g] That is, let me dye at once, before I come to distrust in Gods promes through mine impatiencie. ] because I haue not denyed the wordes of the Holy one.

¹¹ What power haue I that I should endure? or what is mine [Note: [h] He feareth least he should bee brought to inconueniences, if his sorowes should continue. ] end, if I should prolong my life?

¹² Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brasse?

¹³ Is it not so, that there is in me no [Note: [i] Haue I not sought to helpe my selfe as much as was possible? ] helpe? and that [Note: Or, wisedome, or lawe. ] strength is taken from me?

¹⁴ He that is in miserie, ought to be comforted of his neighbour: but men haue forsaken the feare of the Almightie.

¹⁵ My brethre haue deceiued me as a [Note: [k] He compareth those friendes which comfort vs not in miserie, to a brooke, which in sommer, when we neede waters, is drie, in winter is harde frosen, and in the time of raine, when we haue no neede, ouerfloweth with water. ] brook, and as the rising of the riuers they passe away.

¹⁶ Which are blackish with yee, and wherein the snowe is hid.

¹⁷ But in time they are dryed vp with heate and are consumed: and when it is hote they faile out of their places,

¹⁸ Or they depart from their way and course, yea, they vanish and perish.

¹⁹ They that go to Tema, [Note: [l] They that passe thereby to goe into the hote countreis of Arabia, thinke to finde water there, to quech their thirst, but they are deceiued. ] considered them, and they that goe to Sheba, waited for them.

²⁰ But they were confounded: when they hoped, they came thither and were ashamed.

²¹ Surely nowe are ye like [Note: [m] That is, like to this brooke, which deceiueth them, that thinke to haue water there in their neede, as I locked for consolation at your handes. ] vnto it: ye haue seene my fearefull plague, and are afraide.

²² Was it because I said, Bring vnto me? or giue a rewarde to me of your [Note: [n] He toucheth the worldlings, which for no necessitie will giue part of their goods, and much more these men, which would not giue him comfortable wordes. ] substance?

²³ And deliuer me from the enemies hande, or ransome me out of the hand of tyrants?

²⁴ Teach me, and I wil [Note: [o] Shewe me wherein I haue erred, and I will confesse my faulte. ] hold my tongue: & cause me to vnderstande, wherein I haue erred.

²⁵ Howe [Note: [p] He that hath a good conscience, doeth not shrinke at the sharpe words or reasonings of others, except they be able to perswade him by reason. ] stedfast are the wordes of righteousnes? and what can any of you iustly reproue?

²⁶ Doe ye imagine to reproue [Note: [q] Doe you cauil at my wordes, because I should be thought to speake foolishly, which am nowe in miserie? ] wordes, that the talke of the afflicted should be as the winde?

²⁷ Ye make your wrath to fall vpon the fatherlesse, and dig a pit for your friende.

²⁸ Nowe therefore be content to [Note: [r] Consider whether I speake as one that is driuen to this impatiencie through very sorowe, or as an hypocrite, as you condemne me. ] looke vpon me: for I will not lie before your face.

²⁹ Turne, I pray you, let there be none iniquitie: returne, I say, and ye shall see yet my righteousnesse in that behalfe. Is there iniquitie in my tongue? doeth not my mouth feele sorowes?

1 Iob sheweth the shortnesse and miserie of mans life.

¹ Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth? and are not his dayes as the dayes of an [Note: [a] Hath not an hyred seruant some rest and ease? then in this my continuall torment I am worse then an hyreling. ] hyreling?

² As a seruant longeth for the shadowe, and as an hyreling looketh for the ende of his worke,

³ So haue I had as an inheritance the [Note: [b] My sorowe hath continued from moneth to moneth, and I haue looked for hope in vaine. ] moneths of vanitie, and painefull nights haue bene appointed vnto me.

⁴ If I layed me downe, I sayde, When shall I arise? and measuring the euening I am euen full with tossing to and fro vnto the dawning of the day.

⁵ My flesh is [Note: [c] This signifieth that his disease was rare and most horrible. ] clothed with wormes and filthinesse of the dust: my skinne is rent, and become horrible.

⁶ My dayes are swifter then [Note: [d] Thus he speaketh in respect of the breuitie of mans life, which passeth without hope of returning, in consideration whereof he desireth God to haue compassion on him. ] a weauers shittle, and they are spent without hope.

⁷ Remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall not returne to see pleasure.

⁸ The eye that hath seene me, shall see me no more: thine eyes are vpon me, and I shall be no longer.

⁹ [Note: [e] If thou beholde me in thine anger, I shall not be able to stande in thy presence. ] As the cloude vanisheth and goeth away, so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall [Note: [f] Shall no more enioy this mortall life. ] come vp no more.

¹⁰ He shall returne no more to his house, neither shall his place knowe him any more.

¹¹ Therefore I will not [Note: [g] Seeing I can by none other meanes comfort my selfe, I will declare my griefe by wordes, and thus he speaketh as one ouercome with griefe of minde. ] spare my mouth, but will speake in the trouble of my spirite, and muse in the bitternesse of my minde.

¹² Am I a sea [Note: [h] Am not I a poore wretch? what needest thou then to lay so much pain on me? ] or a whalefish, that thou keepest me in warde?

¹³ When I say, My couch shal relieue me, and my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation,

¹⁴ Then fearest thou me [Note: [i] So that I can haue no rest, night nor day. ] with dreames, and astonishest me with visions.

¹⁵ Therefore my soule [Note: [k] He speaketh as one ouercome with sorowe, and not of iudgement, or of the examination of his faith. ] chuseth rather to be strangled and to die, then to be in my bones.

¹⁶ I abhorre it, I shall not liue alway: [Note: [l] Seeing my terme of life is so short, let me haue some rest and ease. ] spare me then, for my dayes are but vanitie.

¹⁷ What is man, that thou [Note: [m] Seeing that man of him selfe is so vile, why doest thou giue him that honour to contende against him? Iob vseth all kindes of perswasion with God, that he might stay his hande. ] doest magnifie him, and that thou settest thine heart vpon him?

¹⁸ And doest visite him euery morning, and tryest him euery moment?

¹⁹ Howe long will it be yer thou depart from me? thou wilt not let me alone whiles I may swallowe my spettle.

²⁰ I haue [Note: [n] After all tentations faith brasteth foorth, and leadeth Iob to repentance: yet it was not in such perfection, that he coulde bridle him selfe from reasoning with God, because that he still tryed his faith. ] sinned, what shal I do vnto thee? O thou preseruer of me, why hast thou set me as a marke against thee, so that I am a burden vnto my selfe?

²¹ And why doest thou not pardon my trespasse? and take away mine iniquitie? for nowe shall I sleepe in the dust, and if thou seekest me in the morning, I shall [Note: [o] That is, I shall be dead. ] not be found.

1 Bildad sheweth that Iob is a sinner, because God punisheth the wicked and preserueth the good.

¹ Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and saide,

² Howe long wilt thou talke of these things? and howe long shall the wordes of thy mouth [Note: [a] He declareth that their wordes which woulde diminish any thing from the iustice of God, is but as a puffe of winde that vanisheth away. ] be as a mightie winde?

³ Doeth God peruert iudgement? or doeth the Almightie subuert iustice?

⁴ If thy sonnes haue sinned against him, and he hath sent them into the place of their [Note: [b] That is, hath rewarded them according to their iniquitie: meaning, that Iob ought to be warned by the example of his children, that he offende not God. ] iniquitie,


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⁵ Yet if thou [Note: [c] That is, if thou turne betime whiles God calleth thee to repentance. ] wilt early seeke vnto God, and pray to the Almightie,

⁶ If thou be pure and vpright, then surely hee will awake vp vnto thee, and he wil make the habitation of thy righteousnesse prosperous.

⁷ And though thy beginning [Note: [d] Though the beginnings be not so pleasant, as thou wouldest desire, yet in the ende thou shalt haue sufficient occasion to contet thy selfe. ] be small, yet thy latter ende shall greatly encrease.

⁸ [Note: [e] He willeth Iob to examine al antiquitie, and he shal finde it true which he here saith. ] Inquire therefore, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thy selfe to search of their fathers.

⁹ (For we are but [Note: [f] Meaning, that it is not ynough to haue the experiece of our selues, but to be confirmed by the examples of them that went before vs. ] of yesterday, and are ignorant: for our dayes vpon earth are but a shadowe)

¹⁰ Shall not they teach thee and tell thee, and vtter the wordes of their heart?

¹¹ Can a rush [Note: [g] As a rush cannot growe without moystnes, so can not the hypocrite, because he hath not faith which is moistened with Gods Spirit. ] grow without myre? or can ye grasse growe without water?

¹² Though it were in greene and not cutte downe, yet shall it wither before any other herbe.

¹³ So are the paths of al that forget God, and the hypocrites hope shall perish.

¹⁴ His confidence also shalbe cut off, and his trust shalbe as the house of a [Note: [h] Which is to day, and to morowe swept away. ] spyder.

¹⁵ He shall leane vpon his house, but it shall not stand: he shal holde him fast by it, yet shall it not endure.

¹⁶ The [Note: [i] He compareth the iust to a tree, which although it be remoued out of one place vnto another, yet florisheth: so the affliction of the godly turneth to their profite. ] tree is greene before the sunne, and the branches spread ouer the garden thereof.

¹⁷ The rootes thereof are wrapped about the fountaine, and are folden about ye house of stones.

¹⁸ If any plucke it from his place, and it [Note: [k] That is, so that there remaine nothing there to proue whether the tree had growen there or no. ] denie, saying, I haue not seene thee,

¹⁹ Beholde, it will reioyce [Note: [l] To bee planted in another place, where it may growe at pleasure. ] by this meanes, that it may growe in another molde.

²⁰ Behold, God will not cast away an vpright man, neither will he take the wicked by the hand,

²¹ Till he haue filled thy mouth with [Note: [m] If thou be godly, hee will giue thee occasion to reioyce, and if not, thine affliction shall increase. ] laughter, and thy lippes with ioy.

²² They that hate thee, shall be clothed with shame, and the dwelling of the wicked shall not remaine.

1 Iob declared the mightie power of God, and that mans righteousnesse is nothing.

¹ Then Iob answered, and sayd,

² I knowe verily that it is so: for howe should man compared vnto God, be [Note: [a] Iob here answereth to that point of Eliphaz and Bildads oration, touching the iustice of God and his innocencie, confessing God to be infinite in iustice, and man to be nothing in respect. ] iustified?

³ If I would dispute with him, hee could not answere him one thing of a [Note: [b] Of a thousand things, which God could lay to his charge, man cannot answere him one. ] thousand.

⁴ He is wise in heart, & mighty in stregth: who hath bene fierce against him & hath prospered?

⁵ He remoueth the mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath.

⁶ Hee [Note: [c] He declareth what is the infirmitie of man by the mightie and incomprehensible power that is in God, shewing what he coulde doe if he would set forth his power. ] remooueth the earth out of her place, that the pillars thereof doe shake.

⁷ He commandeth the sunne, & it riseth not: hee closeth vp the starres, as vnder a signet.

⁸ Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.

⁹ He maketh the starres [Note: [d] These are the names of certaine starres, whereby he meaneth that all starres both knowen and vnknowen are at his appoyntment. ] Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.

¹⁰ He doeth great things, and vnsearcheable: yea, marueilous things without nomber.

¹¹ Lo, when he goeth [Note: [e] I am not able to comprehend his works, which are common and dayly before mine eyes, much lesse in those things, which are hid and secret. ] by me, I see him not:

and when he passeth by, I perceiue him not.

¹² Behold, when he taketh a pray, [Note: [f] He sheweth that when God doth execute his power, he doth it iustly, forasmuch as none can controle him. ] who can make him to restore it? who shall say vnto him, What doest thou?

¹³ God [Note: [g] God wil not be appeased for ought that man can lay for himselfe for his iustification. ] will not withdrawe his anger, and the most mightie helpes [Note: [h] That is, all the reasons that men can lay to approue their cause. ] doe stoupe vnder him.

¹⁴ Howe much lesse shall I answere him? or howe should I finde out [Note: [i] How should I be able to answere him by eloquece? whereby he noteth his friends, that albeit they were eloquent in talke, yet they felt not in heart, that which they spake. ] my words with him?

¹⁵ For though I were iust, yet could I [Note: [k] Meaning, in his owne opinion, signifying, that man wil sometime flatter himselfe to be righteous, which before God is abomination. ] not answere, but I would make supplicatio to my Iudge.

¹⁶ If I [Note: [l] Whiles I am in my pangs, I cannot but brast forth into many inconueniences, although I know stil that God is iust. ] cry, and he answere me, yet woulde I not beleeue, that he heard my voyce.

¹⁷ For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me [Note: [m] I am not able to feele my sinnes so great, as I feele the weight of his plagues: and this hee speaketh to condemne his dulnesse, and to iustifie God. ] without cause.

¹⁸ He wil not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.

¹⁹ If we speake of strength, behold, he is [Note: [n] After he hath accused his owne weakenes, he continueth to iustifie God & his power. ] strog: if we speake of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade?

²⁰ If I woulde iustifie my selfe, mine owne mouth shall condemne mee: [Note: [o] If I would stand in mine owne defence, yet God hath iust cause to condemne me, if he examine mine heart, & coscience. ] if I would be perfite, he shall iudge me wicked.

²¹ Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.

²² This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the [Note: [p] If God punish according to his iustice, he will destroy aswel them that are counted perfite as them yt are wicked. ] perfite and the wicked.

²³ If the scourge should suddely [Note: [q] To wit, the wicked. ] slay, should God [Note: [r] This is spoken according to our apprehension, as though he would say, If God destroy but the wicked, as Chap. 5.3 why should he suffer the innocents to bee so long tormented by them? ] laugh at the punishment of the innocent?

²⁴ The earth is giuen into the hand of ye wicked: he [Note: [s] That they can not see to doe iustice. ] couereth the faces of the iudges therof: if not, where [Note: [t] That can shewe the contrary? ] is he? or who is he?

²⁵ My dayes haue bene more swift then a post: they haue fled, and haue seene no good thing.

²⁶ They are passed as wt the most swift ships, and as the eagle that flyeth to the pray.

²⁷ If [Note: [u] I thinke not to fall into these affections, but my sorowes bring me to these manifold infirmities, and my conscience condemneth me. ] I say, I wil forget my complaynt, I will cease from my wrath, and comfort mee,

²⁸ Then I am afrayd of all my sorowes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.

²⁹ If I be wicked, why [Note: [x] Why doeth not God destroy me at once? thus he speaketh according to the infirmitie of the flesh. ] labour I thus in vaine?

³⁰ If I [Note: [y] Though I seeme neuer so pure in mine owne eyes, yet all is but corruption before God. ] wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine hands most cleane,

³¹ Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne [Note: [z] Whatsoeuer I would vse to couer my filthinesse with, shal disclose me so much more. ] clothes shal make me filthie.

³² For he is not a man as I am, that I shoulde answere him, if we come together to iudgement.

³³ Neyther is there any vmpire [Note: [a] Which might make an accord betweene God and me, speaking of impaciencie, and yet confessing God to be iust in punishing him. ] that might lay his hand vpon vs both.

³⁴ Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his feare astonish me:

³⁵ Then will I speake, & feare him not: [Note: [b] Signifying that Gods iudgements keepe him in awe. ] but because I am not so, I holde me still.

1 Iob is wearie of his life, and setteth out his fragilitie before God. 20 He desireth him to stay his hand. 22 A description of death.

¹ My soule is cut off [Note: [a] I am more like to a dead man then to one that liueth. ] though I liue: I wil leaue my [Note: [b] I will make an ample declaration of my torments, accusing my selfe and not God. ] complaint vpon my selfe, & wil speake [Page]

in the bitternesse of my soule.

² I will say vnto God, [Note: [c] He would not that God should proceede against him by his secret iustice, but by the ordinarie meanes that he punisheth others. ] Condemne mee not: shew me, wherefore thou contendest with mee.

³ Thinkest thou it [Note: [d] Is it agreeable to thy iustice to do me wrong? ] good to oppresse me, and to cast off the [Note: [e] Wilt thou be without compassion? ] labour of thine handes, and to fauour the [Note: [f] Wilt thou gratifie the wicked and condemne me? ] counsel of the wicked?

⁴ Hast thou [Note: [g] Doest thou this of ignorance? ] carnall eyes? or doest thou see as man seeth?

⁵ Are thy dayes as mans [Note: [h] Art thou inconstant and changeable, as the times, to day a friend, to morow an enemy? ] dayes? or thy yeres, as the time of man,

⁶ That thou inquirest of mine iniquitie, and searchest out my sinne?

⁷ Thou knowest that I can not do [Note: [i] By afflictio thou keepest mee as in a prison, and restrainest me from doing euill, neyther can any set me at libertie. ] wickedly: for none can deliuer me out of thine hand.

⁸ Thine [Note: [k] In these eight verses following hee describeth the mercie of God in the wonderfull creation of man: & thereon groundeth that God should not shewe himselfe rigorous against him. ] handes haue made me, and fashioned mee wholy rounde about, and wilt thou destroy me?

⁹ Remeber, I pray thee, that thou hast made me as [Note: [l] As brittle as a pot of clay. ] the clay, and wilt thou bring me into dust againe?

¹⁰ Hast thou not powred me out as milke? & turned me to cruds like cheese?

¹¹ Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and ioyned me together with bones and sinewes.

¹² Thou hast giuen me life, & [Note: [m] That is, reason and vnderstanding, and many other giftes whereby man excelleth all earthly creatures. ] grace: & thy [Note: [n] That is, thy fatherly care and prouidence, wherby thou preseruest me, and without ye which I should perish streightway. ] visitation hath preserued my spirit.

¹³ Though thou hast hid these things in thine heart, yet I knowe [Note: [o] Though I bee not fully able to comprehend these things, yet I must needs confesse that it is so. ] that it is so with thee.

¹⁴ If I haue sinned, then thou wilt streightly looke vnto me, and wilt not holde mee giltlesse of mine iniquitie.

¹⁵ If I haue done wickedly, wo vnto me: if I haue done righteously, I will not [Note: [p] I will alway walke in feare and humilitie, knowing that none is iust before thee. ] lift vp mine head, being full of confusion, because I see mine affliction.

¹⁶ But let it increase: hunt thou me as a lyon: returne and shew thy selfe [Note: [q] Iob being sore assaulted in this battel betweene the flesh and the spirit, brasteth out into these affections, wishing rather short dayes then long paine. ] marueilous vpon me.

¹⁷ Thou renuest thy plagues against me, and thou increasest thy wrath against me: [Note: [r] That is, diuersitie of diseases and in great abundance: shewing that God hath infinite meanes to punish man. ] changes and armies of sorowes are against me.

¹⁸ Wherfore then hast thou brought me out of the wombe? Oh that I had perished, and that none eye had seene me!

¹⁹ And that I were as I had not bene, but brought from the wombe to the graue!

²⁰ Are not my dayes fewe? let him [Note: [s] Hee wisheth that God woulde leaue off his affliction, considering his great miserie and the breuitie of his life. ] cease, and leaue off from me, that I may take a litle comfort,

²¹ Before I goe and shall not [Note: [t] Hee speaketh thus in the person of a sinner, that is ouercome with passions and with the feeling of Gods iudgments, and therefore cannot apprehend in that state the mercies of God and comfort of the resurrection. ] returne, euen to the land of darkenesse and shadow of death:

²² Into a land, I say, darke as darknes it selfe, and into the shadow of death, where is none [Note: [u] No distinction betweene light and darkenesse, but where all is very darkenesse it selfe. ] order, but the light is there as darkenesse.

1 Iob is vniustly reprehended of Zophar. 7 God is incomprehensible. 14 He is mercifull to the repentant. 18 Their assurance that liue godly.

¹ Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and sayde,

² Should not the multitude of wordes be answered? or should a great [Note: [a] Should he perswade by his great talke, that he is iust? ] talker be iustified?

³ Should men holde their peace at thy lyes? & when thou mockest others, shall none make thee

ashamed?

⁴ For thou hast sayde, [Note: [b] He chargeth Iob with this, that he should say, that the thing which he spake, was true, and that he was without sinne in the sight of God. ] My doctrine is pure, and I am cleane in thine eyes.

⁵ But, oh that God would speake and open his lippes against thee!

⁶ That he might shewe thee the [Note: [c] Which is, not to stand in iustifying of thy selfes he signifieth that man will neuer be ouercome, whiles he reasoneth with another, and therefore God must breake off the controuersie, and stop mans mouth. ] secretes of wisedome, howe thou hast deserued double, according to right: know therefore that God hath forgotten thee for thine iniquitie.

⁷ Canst thou by searching finde out God? canst thou finde out ye Almighty to his perfection?

⁸ The heauens are hie, what canst thou doe? [Note: [d] That is, this perfection of God, & if man be not able to comprehend the height of the heauen, the depth of hell, the length of the earth, the breadth of the sea, which are but creatures: how can he attaine to the perfection of the Creator? ] it is deeper then the hel, how canst thou know it?

⁹ The measure thereof is longer then the earth, and it is broader then the sea.

¹⁰ If hee cut off and [Note: [e] If God shoulde turne the state of things, and establish a new order in nature, who could controlle him? ] shut vp, or gather together, who can turne him backe?

¹¹ For hee knoweth vaine men, and seeth iniquitie, and him that vnderstandeth nothing.

¹² Yet vaine man would be wise, though man new borne is like a wilde asse [Note: [f] That is, without vnderstanding: so that whatsoeuer giftes he hath afterward, come of God and not of nature. ] colte.

¹³ If thou [Note: [g] If thou repent, pray vnto him. ] prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him:

¹⁴ If iniquitie be in thine [Note: [h] Renounce thine owne euill workes, and see that they offende not God, ouer whome thou hast charge. ] hand, put it farre away, and let no wickednesse dwell in thy Tabernacle.

¹⁵ The truely shalt thou lift vp thy [Note: [i] He declareth what quietnesse of conscience and successe in all things such shall haue, which turne to God by true repentance. ] face without spot, and shalt be stable, and shalt not feare.

¹⁶ But thou shalt forget thy miserie, and remember it as waters that are past.

¹⁷ Thine age also shall appeare more cleare then the noone day: thou shalt shine and bee as the morning.

¹⁸ And thou shalt bee bolde, because there is hope: and thou shalt digge pittes, and shalt lye downe safely.

¹⁹ [Note: Leuit.26.5,6. ] For when thou takest thy rest, none shal make thee afraide: yea, many shall make sute vnto thee.

²⁰ But the eyes [Note: [k] He sheweth that contrarie things shall come vnto them that doe not repent. ] of the wicked shall faile, and their refuge shall perish, and their hope shalbe sorow of minde.

1 Iob accuseth his friends of ignorance. 7 Hee declareth the might, and power of God, 17 And howe hee changeth the course of things.

¹ Then Iob answered, and sayde,

² In deede because that ye are the people onely, [Note: [a] Because you feele not yt which you speake, you thinke the whole standeth in words, & so flatter your selues as though none knewe any thing, or could knowe but you. ] wisedome must dye with you.

³ But I haue vnderstanding aswel as you, and am not inferior vnto you: yea, who knoweth not such things?

⁴ [Note: Prou.14.2. ] I am [Note: [b] He reprooueth these his friends of two fautes: the one, that they thought they had better knowledge then in deede they had, and the other, that in stead of true consolation, they did deride and despise their friend in his aduersitie. ] as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth vpon God, and he [Note: [c] The which neighbour being a mocker, & a wicked man, thinketh yt no man is in Gods fauour but he, because he hath all things that he desireth. ] heareth him: the iust and the vpright is laughed to scorne.

⁵ [Note: [d] As the rich esteeme not a light, or torch that goeth out, so is he despised that falleth from prosperitie to aduersitie. ] Hee that is readie to fall, is as a lampe despised in the opinion of the riche.

⁶ The tabernacles of robbers doe prosper, and they are in safetie, that prouoke God, [Note: Ebr. to whome God hath brought in with his hand. ] whome God hath enriched with his hand.

⁷ Aske now the beasts, [Note: [e] He declareth to them yt did dispute against him, that their wisedome is common to al, & such as the very brute beasts do daily teach. ] and they shall teach

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thee, and the foules of the heauen, and they shall tell thee:
⁸ Or speake to the earth, and it shall shewe thee: or the fishes of the sea, and they shall declare vnto thee.

⁹ Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hande of the Lord hath made these?

¹⁰ In whose hande is the soule of euery liuing thing, and the breath of all [Note: Or, flesh. ] mankinde.

¹¹ Doeth not the eares [Note: [f] He exhorteth them to be wise in iudging, and aswell to know the right vse why God hath giuen them eares, as he hath done a mouth. ] discerne the words? and the mouth taste meate for it selfe?

¹² Among the [Note: [g] Though men by age, and continuance of time attaine to wisedome, yet it is not comparable to Gods wisedome, not able to comprehende his iudgementes, wherein he answereth to that, which was alledged, Chap 8.8. ] ancient is wisedome, and in the length of dayes is vnderstanding.

¹³ With him is wisedome and strength: he hath counsell and vnderstanding.

¹⁴ Beholde, he will breake downe, and it can not be built: he shutteth a man vp, and he can not be loosed.

¹⁵ Beholde, he withholdeth the waters, and they drie vp: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth.

¹⁶ With him is strength and wisedome: hee that is deceiued, and that [Note: [h] He sheweth that there is nothing done in this world without Gods wil and ordinance: for els he shoulde not be almightie. ] deceiueth, are his.

¹⁷ He causeth the counsellers to goe as spoyled, and maketh the iudges fooles.

¹⁸ [Note: [i] He taketh wisedome from them. ] He looseth [Note: [k] He abateth the honour of princes, and bringeth them into the subiection of others. ] the collar of Kings, and girdeth their loynes with a girdle.

¹⁹ He leadeth away the princes as a pray, and ouerthroweth the mightie.

²⁰ He taketh away the speach from the [Note: [l] He causeth that their wordes haue no credite, which is when he will punish sinne. ] faithfull counsellers, and taketh away the iudgement of the ancient.

²¹ He powreth contempt vpon princes, and maketh the strength of the mightie weake.

²² He discouereth the deepe places from their darkenesse, and bringeth foorth the shadowe of death to light.

²³ He [Note: [m] In this discourse of Gods wonderfull works Iob sheweth that whatsoeuer is done in this world both in the order and change of things, is by Gods will and appointment: wherein he declareth that he thinketh well of God, and is as able to set foorth his power in wordes as they that reasoned against, were. ] increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he inlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in againe.

²⁴ He taketh away the heartes of the that are the chiefe ouer the people of the earth, & maketh them to wander in the wildernes out of the way.

²⁵ They grope in the darke without light: and he maketh the to stagger like a drunken ma.

1 Iob compareth his knowledge with the experience of his friendes. 16 The penitent shalbe saued, and the hypocrite condemned. 20 He prayeth vnto God that he woulde not handle him rigorously.

¹ Loe, mine eye hath seene all this: mine eare hath heard, and vnderstande it.

² I knowe also as much as you knowe: I am not inferiour vnto you.

³ But I will speake to the Almightie, and I desire [Note: [a] For although he knewe that God had a iustice, which was manifest in his ordinarie working, and another in his secret counsell, yet he woulde vtter his affection to God, because he was not able to vnderstande the cause why he did thus punish him. ] to dispute with God.

⁴ For in deede ye forge lyes, and all you are [Note: [b] You doe not well applie your medicine to the disease. ] physitions of no value.

⁵ Oh, that you woulde holde your tongue, that it might be imputed to you for wisedome!

⁶ Nowe heare my disputation, and giue eare to the arguments of my lips.

⁷ Will ye speake [Note: [c] He condemneth their zeale, which had not knowledge, neither regarded they to comfort him, but alway grated on Gods iustice, as though it was not euidently seene in Iob, except they had vndertaken the probation thereof. ] wickedly for Gods defence, and talke deceitfully for his cause?

⁸ Will ye accept his person? or will ye contende for God?

⁹ Is it well that he shoulde seeke of you? will you make a lye for him, as one lyeth for a man?

¹⁰ He will surely reprooue you, if ye doe secretly accept any person.

¹¹ Shall not his excellencie make you afraid? and his feare fall vpon you?

¹² Your [Note: [d] Your fame shall come to nothing. ] memories may be compared vnto ashes, and your bodyes to bodyes of clay.

¹³ Holde your tongues in my presence, that I may speake, and let come vpon what will.

¹⁴ Wherefore doe I [Note: [e] Is not this a manifest signe of mine affliction, and that I doe not complaine without cause, seeing that I am thus tormented as though I should teare mine owne flesh, and put my life in danger? ] take my flesh in my teeth, and put my soule in mine hande?

¹⁵ Loe, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, and I will reprooue my wayes in his sight.

¹⁶ He shalbe my saluation also: for the [Note: [f] Whereby he declareth that he is not an hypocrite as they charged him. ] hypocrite shall not come before him.

¹⁷ Heare diligently my wordes, and marke my talke.

¹⁸ Beholde nowe: if I prepare me to iudgement, I knowe that I shalbe [Note: [g] That is, cleared, and not cast off for my sinnes, as you reason. ] iustified.

¹⁹ Who is he, that will pleade [Note: [h] To prooue that God doeth thus punish me for my sinnes. ] with me? for if I nowe holde my tongue, I [Note: [i] If I defende not my cause, euery man will condemne me. ] dye.

²⁰ But doe not these two things vnto me: then will I not hide my selfe from thee.

²¹ [Note: [k] He sheweth what these two things are. ] Withdrawe thine hande from me, and let not thy feare make me afraide.

²² Then call thou, and I will answere: or let me speake, and answere thou me.

²³ Howe many are [Note: [l] His pangs thus mooue him to reason with God, not denying but that he had sinned, but he desired to vnderstand what were his great sinnes that had deserued such rigour, wherein he offended, that he would knowe a cause of God why he did punish him. ] mine iniquities & sinnes? shewe me my rebellion, and my sinne.

²⁴ Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and takest me for thine enemie?

²⁵ Wilt thou breake a leafe driuen to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the drie stubble?

²⁶ For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possesse [Note: [m] Thou punishest me nowe for the faultes that I committed in my youth. ] the iniquities of my youth.

²⁷ Thou puttest my feete also in the [Note: [n] Thou makest me thy prisoner, and doest so presse me that I can not stirre hande not foote. ] stocks, and lookest narrowly vnto all my pathes, and makest the print thereof in ye [Note: Ebr. rootes. ] heeles of my feet.

²⁸ Such one consumeth like a rotten thing, and as a garment that is motheaten.

1 Iob describeth the shortnes and miserie of the life of man. 14 Hope susteineth the godly. 22 The condition of mans life.

¹ Man [Note: [a] Taking occasion of his aduersaries wordes, he describeth the state of mans life from his birth to his death. ] that is borne of woman, is of short continuance, and full of trouble.

² He shooteth foorth as a flowre, and is cut downe: he vanisheth also as [Note: Chap.8.9. psal.144.4. ] a shadowe, and continueth not.

³ And yet thou openest thine eyes vpon such [Note: [b] His meaning is, that seeing that man is so fraile a creature, God should not handle him so extremely: wherein Iob sheweth the wickednes of the flesh, when it is not subiect to the Spirit. ] one, and causest me to enter into iudgement with thee.

⁴ [Note: Psal.51.5,7. ] Who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse? there is not one.

⁵ Are not his dayes determined? the nober of his moneths are with thee: thou hast appointed his boundes, which he can not passe.

⁶ Turne from him that he may cease vntill his desired day, [Note: [c] Vntill the time that thou hast appointed for him to die, which he desireth, as the hireling waiteth for the ende of his labour to receiue his wages. ] as an hyreling.

⁷ For there is hope of a tree, if it bee cut downe, that it will yet sproute, and the branches thereof will not cease.

⁸ Though the roote of it waxe olde in the earth, & the stocke thereof be dead in ye ground,

⁹ Yet by the sent of water it will bud, and [Page]

bring foorth boughes like a plant.

¹⁰ [Note: [d] He speaketh not here as though he had not hope of the immortalitie, but as a man in extreme paine, when reason is ouercome by affections and torments. ] But man is sicke, and dyeth, and man perisheth, and where is he?

¹¹ As the waters passe from the sea, and as the flood decayeth and dryeth vp,

¹² So man sleepeth and riseth not: for hee shall not wake againe, nor be raised from his sleepe till the heauen be no more.

¹³ Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the graue, and keepe me secret, vntill thy [Note: [e] Hereby he declareth that the feare of Gods iudgement was the cause why he desired to dye. ] wrath were past, and wouldest giue me terme, and [Note: [f] That is, release my paines, and take me to mercie. ] remember me.

¹⁴ If a man die, shall he liue againe? All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite, till [Note: [g] Meaning, vnto the day of the resurrection when he should be changed, and renued. ] my changing shall come.

¹⁵ Thou shalt call me, and I shall [Note: [h] Though I be afflicted in this life, yet in the resurrection I shall feele thy mercies and answere when thou callest me. ] answere thee: thou louest the worke of thine own hands.

¹⁶ But nowe thou [Note: Prouerb.5.21. ] nombrest my steppes, and doest not delay my sinnes.

¹⁷ Mine iniquitie is sealed vp, as in a [Note: [i] Thou layest them all together, and sufferest none of my sinnes vnpunished. ] bagge, and thou addest vnto my wickednesse.

¹⁸ And surely as the mountaine that falleth, commeth to nought, and the [Note: [k] He murmureth through the impaciencie of the flesh against God, as though he vsed as great seueritie against him as against the harde rockes, or waters that ouerflowe, so that hereby all the occasion of his hope is taken away. ] rocke that is remooued from his place:

¹⁹ As the water breaketh the stones, when thou ouerflowest the things which growe in the dust of ye earth: so thou destroyest ye hope of man.

²⁰ Thou preuailest alway against him, so that he passeth away: he changeth his face when thou castest him away.

²¹ And he knoweth not if his sonnes shall be honourable, neither shall he vnderstand concerning them, whether they shalbe of lowe degree,

²² But while his [Note: [l] Yet whiles he liueth, he shalbe in paine and miserie. ] flesh is vpon him, he shall be sorowfull, and while his soule is in him, it shal mourne.

1 Eliphaz reprehendeth Iob, because he ascribeth wisedome, and purenesse to him selfe. 16 He describeth the curse that falleth on the wicked, reckoning Iob to be one of the nomber.

¹ Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and saide,

² Shal a wise man speake words of ye [Note: [a] That is, vaine wordes, and without consolation. ] winde, and fill his bellie [Note: [b] Meaning, with matters that are of none importance, which are forgotten assoone as they are vttered, as the East winde dryeth vp the moysture assoone as it falleth. ] with the East winde?

³ Shall he dispute with wordes not comely? or with talke that is not profitable?

⁴ Surely thou hast cast off [Note: [c] He chargeth Iob as though his talke caused men to cast off the feare of God and prayer. ] feare, and restrainest prayer before God.

⁵ For thy mouth declareth thine iniquitie, seeing thou hast chosen [Note: [d] Thou speakest as doe the mockers and contemners of God. ] ye tongue of the crafty.

⁶ Thine owne mouth condemneth thee, and not I, and thy lippes testifie against thee.

⁷ Art thou the [Note: [e] That is, the most auncient, and so by reason the most wise? ] first man, that was borne? and wast thou made before the hils?

⁸ Hast thou heard the secret counsell of God, and doest thou restraine wisedome [Note: [f] Art thou onely wise? ] to thee?

⁹ What knowest thou that we knowe not? and vnderstandest that is not in vs?

¹⁰ With vs are both auncient and very aged men, farre older then thy father.

¹¹ Seeme the consolations of God [Note: [g] He accuseth Iobs pride and ingratitude, that will not be comforted by God, nor by their counsell. ] smal vnto thee? is this thing strange vnto thee?

¹² Why doeth thine heart [Note: [h] Why doest thou stand in thine owne conceite? ] take thee away, and what doe thine eyes meane,

¹³ That thou answerest to God [Note: Ebr. in thy spirit. ] at thy pleasure, and bringest such wordes out of thy mouth?

¹⁴ What is man, that he should be cleane? and he that is borne of woman, that he shoulde [Note: [i] His purpose is to proue that Iob as an vniust man and an hypocrite is punished for his sinnes, like as he did before, Chap. 4.18. ] be iust?

¹⁵ Beholde, he founde no stedfastnesse in his Saintes: yea, the heauens are not cleane in his sight.

¹⁶ How much more is man abominable, and filthie, which [Note: [k] Which hath a desire to sinne as he that is thirstie to drinke. ] drinketh iniquitie like water?

¹⁷ I will tell thee: heare me, and I will declare that which I haue seene:

¹⁸ Which wise men haue tolde, as they haue heard of their fathers, and haue not kept it secret:

¹⁹ To whome alone the land was [Note: [l] Who by their wisedome so gouerned, that no stranger inuaded them, and so the lande seemed to be giuen to them alone. ] giuen and no stranger passed through them.

²⁰ The wicked man is continually as one that traueileth of childe, and the nomber [Note: [m] The cruel man is euer in danger of death, and is neuer quiet in conscience. ] of yeeres is hid from the tyrant.

²¹ A sounde of feare is in his eares, and in his prosperitie the destroyer shall come vpon him.

²² He beleeueth not to returne out of [Note: [n] Out of that miserie where into he once falleth. ] darknesse: for he seeth the sworde before him.

²³ He wandreth [Note: [o] God doeth not onely impouerish the wicked oft times: but euen in their prosperitie he punisheth them with a greedinesse euermore to gather: which is as a beggerie. ] to and fro for bread where he may: he knoweth that the day of darkenesse is prepared at hande.

²⁴ Affliction and [Note: [p] He sheweth what weapons God vseth against the wicked, which lift vp them selues against him, to wit, terrour of conscience, and outwarde afflictions. ] anguish shall make him afraide: they shall preuaile against him as a King readie to the battell.

²⁵ For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and made him selfe strong against the Almightie.

²⁶ Therefore God shall runne vpon him, euen vpon his necke, and against the most thicke part of his shielde.

²⁷ Because he hath couered his face with [Note: [q] That is, he was so puft vp with great prosperitie and aboundance of all things, that he forgate God: noting, that Iob in his felicitie, had not the true feare of God. ] his fatnesse, and hath colloppes in his flancke.

²⁸ Though he dwell [Note: [r] Though he builde, and repaire ruinous places to get him fame, yet God shall bring all to nought, and turne his great prosperitie into extreme miserie. ] in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, but are become heapes,

²⁹ He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the [Note: [s] Meaning, that his sumptuous buildings shoulde neuer come to perfection. ] perfection thereof in the earth.

³⁰ He shall neuer depart out of darkenesse: the flame shall drie vp his branches, and he shall goe away with the breath of his mouth.

³¹ He [Note: [t] He standeth so in his owne conceite, that he will giue no place to good counsell, therefore his owne pride shal bring him to destruction. ] beleeueth not that he erreth in vanitie: therefore vanitie shalbe his change.

³² His branch shall not be greene, but shall be cut off before his day.

³³ God shall destroy him as the vine her sower [Note: [u] As one that gathereth grapes before they be ripe. ] grape, and shall cast him off, as the oliue doeth her flowre.

³⁴ For the congregation of the hypocrite shalbe desolate, and fire shall deuoure the houses of [Note: [x] Which were builte or maintained by powling, and briberie. ] bribes.

³⁵ For they [Note: [y] And therefore all their vaine deuices shall turne to their owne destruction. ] conceiue mischiefe and bring foorth vanitie, and their bellie hath prepared deceite.

1 Iob mooued by the importunacie of his friendes, 7 Counteth in what extremitie he is, 19 And taketh God witnes of his innocencie.

¹ Bvt Iob answered, and said,

² I haue oft times heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

³ Shall there be none ende of wordes of

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[Note: [a] Which serue for vaine ostentation and for no true comfort. ] winde? or what maketh thee bold so to [Note: [b] For Eliphaz did reply against Iobs answere. ] answere?
⁴ I could also speake as yee doe: (but woulde God your [Note: [c] I would you felt that which I doe. ] soule were in my soules stead) I could keepe you company in speaking, and could [Note: [d] That is, mock at your miserie, as you do at mine. ] shake mine head at you,

⁵ But I woulde strengthen you [Note: [e] If this were in my power, yet would I comfort you, and not doe as ye doe to me. ] with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should asswage your sorowe.

⁶ Though I speake, my sorow [Note: [f] If they would say, Why doest thou not then cofort thy selfe? hee answereth, that the iudgements of God are more heauie, then he is able to asswage either by words or silence. ] can not be asswaged: though I cease, what release haue I?

⁷ But now [Note: [g] Meaning, God. ] hee maketh mee wearie: O God, thou hast made all my [Note: [h] That is, destroyed most of my familie. ] congregation desolate,

⁸ And hast made me full of [Note: [i] In token of sorowe and griefe. ] wrinkles which is a witnesse thereof, and my leannes ryseth vp in me, testifying the same in my face.

⁹ [Note: [k] That is, God by his wrath: and in this diuersitie of words and hie style hee expresseth how grieuous the hand of God was vpon him. ] His wrath hath torne me, and hee hateth me, and gnasheth vpon mee with his teeth: mine enemie hath sharpened his eyes against me.

¹⁰ They haue opened their mouthes vpon me, and smitten me on the [Note: [l] That is, hath handled me most contemptuously: for so smiting on ye cheeke signified, 1.King.22.24. mar.14.65. ] cheeke in reproch; they gather themselues together against me.

¹¹ God hath deliuered me to the vniust, and hath made mee to turne out of the way by the [Note: [m] They haue led me whither they would. ] hands of the wicked.

¹² I was in welth, but he hath brought me to nought: he hath taken me by the necke, and beaten me, and set me as a marke for himselfe.

¹³ His [Note: [n] His manifold afflictions. ] archers compasse mee rounde about: he cutteth my reines, and doth not spare, & powreth my gall [Note: [o] I am wounded to the heart. ] vpon the ground.

¹⁴ He hath broken me with one breaking vpon another, and runneth vpon me like a gyant.

¹⁵ I haue sowed a sackcloth vpon my skinne, and haue abased mine [Note: [p] Meaning, his glory was brought lowe. ] horne vnto the dust.

¹⁶ My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is vpon mine eyes,

¹⁷ Though there be no wickednesse in [Note: [q] Signifying, that he is not able to comprehend the cause of this his grieuous punishment. ] mine hands, and my prayer [Note: [r] That is, vnfained, and without hypocrisie. ] be pure.

¹⁸ O earth, couer not thou my [Note: [s] Let my sinne be knowen if I bee such a sinner as mine aduersaries accuse me, and let me finde no fauour. ] blood, & let my crying finde no place.

¹⁹ For lo, now my [Note: [t] Though man condemne mee, yet God is witnesse of my cause. ] witnesse is in the heauen, and my record is on hie.

²⁰ My friends [Note: [u] Vse painted words in steade of true consolation. ] speake eloquently against me: but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God.

²¹ Oh that a man might [Note: [x] Thus by his great torments he is caried away, and brasteth out into passions, & speaketh vnaduisedly, as though God should intreat man more gently, seeing he hath but a short time here to liue. ] pleade with God, as man with his neighbour!

²² For the yeeres accounted come, and I shal go the way, whence I shall not returne.

1 Iob sayth that he consumeth away, and yet doeth paciently abide it. 10 He exhorteth his friends to repentance, 13 shewing that he looketh but for death.

¹ My breath is corrupt: my dayes are cut off, & the graue is readie for me.

² There are none but [Note: [a] In stead of comfort, being nowe at deaths doore, he had but them that mocked at him, and discouraged him. ] mockers with mee, & mine eye continueth in [Note: [b] I see still that they seeke but to vexe me. ] their bitternesse.

³ [Note: [c] He reasoneth with God as a man beside himselfe, to the intent that his cause might be brought to light. ] Lay downe nowe and put me in suretie for thee: who is hee, that [Note: [d] And answere for thee? ] will touch mine hand?

⁴ For thou hast hid their heart from [Note: [e] That these mine afflictions are thy iust iudgements, though man knowe not the cause. ] vnderstanding: therefore shalt thou not set them vp on hie.

⁵ [Note: [f] He that flattereth a man, and onely iudgeth him happie in his prosperitie, shall not himselfe onely but in his posteritie be punished. ] For the eyes of his children shall faile, that speaketh flattery to his friends.

⁶ Hee hath also made mee a [Note: [g] God hath made all the world to speake of me, because of mine afflictions. ] byword of the people, and I am as a Tabret [Note: [h] That is, as a continuall sound in their eares. ] before them.

⁷ Mine eye therefore is dimme for griefe, and all my strength is like a shadowe.

⁸ The righteous shalbe astonied at [Note: [i] To wit, when they see the godly punished: but in the end they shall come to vnderstanding, & knowe what shall be the reward of the hypocrite. ] this, and the innocent shalbe moued against ye hypocrite.

⁹ But the righteous wil holde his [Note: [k] That is, wil not be discouraged, considering that the godly are punished, as well as the wicked. ] way, & he whose hands are pure, shall increase his strength.

¹⁰ All [Note: [l] Iob speaketh to them three, that came to comfort him. ] you therefore turne you, and come nowe, and I shall not finde one wise among you.

¹¹ My dayes are past, mine enterprises are broken, and the thoughts of mine heart

¹² Haue changed the [Note: [m] That is, haue brought me sorowe in stead of comfort. ] nyght for the day, and the light that approched, for darkenesse.

¹³ Though I hope, [Note: [n] Though I should hope to come from aduersitie to prosperitie as your discourse pretendeth. ] yet the graue shall bee mine house, and I shal make my bed in the darke.

¹⁴ I shall say to corruption, Thou art my [Note: [o] I haue no more hope in father, mother, sister, or any worldly thing: for the dust and wormes shall bee to mee in stead of them. ] father, and to the worme, Thou art my mother and my sister.

¹⁵ Where is then now mine hope? or who shal consider the thing, that I hoped for?

¹⁶ [Note: [p] All worldly hope, and prosperitie fayle, which you say, are onely signes of Gods fauour: but seeing that these things perish, I set mine hope in God, and in the life euerlasting. ] They shal goe downe into the bottome of the pit: surely it shall lye together in the dust.

1 Bildad rehearseth the paines of the vnfaithfull and wicked.

¹ Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

² When will [Note: [a] Which count your selues iuste as Chap. 12.4. ] yee make an ende of your words? [Note: [b] Whome you take to bee but beastes, as chap. 12.7. ] cause vs to vnderstande, and then wee will speake.

³ Wherefore are wee counted as beastes, and are vile in your sight?

⁴ Thou art [Note: [c] That is, like a mad man. ] as one that teareth his soule in his anger. Shall the [Note: [d] Shall God change the order of nature for thy sake, by dealing with thee otherwise then he doeth with all men? ] earth bee forsaken for thy sake? or the rocke remoued out of his place?

⁵ Yea, the light of the wicked shalbe [Note: [e] When the wicked is in his prosperitie, then God changeth his stare: and this is his ordinarie working for their sinnes. ] quenched, and the sparke of his fire shall not shine.

⁶ The light shalbe darke in his dwelling, and his candle shalbe put out with him.

⁷ The steps of his strength shalbe restrained, and his owne counsell shall cast him downe.

⁸ For hee is taken in the net by his feete, and he [Note: [f] Meaning, yt the wicked are in continuall danger. ] walketh vpon the snares.

⁹ The grenne shall take him by the heele, and the theefe shall come vpon him.

¹⁰ A snare is layed for him in the ground, and a trappe for him in the way.

¹¹ Fearefulnesse shall make him afrayde on euery side, and shall driue him to his feete.

¹² His strength shalbe [Note: [g] That which shoulde nourish him, shalbe consumed by famine. ] famine: and destruction shalbe readie at his side.

¹³ It shall deuoure the inner partes of his skinne, and the [Note: [h] That is, some strong and violent death shall consume his strength: or as the Ebrewe word signifieth, his members or partes. ] first borne of death shall deuoure his strength.

¹⁴ His hope shalbe rooted out of his dwelling, & shal cause him to go to the [Note: [i] That is, with most great feare. ] King of feare.

¹⁵ Feare shall dwell in his house (because it is not [Note: [k] Meaning, not truely come by. ] his) [Note: [l] Though all the world woulde fauour him, yet God would destroy him and his. ] and brimstone shalbe scattered vpon his habitation.

¹⁶ His rootes shalbe dryed vp beneath, and aboue shall his branche be cut downe.

¹⁷ His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall haue no name in the streete.
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¹⁸ They shall driue him out of the [Note: [m] He shall fall from prosperitie to aduersitie. ] light vnto darkenesse, and chase him out of the world.

¹⁹ Hee shall neither haue sonne nor nephewe among his people, nor any posteritie in his dwellings.

²⁰ The posteritie shalbe astonied at his [Note: [n] When they shall see what came vnto him. ] day, and feare shall come vpon the ancient.

²¹ Surely such are the habitations of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

2 Iob reprooueth his friends, 15 and reciteth his miseries & grieuous paines. 25 Hee assureth himselfe of the generall resurrection.

¹ Bvt Iob answered, and said,

² Howe long will yee vexe my soule, and torment me with wordes?

³ Ye haue now [Note: [a] That is, many times, as Neh.4.12. ] ten times reproched me, and are not ashamed: ye are impudent toward mee.

⁴ And though I had in deede erred, mine errour [Note: [b] That is, I my selfe shalbe punished for it, or you haue not yet confuted it. ] remaineth with me.

⁵ But in deede if ye will aduance your selues against me, and rebuke me for my reproche,

⁶ Know nowe, that God hath [Note: [c] He brasteth out againe into his passions, and declareth still that his affliction commeth of God, though he be not able to feele ye cause in himself. ] ouerthrowen me, and hath compassed me with his net.

⁷ Beholde, I crie out of violence, but I haue none answere: I crie, but there is no iudgement.

⁸ Hee hath hedged vp my way that I cannot [Note: [d] Meaning, out of his afflictions. ] passe, and he hath set darkenesse in my paths.

⁹ Hee hath spoyled mee of mine honour, and taken the [Note: [e] Meaning, his children, & whatsoeuer was deare vnto him in this world. ] crowne away from mine head.

¹⁰ He hath destroyed mee on euery side and I am gone: and he hath remoued mine hope like [Note: [f] Which is pluckt vp, & hath no more hope to growe. ] a tree.

¹¹ And he hath kindled his wrath against me, and counteth mee as one of his enemies.

¹² His [Note: [g] His manifolde afflictions. ] armies came together, & made their way vpon me, and camped about my tabernacle.

¹³ He hath remooued my brethre farre from me, and also mine acquaintance were strangers vnto me.

¹⁴ My neighbours haue forsaken me, and my familiars haue forgotten me.

¹⁵ [Note: [h] Mine household seruats: by all these losses Iob sheweth that touching the flesh he had great occasion to bee moued. ] They that dwel in mine house, and my maydes tooke me for a stranger: for I was a stranger in their sight.

¹⁶ I called my seruant, but he would not answere, though I prayed him with my mouth.

¹⁷ My breath was strange vnto my wife, though I prayed her for the childrens sake of mine [Note: [i] Which were hers and mine. ] owne body.

¹⁸ The wicked also despised mee, and when I rose, they spake against me.

¹⁹ All my secret friends abhorred me, & they whome I loued, are turned against me.

²⁰ My bone [Note: [k] Besides these great losses and most cruel vnkindnesse, he was touched in his owne perso as followeth ] cleaueth to my skinne and to my flesh, and I haue escaped with the [Note: [l] All my flesh was consumed. ] skinne of my teeth.

²¹ Haue pitie vpon me: haue [Note: [m] Seeing I haue these iust causes to complayne, condene me not as an hypocrite, specially ye which should comfort me. ] pitie vpon me, (O yee my friendes) for the hande of God hath touched me.

²² Why do ye persecute me, as [Note: [n] Is it not ynough yt God doeth punish me, except you by reproches increase my sorow? ] God? & are not satisfied with my [Note: [o] To see my bodie punished, except ye trouble my minde? ] flesh?

²³ Oh that my wordes were nowe written! oh that they were written euen in a booke,

²⁴ And grauen with [Note: [p] He protesteth that notwithstanding his sore passions his religion is perfit, and that he is not a blasphemer, as they iudged him. ] an yron pen in lead, or in stone for euer!

²⁵ For I am sure, that my [Note: [q] I do not so iustifie my selfe before the world, but I know that I shall come before the great Iudge, who shall be my deliuerer and Sauiour. ] Redeemer liueth, and he shall stand the last on the earth.

²⁶ And though after my skin wormes destroy

this bodie, yet shall I see God [Note: [r] Herein Iob declareth plainely that he had a full hope, that both the soule and body should enioy the presence of God in the last resurrection. ] in my flesh.

²⁷ Whome I my selfe shall see, and mine eyes shall beholde, and none other for me, though my reynes are consumed within me.

²⁸ But yee sayde, Why is hee persecuted? And there was a [Note: [s] Though his friends thought that hee was but persecuted of God for his sinnes, yet hee declareth that there was a deeper consideration: to wit, the trial of his faith and patience, and so to bee an example for others. ] deepe matter in me.

²⁹ Be ye afraide of the sworde: for the sworde will be [Note: [t] God wil bee reuenged of his hastie iudgement, whereby you condemne me. ] auenged of wickednesse, that yee may knowe that there is a iudgement.

1 Zophar sheweth, that the wicked and the couetous shall haue a short ende, 22 though for a time they florish.

¹ Then answered Zophar the Naamathite and saide,

² Doubtles my thoughts cause me to answere, and therefore I make haste.

³ I haue heard [Note: [a] He declareth that two things moued him to speake: to wit, because Iob seemed to touch him, and because he thought he had knowledge sufficient to confute him. ] the correction of my reproch: therefore the spirite of mine vnderstanding causeth me to answere.

⁴ Knowest thou not this of olde? and since God placed man vpon the earth,

⁵ That the reioycing of the wicked is short, and that the ioy of hypocrites is but a moment?

⁶ Though [Note: [b] His purpose is to proue Iob to be a wicked man, and an hypocrite, because God punished him, & changed his prosperitie into aduersitie. ] his excellencie mount vp to the heauen, and his head reache vnto the cloudes,

⁷ Yet shall hee perish for euer, like his dung, and they which haue seene him, shall say, Where is hee?

⁸ He shal flee away as a dreame, and they shal not finde him, and shall passe away as a vision of the night,

⁹ So that the eye which had seene him, shall do so no more, & his place shal see him no more.

¹⁰ His children shall [Note: [c] Whereas the father through ambition and tyranny oppressed the poore, the children through pouertie and miserie shall seeke fauour at the poore. ] flatter the poore, & his hands shall [Note: [d] So that the thing, which hee hath taken away by violence, shall be restored againe by force. ] restore his substance.

¹¹ His bones are full of the sinne of his youth, and [Note: [e] Meaning, that he shall cary nothing away with him, but his sinne. ] it shal lie downe with him in the dust.

¹² When wickednesse [Note: [f] As poyson that is sweete in the mouth bringeth destruction, when it commeth into the bodie: so all vice at the first is pleasant, but afterward God turneth it to destruction. ] was sweete in his mouth, and he hid it vnder his tongue,

¹³ And fauoured it, and would not forsake it, but kept it close in his mouth,

¹⁴ Then his meat in his bowels was turned: the gall of Aspes was in the middes of him.

¹⁵ He hath deuoured substance, and hee shall vomit it: for God shall drawe it out of his bellie.

¹⁶ He shall sucke the [Note: [g] He compareth euil gotten goods to the venim of aspes, which serpent is most dangerous: noting that Iobs great riches were not truely come by, and therefore God did plague him iustly for the same. ] gall of Aspes, and the vipers tongue shall slay him.

¹⁷ He shall not see the [Note: [h] Though God giue to all other abundance of his blessings, yer he shal haue no part thereof. ] riuers, nor the floods and streames of honie and butter.

¹⁸ He shal restore the labour, and shall deuoure no more: euen according to the substance shalbe his exchange, [Note: [i] That is, these raueners and spoylers of the poore shall enioy their theft but for a time: for after God will take it from them and cause them to make restitution, so that it is but an exchange. ] & he shal enioy it no more.

¹⁹ For he hath vndone many: he hath forsaken the poore, and hath spoyled houses which he builded not.

²⁰ Surely he shall feele no quietnes in his bodie, neither shall he reserue of yt which he desired.

²¹ There shall none of his [Note: [k] He shall leaue nothing to his posteritie. ] meate bee left: therefore none shal hope for his goods.

²² When he shalbe filled with his abundance, he shalbe in paine, and the hand [Note: [l] The wicked shal neuer bee in rest: for one wicked man shall seeke to destroy another. ] of all the wicked shall assaile him.


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²³ He shall be about to fill his belly, but God shall sende vpon him his fierce wrath, [Note: [m] Some reade, vpon his flesh, alluding to Iob, whose flesh was smitten with a scab. ] and shall cause to rayne vpon him, euen vpon his meate.

²⁴ He shall flee from the yron weapons, and the bow of steele shal strike him through.

²⁵ The arrowe is drawen out, and commeth forth of the [Note: [n] Some reade, of the quiuer. ] body, & shineth of his gall, so feare commeth vpon him.

²⁶ [Note: [o] All feare & sorow shal light vpo him, when he thinketh to escape. ] All darkenes shalbe hid in his secret places: the fire that is not [Note: [p] That is, fire from heauen, or the fire of Gods wrath. ] blowen, shall deuoure him, and that which remaineth in his tabernacle, shalbe destroyed.

²⁷ The heauen shal declare his wickednes, & the earth shal rise vp against him.

²⁸ The [Note: [q] Meaning, the children of the wicked shal flowe away like riuers & be dispersed in diuers places. ] increase of his house shal go away: it shal flow away in the day of his wrath.

²⁹ This is the portion of the wicked man fro [Note: [r] Thus God will plague ye wicked. ] God, and the heritage that he shal haue of God for his [Note: [s] Against God, thinking to excuse himselfe and to escape Gods hand. ] wordes.

7 Iob declareth how the prosperitie of the wicked maketh them proude, 15 In so much that they blaspheme God. 16 Their destruction is at hand. 23 None ought to be iudged wicked for affliction, neither good for prosperitie.

¹ Bvt Iob answered, and sayd,

² Heare diligently my wordes, and this [Note: [a] Your diligent marking of my wordes shalbe to me a great consolation. ] shalbe in stead of your consolations.

³ Suffer mee, that I may speake, and when I haue spoken, mocke on.

⁴ Doe I direct my talke to man? If it [Note: [b] As though he would say, I do not talke with man, but with God, who will not answere me, & therefore my minde must needes be troubled. ] were so, how should not my spirit be troubled?

⁵ Marke mee, and be abashed, and lay your hand vpon your [Note: [c] He chargeth them as though they were not able to comprehend this his feeling of Gods iudgement, & exhorteth them therfore to silence. ] mouth.

⁶ Euen when I remember, I am afrayde, and feare taketh hold on my flesh.

⁷ Wherefore do the wicked [Note: [d] Iob proueth against his aduersaries that God punisheth not straightwayes the wicked, but oft times giueth them long life, & prosperitie: so that we must not iudge God iust or vniust by the things that appeare to our eye. ] liue, and waxe olde, and grow in wealth?

⁸ Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.

⁹ Their houses are peaceable without feare, and the rod of God is not vpon them.

¹⁰ Their bullocke gendreth, and fayleth not: their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.

¹¹ They send forth their children [Note: [e] They haue store of children, lusty & healthfull, and in these poyntes he answereth to that which Zophar alleaged before. ] like sheepe, and their sonnes dance.

¹² They take the tabret & harpe, and reioyce in the sound of the organs.

¹³ They spend their dayes in wealth, and suddenly [Note: [f] Not being tormented with long sickenes. ] they go downe to the graue.

¹⁴ They say also vnto God, Depart fro vs: for we desire not the [Note: [g] They desire nothing more then to be exempt from all subiection that they should beare to God: this Iob sheweth his aduersaries, that if they reason onely by that which is seene by common experience, the wicked that hate God, are better dealt withall, then they that loue him. ] knowledge of thy wayes.

¹⁵ Who is the Almightie, that we should serue him? and what profit should we haue, if we should pray vnto him?

¹⁶ Lo, their wealth is not in their [Note: [h] It is not their owne, but God onely lendeth it vnto them. ] hand: therfore let the counsell of the wicked [Note: [i] God keepe me from their prosperitie. ] bee farre from me.

¹⁷ How oft shal the candle of the wicked be put out? and their destruction come vpon them? he wil deuide their liues in his wrath.

¹⁸ They shall be as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme carieth away.

¹⁹ God wil lay vp the sorowe of the father for his children: when he rewardeth him, hee shall knowe it.

²⁰ [Note: [k] When God recompenseth his wickednes, he shal know that his prosperitie was but vanitie. ] His eyes shall see his destruction, and he

shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.

²¹ For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the nomber of his moneths is cut off?

²² Shall any teache [Note: [l] Who sendeth to the wicked prosperitie, & punisheth the godly. ] God knowledge, who iudgeth the hiest things?

²³ One [Note: [m] Meaning, the wicked. ] dyeth in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperitie.

²⁴ His breasts are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.

²⁵ And another [Note: [n] To wit, the godly. ] dieth in the bitternes of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.

²⁶ They shal sleepe both in [Note: [o] As concerning their bodies: and this he speaketh according to the common iudgement. ] the dust, & the wormes shal couer them.

²⁷ Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises, wherewith ye do me wrong.

²⁸ For ye say, Where is the princes [Note: [p] Thus they called Iobs house in derision, concluding that it was destroyed because he was wicked. ] house? & where is the tabernacle of the wickeds dwelling?

²⁹ May ye not [Note: [q] Which through long traueling haue experience & tokens hereof, to wit, that the wicked do prosper, & the godly liue in affliction. ] aske the that go by the way? and ye can not deny their signes.

³⁰ But the wicked is kept vnto the day of [Note: [r] Though the wicked florish here, yet God will punish him in the last day. ] destruction, and they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

³¹ Who shal declare his way [Note: [s] Though men doe flatter him, and none dare reproue him in this worlde, yet death is a token, that God will bring him to an account. ] to his face? & who shal reward him for that he hath done?

³² Yet shal he be brought to the graue, & remaine in the heape.

³³ The [Note: [t] He shall be glad to lye in a slimie pitte, which before could not be content with a royall palace. ] slimie valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shal draw after him, as before him there were innumerable.

³⁴ How then comfort [Note: [u] Saying, that the iust in this worlde haue prosperitie and the wicked aduersitie. ] ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaine but lyes?

2 Eliphaz affirmeth that Iob is punished for his sinnes. 6 He accuseth him of vnmercifulnes, 13 And that he denied Gods prouidence. 21 He exhorteth him to repentance.

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and sayde,

² May a man be [Note: [a] Though man were iust, yet God could haue no profite of this his iustice: and therefore whe he punisheth him, he hath no regard to his iustice, but to his sinne. ] profitable vnto God, as he that is wise, may be profitable to himselfe?

³ [Note: Chap.35.7. ] Is it any thing vnto the Almightie, that thou art righteous? or is it profitable to him, that thou makest thy wayes vpright?

⁴ Is it for feare [Note: [b] Least thou shouldest reproue or hurt him? ] of thee that he will accuse thee? or go with thee into iudgement?

⁵ Is not thy wickednes great, and thine iniquities innumerable?

⁶ For thou hast taken the [Note: [c] Thou hast bene cruel and without charitie, and wouldest do nothing for the poore, but for thine owne aduantage. ] pledge from thy brother for nought, and spoyled the clothes of the naked.

⁷ To such as were wearie, thou hast not giuen water to drinke, and hast withdrawen bread from the hungrie.

⁸ But the mightie man [Note: [d] When thou wast in power & authoritie, thou didst not iustice, but wrong. ] had the earth, and he that was in autoritie, dwelt in it.

⁹ Thou hast cast out widowes emptie, & the armes of [Note: [e] Thou hast not onely not shewed pitie, but oppressed them. ] the fatherles were broken.

¹⁰ Therefore snares are round about thee, and feare shal suddenly trouble thee:

¹¹ Or darkenes that thou shouldest not see, & [Note: [f] That is, manifold afflictions. ] abundance of waters shal couer thee.

¹² Is not God on [Note: [g] He accuseth Iob of impietie & contempt of God, as though he would say, If thou passe not for men, yet cosider the height of Gods maiestie. ] hie in the heauen? and behold the height of the [Note: [h] That so much the more by that excellent worke thou mayst feare God, and reuerence him. ] starres how hie they are.

¹³ But thou sayest, How should God [Note: [i] He reproueth Iob as though he denied Gods prouidence, and that he could not see the things that were done in this worlde. ] know? can he iudge through the darke cloude?
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¹⁴ The cloudes hide him that he can not see, and he walketh in the circle of heauen.

¹⁵ Hast thou marked the way of the worlde, [Note: [k] How God hath punished them from the beginning? ] wherein wicked men haue walked?

¹⁶ Which were [Note: [l] He proueth Gods prouidence by the punishment of the wicked, whom he taketh away before they can bring their wicked purposes to passe. ] cut downe before the time, whose foundation was as a riuer that ouerflowed:

¹⁷ Which sayd vnto God, Depart from vs, & asked what the Almightie could do for them.

¹⁸ Yet hee [Note: [m] He answereth to that, which Iob had sayd, Chap. 21.7. that the wicked haue prosperitie in this worlde: desiring that he might not be partaker of the like. ] filled their houses with good things: but let the counsell of the wicked be farre from me.

¹⁹ The righteous shal see them, & shal reioyce, [Note: [n] The iust reioyce at the destruction of the wicked for two causes: first, because God sheweth himselfe iudge of ye world, & by this meanes continueth his honour and glorie: secondly, because God sheweth that he hath care ouer his in that he punisheth their enemies. ] and the innocent shal laugh them to scorne.

²⁰ Surely [Note: [o] That is, the state & preseruation of the godly is hid vnder Gods wings. ] our substance is hid: but the fire hath deuoured the remnant of [Note: [p] Meaning, of the wicked. ] them.

²¹ Therefore acquaint thy selfe, I pray thee, [Note: [q] He exhorteth Iob to repentance and to returne to God. ] with him, and make peace: thereby thou shalt haue prosperitie.

²² Receiue, I pray thee, the law of his mouth, and lay vp his words in thine heart.

²³ If thou returne to the Almightie, thou shalt [Note: [r] God will restore vnto thee all thy substance. ] be buylt vp, and thou shalt put iniquitie farre from thy tabernacle.

²⁴ Thou shalt lay vp golde for [Note: [s] Which shalbe in abundance like dust. ] dust, and the gold of Ophir, as the flintes of the riuers.

²⁵ Yea, the Almightie shalbe thy defence, and thou shalt haue plentie of siluer.

²⁶ And thou shalt then delite in the Almightie, and lift vp thy face vnto God.

²⁷ Thou shalt make thy praier vnto him, & he shal heare thee, & thou shalt render thy vowes.

²⁸ Thou shalt also decree a thing, and he shal establish it vnto thee, and the [Note: [t] That is, the fauour of God. ] light shall shine vpon thy wayes.

²⁹ [Note: [u] God will deliuer his when the wicked are destroyed rounde about them, as in the flood & in Sodom. ] When others are cast downe, then shalt thou say, I am lifted vp: and God shall saue the humble person.

³⁰ The innocent shal deliuer the [Note: [x] God will deliuer a whole countrey from peril, euen for the iust mans sake. ] yland, & it shalbe preserued by the purenes of thine hands.

2 Iob affirmeth that he both knoweth and feareth the power & sentence of the Iudge, 10 And that he is not punished onely for his sinnes.

¹ Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

² Though my talke be this day in [Note: [a] He sheweth the iust cause of his complaining, and as touching that Eliphaz had exhorted him to returne to God, Cha. 22.21. he declareth that he desireth nothing more: but it seemed that God woulde not be found of him. ] bitternes, and my plague greater then my groning,

³ Would God yet I knew how to finde him, I would enter vnto his place.

⁴ I would pleade the cause before him, & fill my mouth with arguments.

⁵ I would knowe the wordes, that he would answere me, & would vnderstand what he would say vnto me.

⁶ Would he [Note: [b] Vsing his absolute power, and saying, Because I am God, I may do what I will. ] plead against me with his great power? No, but he would [Note: [c] Of his mercie he would giue me power to answere him. ] put strength in me.

⁷ [Note: [d] When hee of his mercie hath giuen strength to mainteine their cause. ] There the righteous might reason with him, so I shoulde be deliuered for euer from my Iudge.

⁸ [Note: [e] Meaning, that if he consider Gods iustice, he is not able to comprehende his iudgements on what side or part soeuer he turneth himselfe. ] Behold, if I go to the East, he is not there: if to the West, yet I can not perceiue him:

⁹ If to the North where he worketh, yet I cannot see him: he wil hide himselfe in the South, and I cannot beholde him.

¹⁰ But he knoweth my [Note: [f] God hath this preeminece aboue me yt he knoweth my way: to wit, yt I am innocet, & I am not able to iudge of his works: he sheweth also his cofidece, that God doeth visite him for his profite. ] way, & trieth mee, and I shal come forth like the gold.

¹¹ My foote hath followed his steps: his way haue I kept, and haue not declined.

¹² Neyther haue I departed from the commandement of his lippes, and I haue [Note: [g] His worde is more precious vnto mee, then the meate wherewith the body is sustained. ] esteemed the words of his mouth more then mine appointed foode.

¹³ Yet he is in one minde, & who can [Note: [h] Iob confesseth that at this present he felt not Gods fauour, & yet was assured, that he had appoynted him to a good end. ] turne him? yea, he doeth what his minde desireth.

¹⁴ For he will performe that, which is decreed of me, and [Note: [i] In many poyntes man is not able to atteine to Gods iudgemets. ] many such things are with him.

¹⁵ Therefore I am troubled at his presence, & in considering it, I am afraid of him.

¹⁶ For God [Note: [k] That I shoulde not be without feare. ] hath softened mine heart, & the Almightie hath troubled me.

¹⁷ For I am not cut off in [Note: [l] He sheweth the cause of his feare, which is, that he being in trouble, seeth none end, neither yet knoweth ye cause. ] darknesse, but he hath hid the darkenesse from my face.

2 Iob describeth the wickednes of men, & sheweth what curse belongeth to the wicked, 12 Howe all things are gouerned by Gods prouidence, 17 And the destruction of the wicked.

¹ Howe should not the times [Note: [a] Thus Iob speaketh in his passions & after the iudgement of the flesh: that is, that he seeeth not the things that are done at times, neither yet hath a peculiar care ouer all, because he punisheth not the wicked, nor reuengeth the godly. ] be hid from the Almightie, seeing that they which knowe him, see not his [Note: [b] When he punisheth ye wicked & rewardeth ye good. ] dayes?

² Some remoue the land marks, that rob the flockes and feede thereof.

³ They leade away the asse of the fatherles: and take the widowes oxe to pledge.

⁴ They make the poore to turne out of the way, so that the poore of the earth hide themselues [Note: [c] And for crueltie & oppression dare not shewe their faces. ] together.

⁵ Behold, others as wilde asses in the wildernesse, goe forth to their businesse, and [Note: [d] That is, spare no diligence. ] rise early for a praye: the wildernesse [Note: [e] He and his, liue by robbing and murthering. ] giueth him and his children foode.

⁶ They reape [Note: [f] Meaning, the poore mans. ] his prouision in the fielde, but they gather the late [Note: [g] Signifying, that one wicked man wil not spoyle another, but for necessitie. ] vintage of the wicked.

⁷ They cause the naked to lodge without garment, and without couering in the colde.

⁸ They are wet with the showres of the moutaines, [Note: [h] The poore are driuen by the wicked into rockes & holes, where they can not lye dry for the rayne. ] and they imbrace the rocke for want of a couering.

⁹ They plucke the fatherles [Note: [i] That is, they so powle & pill the poore widow, that she cannot haue to sustaine her selfe that she may be able to giue her childe sucke: ] from the breast, and take the pledge [Note: [k] That is, his garment, wherewith he should be couered or clad. ] of the poore.

¹⁰ They cause him to go naked without clothing, and take the glening from the hungrie.

¹¹ They yt make oyle [Note: [l] In such places, which are appointed for yt purpose: meaning, that those that labour for ye wicked, are pined for huger. ] betweene their walles, and treade their wine presses, suffer thirst.

¹² Men [Note: [m] For ye great oppression & extortion. ] cry out of the citie, and the soules of the slayne [Note: [n] Cry out & cal for vengeace. ] cry out: yet God doth [Note: [o] God doth not condene ye wicked, but seemeth to passe ouer it by his log silence. ] not charge them with follie.

¹³ These are they, that abhorre the [Note: [p] That is, Gods word, because they are reproued therby. ] light: they know not the wayes thereof, nor continue in the paths thereof.

¹⁴ The murtherer riseth earely & killeth the poore and the needie: and in the night he is as a theefe.

¹⁵ The eye also of the [Note: [q] By these particular vices & ye licece therunto, he would proue yt God punisheth not ye wicked & rewardeth the iust, ] adulterer waiteth for the twilight, and sayth, None eye shal see me, and disguiseth his face.

¹⁶ They digge through houses in the darke, which they marked for themselues in the daye:

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they knowe not the light.
¹⁷ But the morning is euen to them as the shadow of death: if one knowe them, they are in the terrours of the shadowe of death.

¹⁸ He is swift vpon the [Note: [r] He fleeth to the waters for his succour. ] waters: their [Note: [s] They thinke that all the worlde is bent against them and dare not goe by the hie way. ] portion shalbe cursed in the earth: he will not behold the way of the vineyardes.

¹⁹ As the dry ground and heate consume the snowe waters, so shall the graue [Note: [t] As the drye ground is neuer full with waters, so will they neuer cease sinning, till they come to the graue. ] the sinners.

²⁰ [Note: [u] Though God suffer the wicked for a time, yet their ende shall be most vile destruction, and in this poynt Iob commeth to him selfe and sheweth his confidence. ] The pitifull man shall forget him: the worme shal feele his sweetenes: he shalbe no more remebred, & the wicked shalbe broke like a tree.

²¹ He [Note: [x] Hee sheweth why the wicked shall not be lamented, because he did not pitie others. ] doth euil intreat ye barren, that doeth not beare, neither doeth he good to the widowe.

²² He draweth also the [Note: [y] He declareth that after that the wicked haue destroyed the weakest, they will doe like to the stronger, and therefore are iustly preuented by Gods iudgements. ] mighty by his power, and when he riseth vp, none is sure of life.

²³ Though men giue him assurance to be in safetie, yet his eyes are vpon their wayes.

²⁴ They are exalted for a litle, but they are gone, and are brought lowe as all others: they are destroyed, and cut off as the toppe of an eare of corne.

²⁵ But if it be not [Note: [z] That is, that contrary to your reasoning no man can giue a perfite reason of Gods iudgements, let me be reprooued. ] so, where is he? or who wil proue me a lyer, & make my words of no value?

Bildad prooueth that no man is cleane nor without sinne before God.

¹ Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and sayd,

² [Note: [a] His purpose is to proue, that albeit God trie and afflict the iust, yet soone after he sendeth prosperitie, and because he did not so to Iob, he concludeth that he is wicked. ] Power and feare is with him, that maketh peace in his hie places.

³ Is there any nomber in his armies? and vpon whom [Note: [b] Who can hide him from his presence? ] shall not his light arise?

⁴ And howe may a man [Note: [c] That is, be iust in respect of God? ] be iustified with God? or how can he be cleane, that is borne of woman?

⁵ Behold, he wil giue no light to the moone, [Note: [d] If God shewe his power, the moone and starres can not haue that light, which is giuen them, much lesse can man haue any excellencie, but of God. ] and the starres are vncleane in his sight.

⁶ How much more man, a worme, euen the sonne of man, which is but a worme?

Iob sheweth that man can not helpe God, and proueth it by his miracles.

¹ Bvt Iob answered, and sayde,

² [Note: [a] Thou concludest nothing: for neither thou helpest me, which am destitute of all helpe, neyther yet speakest sufficiently on Gods behalfe, who hath no neede of thy defence. ] Whom helpest thou? him that hath no power? sauest thou the arme yt hath no strength?

³ Whome counsellest thou? him that hath no wisedome? thou [Note: [b] But thou doest not apply it to the purpose. ] shewest right well as the thing is.

⁴ To whom doest thou declare these words? or whose spirit [Note: [c] That is, meaneth thee to speake this? ] commeth out of thee?

⁵ The [Note: [d] Iob beginneth to declare the force of Gods power and prouidence in the mines and mettals in the deepe places of the earth. ] dead things are formed vnder the waters, and neere vnto them.

⁶ The graue is [Note: [e] There is nothing hidde in the bottome of the earth, but he seeth it. ] naked before him, and there is no couering for [Note: [f] Meaning, the graue wherein thinges putrifie. ] destruction.

⁷ He stretcheth out the [Note: [g] Hee causeth the whole heauen to turne about the North pole. ] North ouer the emptie place, & hangeth the earth vpon nothing.

⁸ He bindeth the waters in his cloudes, and the cloude is not broken vnder them.

⁹ He holdeth backe the face of his throne:

[Note: [h] That is, he hideth the heauens, which are called his throne. ] and spreadeth his cloude vpon it.

¹⁰ He hath set bounds about the waters, vntil the [Note: [i] So long as this world endureth. ] day and night come to an ende.

¹¹ The [Note: [k] Not that heauen hath pillars to vpholde it, but he speaketh by a similitude, as though hee woulde say, The heauen it selfe is not able to abide his reproche. ] pillars of heauen tremble and quake at his reproofe.

¹² The sea is calme by his power, and by his vnderstanding he smiteth the pride thereof.

¹³ His Spirite hath garnished the heauens, & his hand hath formed the crooked [Note: [l] Which is a figure of starres fashioned like a serpent, because of the crookednesse. ] serpent.

¹⁴ Loe, these are part of his wayes: but [Note: [m] If these fewe thinges, which wee see dayly with our eyes, declare his great power and prouidence, howe much more woulde they appeare, if we were able to comprehend all his workes? ] how litle a portion heare we of him? and who can vnderstand his fearefull power?

3 The constancie and perfitnesse of Iob. 13 The rewarde of the wicked and of the tyrants.

¹ Moreouer Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,

² The liuing God hath taken away my [Note: [a] He hath so sore afflicted me, yt men can not iudge of mine vprightnesse: for they iudge onely by outward signes. ] iudgement: for the Almightie hath put my soule in bitternesse.

³ Yet so long as my breath is in me, and the Spirit of God in my nostrels,

⁴ My lips surely shall speake no wickednesse, [Note: [b] Howsoeuer me iudge of me, yet will I not speake contrary to that, which I haue said, and so doe wickedly in betraying the trueth. ] and my tongue shall vtter no deceite.

⁵ God forbid, that I should [Note: [c] Which condene mee as a wicked man, because the hande of God is vpon me. ] iustifie you: vntill I dye, I will neuer take away mine [Note: [d] I will not confesse that God doth thus punish me for my sinnes. ] innocencie from my selfe.

⁶ I will keepe my righteousnesse, and wil not forsake it: mine heart shall not reprooue me of my [Note: [e] Of my life past. ] dayes.

⁷ Mine enemie shal be as the wicked, and he that riseth against me, as the vnrighteous.

⁸ For what [Note: [f] What aduantage hath the dissembler to gaine neuer so much, seeing he shal lose his owne soule? ] hope hath the hypocrite when he hath heaped vp riches, if God take away his soule?

⁹ Will God heare his cry, when trouble commeth vpon him?

¹⁰ Will he set his delight on the Almightie? will he call vpon God at all times?

¹¹ I will teache you what is in the hande of [Note: [g] That is, what God reserueth to himselfe, & whereof he giueth not the knowledge to all. ] God, and I wil not conceale that which is with the Almightie.

¹² Beholde, all ye your selues [Note: [h] That is, these secrete iudgements of God, & yet doe not vnderstand them. ] haue seene it: why then doe you thus vanish [Note: [i] Why maintaine you then this errour? ] in vanitie?

¹³ This is the [Note: [k] Thus will God order the wicked, and punish him, euen vnto his posteritie. ] portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of tyrants, which they shal receiue of the Almightie.

¹⁴ If his children be in great nomber, the sworde shall destroy them, and his posteritie shall not be satisfied with bread.

¹⁵ His remnant shall be buried in death, and his widowes [Note: [l] None shall lament him. ] shall not weepe.

¹⁶ Though he shoulde heape vp siluer as the dust, and prepare rayment as the clay,

¹⁷ He may prepare it, but the iust shall put it on, and the innocent shall deuide the siluer.

¹⁸ He buildeth his house as the [Note: [m] Which breedeth in another mans possession or garment, but is soone shaken out. ] moth, and as a lodge that the watchman maketh.

¹⁹ When the rich man sleepeth, [Note: [n] He meaneth that the wicked tyrats shall not haue a quiet death, nor be buried honourably. ] he shal not be gathered to his fathers: they opened their eyes, and he was gone.

²⁰ Terrours shal take him as waters, & a tempest shall cary him away by night.

²¹ The East winde shall take him away, & he shal depart: & it shal hurle him out of his place.

²² And God shal cast vpon him and not spare, though he would faine flee out of his hand.
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²³ Euery man shall clap their hands at him, & hisse at him out of their place.

Iob sheweth that the wisedome of God is vnsearchable.

¹ The siluer surely hath his veyne, [Note: [a] His purpose is to declare that man may attayne in this worlde to diuers secrets of nature, but man is neuer able to coprehend the wisdome of God. ] and ye gold his place, where they take it.

² Yron is taken out of the dust, and brasse is molten out of the stone.

³ God putteth an end to darkenesse, [Note: [b] There is nothing but it is compassed within certaine limits, and hath an ende, but Gods wisdoe. ] and he tryeth the perfection of all things: he setteth a bond of darkenesse, and of the shadowe of death.

⁴ The flood breaketh out against the [Note: [c] Meaning him that dwelleth thereby. ] inhabitant, and the waters [Note: [d] Which a man can not wade thorowe. ] forgotten of the foote, being higher then man, are gone away.

⁵ Out of the same earth commeth [Note: [e] That is, come, and vnderneath is brimstone or cole, which easily conceiueth fire. ] bread, & vnder it, as it were fire is turned vp.

⁶ The stones thereof are a place [Note: [f] He alludeth to the mines and secretes of nature, which are vnder the earth, whereinto neither foules nor beastes can enter. ] of saphirs, and the dust of it is golde.

⁷ There is a path which no foule hath knowen, neyther hath the kites eye seene it.

⁸ The lyons whelpes haue not walked it, nor the lyon passed thereby.

⁹ He putteth his hand vpon the [Note: [g] After that he hath declared the wisdome of God in the secrets of nature, he describeth his power. ] rockes, & ouerthroweth the mountaines by the rootes.

¹⁰ He breaketh riuers in the rockes, and his eye seeth euery precious thing.

¹¹ He bindeth the floods, that they doe not ouerflowe, and the thing that is hid, bringeth he to light.

¹² But where is wisdome found? [Note: [h] Though Gods power, and wisedome may be vnderstand in earthly things, yet his heauenly wisedome cannot be atteined vnto. ] and where is the place of vnderstanding?

¹³ Man knoweth not [Note: [i] It is too hie a thing for man to attaine vnto in this worlde. ] the price thereof: for it is not found in the land of the liuing.

¹⁴ The depth sayth, It is not in mee: the sea also sayth, It is not with me.

¹⁵ [Note: [k] It can neither be bought for gold, nor precious stones, but is onely the gift of God. ] Golde shall not be giuen for it, neyther shall siluer be weighed for the price thereof.

¹⁶ It shall not be valued with the wedge of golde of Ophir, nor with the precious onix, nor the saphir.

¹⁷ The golde nor the chrystall shall be equall vnto it, nor the exchange shalbe for plate of fine golde.

¹⁸ No mention shall be made of coral, nor of the [Note: [l] Which is thought to be a kinde of precious stone. ] gabish: for wisedome is more precious then pearles.

¹⁹ The Topaz of Ethiopia shal not be equall vnto it, neither shall it be valued with the wedge of pure gold.

²⁰ Whence then commeth wisedome? and where is the place of vnderstanding,

²¹ Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all the liuing, and is hid from the [Note: [m] Meaning, that there is no naturall meanes, whereby man might attaine to the heauenly wisdome: which he meaneth by the foules, that flie hie. ] foules of the heauen?

²² Destruction and death say, We haue heard the fame thereof with our eares.

²³ But God vnderstandeth the [Note: [n] He maketh God onely the autor of this wisdome, and the giuer thereof. ] way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

²⁴ For he beholdeth the endes of the world, and seeth all that is vnder heauen,

²⁵ To make the weight of the windes, and to weigh the waters by measure.

²⁶ When he made a decree for the rayne, and a way for the lightening of the thunders,

²⁷ Then did he see it, and counted it: he prepared it and also considered it.

²⁸ And vnto man he said, Behold, [Note: Prouerb.1.7. ] the [Note: [o] He declareth yt man hath so much of this heauenly wisdome, as he sheweth by fearing God, & departing from euil. ] feare of the Lord is wisedome, and to depart from euil is vnderstanding.

1 Iob complayneth of the prosperitie of the time past. 7. 21 His authoritie, 12 iustice and equitie.

¹ So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,

² Oh that I were as [Note: Ebr. moneths before. ] in times past, when God preserued me!

³ When his [Note: [a] When I felt his fauour. ] light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the [Note: [b] I was free from affliction. ] darkenesse,

⁴ As I was in the dayes of my youth: when [Note: [c] That is, seemed by euident tokens to be more present with me. ] Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:

⁵ When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.

⁶ When I washed my pathes [Note: [d] By these similitudes he declareth the great prosperitie, yt he was in, so that he had none occasion to be such a sinner as they accused him. ] with butter, & when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:

⁷ When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seate in the streete.

⁸ The yong men saw me, & [Note: [e] Being ashamed of their lightnesse and afrayde of my grauitie. ] hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.

⁹ The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their [Note: [f] Acknowledging my wisedome. ] mouth.

¹⁰ The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.

¹¹ And when the [Note: [g] All that heard me, praysed me. ] eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to [Note: [h] Testifying that I did good iustice. ] me.

¹² For I deliuered the [Note: [i] Because his aduersaries did so much charge him with wickednes, he is compelled to render account of his life. ] poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.

¹³ [Note: [k] That is, I did succour him that was in distresse, & so he had cause to prayse me. ] The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.

¹⁴ I put [Note: [l] I delited to doe iustice, as others did to weare costly apparell. ] on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.

¹⁵ I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.

¹⁶ I was a father vnto the poore, and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently.

¹⁷ I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.

¹⁸ Then I sayde, I shall die in my [Note: [m] That is, at home in my bed, without all trouble, and vnquietnesse. ] nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.

¹⁹ For my roote is [Note: [n] My felicitie doeth encrease. ] spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.

²⁰ My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.

²¹ Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.

²² After my wordes they replied not, and my talke [Note: [o] That is, was pleasant vnto them. ] dropped vpon them.

²³ And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth [Note: [p] As the drye ground thirsteth for the rayne. ] as for the latter rayne.

²⁴ If I [Note: [q] That is, they thought it not to be a iest, or they thought not that I would condescend vnto them. ] laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance [Note: [r] They were afrayde to offend me, and cause me to be angry. ] to fall.

²⁵ I appoynted out [Note: [s] I had them at commandement. ] their way, and did sit as chiefe, and dwelt as a King in the army, and like him that comforteth the mourners.

1 Iob complayneth that he is contemned of the most contemptible, 11. 21 because of his aduersitie and affliction. 23 Death is the house of all flesh.

¹ Bvt now they that are yonger then I, [Note: [a] That is, mine estate is changed, and whereas before ye ancient men were glad to doe me reuerence, the yong men now contemne me. ] mocke me: yea, they whose fathers I haue refused to set with the [Note: [b] Meaning, to be my shepheardes, or to keepe my dogges. ] dogges of my flockes.


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² For whereto shoulde the strength of their handes haue serued mee, seeing age [Note: [c] That is, their fathers died for famine before they came to age. ] perished in them?

³ For pouertie and famine they were solitary, fleeing into the wildernes, which is darke, desolate and waste.

⁴ They cut vp [Note: Or, malowes. ] nettels by the bushes, & the iuniper rootes was their meate.

⁵ They were [Note: [d] Iob sheweth yt these that mocked him in his afflictio, were like to their fathers, wicked, & lewde felowes, such as he here describeth. ] chased forth fro among men: they shouted at them, as at a theefe.

⁶ Therfore they dwelt in the clefts of riuers, in the holes of the earth and rockes.

⁷ They roared among the bushes, and vnder the thistles they gathered themselues.

⁸ They were the children of fooles and the children of villaines, which were more vile then the earth.

⁹ And now am I their [Note: [e] They make songs of me, and mocke at my miserie. ] song, and I am their talke.

¹⁰ They abhorre me, & flee farre from mee, and spare not to spit in my face.

¹¹ Because that God hath loosed my [Note: [f] God hath taken from me the force, credit & autoritie, wherewith I kept the in subiection. ] corde and humbled mee, [Note: [g] He said that the yong men when they saw him, hid themselues, as Cha. 29.8, and nowe in his miserie they were impudent and licencious. ] they haue loosed the bridle before me.

¹² The youth rise vp at my right hand: they haue pusht my feete, and haue trode on me as on the [Note: [h] That is, they sought by all meanes how they might destroy me. ] paths of their destruction.

¹³ They haue destroyed my paths: they tooke pleasure at my calamitie, they had none [Note: [i] They neede none to helpe them. ] helpe.

¹⁴ They came as a great breach of waters, & [Note: [k] By my calamitie they tooke an occasion against me. ] vnder this calamitie they come on heapes.

¹⁵ Feare is turned vpon mee: and they pursue my soule as the winde, and mine health passeth away as a cloude.

¹⁶ Therefore my soule is nowe [Note: [l] My life fayleth me, and I am as halfe dead. ] powred out vpon me, and the dayes of affliction haue taken holde on me.

¹⁷ [Note: [m] Meaning, sorowe. ] It pearceth my bones in the night, and my sinewes take no rest.

¹⁸ For the great vehemencie is my garment changed, which compasseth me about as the colar of my coate.

¹⁹ [Note: [n] That is, God hath brought me into contempt. ] He hath cast me into the myre, and I am become like ashes and dust.

²⁰ Whe I cry vnto thee, thou doest not heare me, neither regardest me, when I stand vp.

²¹ Thou turnest thy selfe [Note: [o] He speaketh not thus to accuse God, but to declare the vehemencie of his afflictio, whereby he was caried beside him selfe. ] cruelly against me, and art enemie vnto mee with the strength of thine hand.

²² Thou takest me vp & causest mee to ride vpo the [Note: [p] He compareth his afflictions to a tempest or whirlewinde. ] winde, & makest my [Note: Or, wisedome, or Lawe. ] strength to faile.

²³ Surely I knowe that thou wilt bring mee to death, and to the house appoynted for all the liuing.

²⁴ Doubtles none can stretch his hand [Note: [q] None can deliuer mee thence though they lamet at my death. ] vnto the graue, though they cry in his destruction.

²⁵ Did not I weepe with him that was in trouble? was not my soule in heauinesse for the poore?

²⁶ Yet when I looked for good, [Note: [r] In stead of comforting they mocked at me. ] euill came vnto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkenesse.

²⁷ My bowels did boyle without rest: for the dayes of affliction are come vpon me.

²⁸ I went mourning [Note: [s] Not deliting in any worldly thing, no not so much, as in the vse of the sunne. ] without sunne: I stood vp in the congregation [Note: [t] Lamenting them that were in affliction, & mouing others to pitie the. ] and cryed.

²⁹ I am a brother to the [Note: [u] I am like the wilde beastes that desire most solitarie places. ] dragons, & a companion to the ostriches.

³⁰ My skinne is blacke vpon me, & my bones are burnt with [Note: [x] With the heate of affliction. ] heate.

³¹ Therefore mine harpe is turned to mourning, and mine organs into the voyce of them that weepe.

1 Iob reciteth the innocencie of his liuing, & nomber of his vertues, which declareth what ought to be the life of the faithful.

¹ I made a couenant with mine [Note: [a] I kept mine eyes from all wanton lookes. ] eyes: why then should I thinke on [Note: [b] Would not God then haue punished me? ] a mayde?

² For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?

³ Is not destruction to the wicked & strange punishment to [Note: [c] Iob declareth that the feare of God was a bridle to stay him from all wickednes. ] the workers of iniquitie?

⁴ Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?

⁵ If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,

⁶ Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shal know mine [Note: [d] He sheweth wherein his vprightnes standeth, that is, in asmuch as he was blameles before men, & sinned not against the second table. ] vprightnes.

⁷ If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath [Note: [e] That is, hath accoplished the lust of mine eye. ] walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,

⁸ Let me sowe, & let another [Note: [f] According to the curse of the lawe, Deut.28.33. ] eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.

⁹ If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour,

¹⁰ Let my wife [Note: [g] Let her be made a slaue. ] grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:

¹¹ For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:

¹² Yea, this is a fire that shal deuoure [Note: [h] He sheweth that albeit man neglect the punishment of adulterie, yet the wrath of God will neuer cease til such be destroyed. ] to destructio, & which shal roote out al mine increase,

¹³ If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they [Note: [i] When they thought themselues euil intreated by me. ] did contend with me,

¹⁴ What then shal I do when [Note: [k] If I had oppressed others, howe should I haue escaped Gods iudgement? ] God standeth vp? & when he shal visit me, what shal I answere?

¹⁵ He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made [Note: [l] He was moued to shew pitie vnto seruants, because they were Gods creatures as he was. ] him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?

¹⁶ If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow [Note: [m] By log wayting for her request. ] to faile,

¹⁷ Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,

¹⁸ (For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me [Note: [n] He nourished the fatherlesse and maintained the widowes cause. ] as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)

¹⁹ If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,

²⁰ If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,

²¹ If I haue lift [Note: [o] To oppresse him & do him iniurie. ] vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,

²² Let mine [Note: [p] Let me rotte in pieces. ] arme fal from my shoulder, & mine arme be broken from the bone.

²³ For Gods punishment was [Note: [q] I refrained not from sinning for feare of men, but because I feared God. ] fearefull vnto me, & I could not be deliuered from his highnes.

²⁴ If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,

²⁵ If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,

²⁶ If I did behold the [Note: [r] If I was proude of my worldly prosperitie and felicitie, which is meant by the shining of the sunne and brightnes of the moone. ] sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,

²⁷ If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine [Note: [s] If mine owne doings delighted me. ] hand,

²⁸ (This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God [Note: [t] By putting cofidence in any thing, but in him alone. ] aboue)

²⁹ If I reioyced at his destruction that hated [Page]

me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,

³⁰ Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.

³¹ Did not the men of my [Note: [u] My seruants moued me to be reuenged of mine enemie, yet did I neuer wish him hurt. ] Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied.

³² The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.

³³ If I haue hid [Note: [x] And not confessed it freely: whereby it is euident that hee iustified himselfe before men and not before God. ] my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,

³⁴ Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did [Note: [y] That is, I reuerenced the most weake and contemned, and was afraid to offend them. ] feare me: so I kept [Note: [z] I suffred them to speake euill of me and went not out of my house to reuenge it. ] silence, and went not out of the doore.

³⁵ Oh that I had some to heare me! beholde my [Note: [a] This is a sufficient token of my righteousnesse, yt God is my witnes and will iustifie my cause. ] signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me,

³⁶ Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as [Note: [b] Shoulde not this booke of his accusations be a prayse & commedation to me? ] a crowne vnto me?

³⁷ I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a [Note: [c] I will make him a count of all my life, wtout feare. ] prince.

³⁸ If my lande [Note: [d] As though I had withholden their wages that laboured in it. ] cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,

³⁹ If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued [Note: [e] Meaning, that he was no briber nor extortioner. ] the soules of the masters thereof,

⁴⁰ Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley.

1 Elihu reproueth them of follie. 8 Age maketh not a man wise, but the spirit of God.

¹ So these three men ceased to answere Iob, because he [Note: Ebr. was iust in his owne eyes. ] esteemed himselfe iust.

² Then the wrath of Elihu the sonne of Barachel the [Note: [a] Which came of Buz the sonne of Nahor Abrahams brother. ] Buzite, of the familie of [Note: [b] Or, as the Chalde paraphrast readeath, Abram. ] Ram, was kindled: his wrath, I say, was kindled against Iob, because he iustified himselfe [Note: [c] By making himselfe innocent, and by charging God of rigour. ] more then God.

³ Also his anger was kindled against his three friends, because they could not finde an answere, and yet condemned Iob.

⁴ (Now Elihu had wayted til Iob had spoken: for [Note: [d] That is, the three mencioned before. ] they were more ancient in yeeres then he)

⁵ So when Elihu saw, that there was none answere in the mouth of the three men, his wrath was kindled.

⁶ Therefore Elihu the sonne of Barachel, the Buzite answered, & sayd, I am yong in yeres, and ye are ancient: therefore I doubted, and was afraide to shewe you mine opinion.

⁷ For I said, The dayes [Note: [e] Meaning, the ancient, which haue experience. ] shall speake, and the multitude of yeeres shall teach wisedome.

⁸ Surely there is a spirite in man, [Note: [f] It is a speciall gift of God that man hath vnderstanding, and commeth neither of nature nor by age. ] but the inspiration of the Almightie giueth vnderstanding.

⁹ Great men are not alway wise, neither doe the aged alway vnderstand iudgement.

¹⁰ Therefore I say, Heare me, and I will shew also mine opinion.

¹¹ Behold, I did waite vpon your wordes, and hearkened vnto your knowledge, whiles you sought out [Note: [g] To proue that Iobs affliction came for his sinnes. ] reasons.

¹² Yea, when I had considered you, lo, there

was none of you that reproued Iob, nor answered his wordes:

¹³ Lest ye should say, We haue [Note: [h] And flatter your selues, as though you had ouercome him. ] found wisedome: for God hath cast him downe, and no man.

¹⁴ Yet hath [Note: [i] To wit, Iob. ] he not directed his words to me, neyther will I answere [Note: [k] He vseth almost the like argumets, but without taunting, & reproches. ] him by your wordes.

¹⁵ Then they fearing, answered no more, but left off their talke.

¹⁶ When I had wayted (for they spake not, but stood still and answered no more)

¹⁷ Then answered I in my turne, and I shewed mine opinion.

¹⁸ For I am full of [Note: [l] I haue conceiued in my minde great store of reasons. ] matter, and the spirite within me compelleth me.

¹⁹ Beholde, my belly is as the wine, which hath no vent, and like the new bottels that brast.

²⁰ Therefore will I speake, that I may take breath: I will open my lippes, and will answere.

²¹ I will not now accept the person of man, [Note: [m] I will neither haue regarde to riches, credit, nor authoritie, but wil speake the very trueth. ] neyther will I giue titles to man.

²² For I may not giue [Note: [n] The Ebrewe worde signifieth, to change the name, as to call a foole a wise man: meaning that he would not cloke the trueth to flatter men. ] titles, lest my Maker should take me away suddenly.

5 Elihu accuseth Iob of ignorance. 14 He sheweth that God hath diuers meanes to instruct man and to drawe him from sinne. 19. 29 He afflicteth man and suddenly deliuereth him. 26 Man being deliuered giueth thankes to God.

¹ Wherefore, Iob, I pray thee, heare my talke and hearken vnto all my wordes.

² Beholde now, I haue opened my mouth: my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

³ My words are in the vprightnesse of mine heart, & my lippes shall speake pure knowledge.

⁴ The [Note: [a] I confesse the power of God, & am one of his, therefore thou oughtest to heare me. ] Spirite of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almightie hath giuen me life.

⁵ If thou canst giue me answere, prepare thy selfe and stand before me.

⁶ Beholde, I am according to thy wish in [Note: [b] Because Iob had wished to dispute his cause with God, Chap. 16.21, so that he might do it without feare, Elihu sayth, he will reason in Gods stead, whom he needeth not to feare, because he is a man made of the same matter that he is. ] Gods stead: I am also formed of the clay.

⁷ Beholde, my terrour shall not feare thee, neither shall mine hand [Note: [c] I will not handle thee so roughly as these others haue done. ] be heauie vpon thee.

⁸ Doubtles thou hast spoken in mine eares, and I haue heard the voyce of thy wordes.

⁹ I am [Note: [d] He repeateth Iobs words, wherby he protested his innocencie in diuers places, but specially in the 13.16. and 30. Chapter. ] cleane, without sinne: I am innocent, and there is none iniquitie in me.

¹⁰ Lo, he hath found occasions against me, and counted me for his enemie.

¹¹ He hath put my feete in the stockes, and looketh narrowly vnto all my paths.

¹² Behold, in this hast thou not done right: I will answere thee, that God is greater then man.

¹³ Why doest thou striue against him? for he doeth not [Note: [e] The cause of his iudgements is not alwayes declared to man. ] giue account of all his matters.

¹⁴ For God speaketh [Note: [f] Though God by sundry examples of his iudgements spake vnto man, yet the reason thereof is not knowen: yea and though God should speake, yet he is not vnderstande. ] once or twise, and one seeth it not.

¹⁵ In dreames and [Note: [g] God, saith he, speaketh commoly, eyther by visions to teach vs the cause of his iudgements, or els by afflictions, or by his messenger. ] visions of the night, when sleepe falleth vpon men, and they sleepe vpon their beds,

¹⁶ Then he openeth the eares of men, euen by their corrections, which he [Note: [h] That is, determined to send vpon them. ] had sealed,

¹⁷ That he might cause man to turne away from his enterprise, and that he might hide the [Note: [i] He sheweth for what end God sendeth afflictions: to beate downe mans pride, & to turne from euill. ] pride of man,

¹⁸ And keepe backe his soule from the pit, & that his life should not passe by the sword.

¹⁹ He is also striken with sorow vpon his bed,

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and the griefe of his bones is sore,
²⁰ So that his [Note: [k] That is, his painfull and miserable life. ] life causeth him to abhorre bread, and his soule daintie meate.

²¹ His flesh faileth that it can not be seene, and his bones which were not seene, clatter.

²² So his soule draweth to the graue, and his life [Note: [l] To them that shall burie him. ] to the buriers.

²³ If there be a [Note: [m] A man sent of God to declare his will. ] messenger with him, or an interpreter, one of a thousand [Note: [n] A singular man, and as one chosen out of a thousand, which is able to declare the great mercies of God vnto sinners: and wherein mans righteousnesse standeth, which is through the iustice of Iesus Christ and faith therein. ] to declare vnto man his righteousnesse,

²⁴ Then will he haue [Note: [o] He sheweth that it is a sure token of Gods mercie towarde sinners, when he causeth his worde to be preached vnto them. ] mercie vpon him, and will say, [Note: [p] That is, the minister shall by the preaching of the worde pronounce vnto him the forgiuenesse of his sinnes. ] Deliuer him, that he go not downe into the pit: for I haue receiued a reconciliation.

²⁵ Then shal his flesh be [Note: [q] He shall feele Gods fauour and reioyce: declaring hereby, wherein standeth the true ioy of the faithfull: and that God will restore him to health of body, which is a token of his blessing. ] as fresh as a childes, and shall returne as in the dayes of his youth.

²⁶ He shall pray vnto God, and he will be fauourable vnto him, and he shall see his face with ioy: for he will render vnto ma his [Note: [r] God will forgiue his sinnes and accept him as iust. ] righteousnes.

²⁷ He looketh vpon men, and if one say, I haue sinned, and [Note: [s] That is, done wickedly. ] peruerted righteousnesse, and it did not profite [Note: [t] But my sinne hath bene the cause of Gods wrath towarde me. ] me,

²⁸ [Note: [u] God will forgiue the penitent sinner. ] He will deliuer his soule from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

²⁹ Lo, all these things will God worke [Note: [x] Meaning, oft times, euen as oft as a sinner doeth repent. ] twise or thrise with a man,

³⁰ That he may turne backe his soule from the pit, to be illuminate in the light of the liuing.

³¹ Marke well, O Iob, and heare me: keepe silence, and I will speake.

³² If there be [Note: [y] If thou doubt of any thing, or see occasio to speake against it. ] matter, answere me, and speak: for I desire to [Note: [z] That is, to shew thee, wherein mas iustification consisteth. ] iustifie thee.

³³ If thou hast not, heare me: holde thy tongue, and I will teach thee wisedome.

5 Elihu chargeth Iob, that he called him selfe righteous. 12 He sheweth that God is iust in his iudgements. 24 God destroyeth the mightie. 30 By him the hypocrite reigneth.

¹ Moreouer Elihu answered, and saide,

² Heare my wordes, ye [Note: [a] Which are esteemed wise of the worlde. ] wise men, and hearken vnto me, ye that haue knowledge.

³ For the eare tryeth the words, as the mouth tasteth meate.

⁴ Let vs seeke [Note: [b] Let vs examine the matter vprightly. ] iudgement among vs, and let vs knowe among our selues what is good.

⁵ For Iob hath saide, I am righteous, & God hath taken [Note: [c] That is, hath afflicted me without measure. ] away my iudgement.

⁶ Should I lye in my [Note: [d] Should I say, I am wicked, being an innocent? ] right? my wound of the arrowe is [Note: [e] I am sorer punished, then my sinne deserueth. ] grieuous without my sinne.

⁷ What man is like Iob, that drinketh [Note: [f] Which is compelled to receiue the reproch and scornes of many for his foolish wordes. ] scornfulnesse like water?

⁸ Which goeth in the [Note: [g] Meaning, that Iob was like to the wicked, because he seemed not to glorifie God, and submit himselfe to his iudgements. ] companie of them yt worke iniquitie, and walketh with wicked men?

⁹ For he hath saide, [Note: [h] He wresteth Iobs wordes, who said yt Gods children are oft times punished in this worlde, and the wicked goe free. ] It profiteth a man nothing that he should [Note: [i] That is, liue godly, as Gene.5.22. ] walke with God.

¹⁰ Therefore hearken vnto me, ye men of wisedome, God forbid that wickednesse should be in God, and iniquitie in the Almightie.

¹¹ For he will render vnto man according to his worke, and cause euery one to finde according to his way.

¹² And certainely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almightie peruert iudgement.

¹³ Whome [Note: Chap.36.23. ] hath he appointed ouer the earth beside him selfe? or who hath placed the whole worlde?

¹⁴ If [Note: [k] To destroy him. ] he set his heart vpon man, and gather vnto him selfe his spirit [Note: [l] The breath of life, which he gaue man. ] and his breath,

¹⁵ All flesh shal perish together, and man shal returne vnto dust.

¹⁶ And if thou hast vnderstanding, heare this and hearken to the voyce of my wordes.

¹⁷ Shal he that hateth iudgement, [Note: [m] If God were not iust, howe could he gouerne the worlde? ] gouerne? & wilt thou iudge him wicked that is most iust?

¹⁸ Wilt thou say vnto a King, Thou art [Note: [n] If man of nature feare to speake euill of such as haue power, then much more ought they to be afraid to speake euill of God. ] wicked? or to princes, Ye are vngodly?

¹⁹ How much lesse to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, & regardeth not the rich, more then the poore? for they be all the worke of his handes.

²⁰ They shall die suddenly, [Note: [o] When they looke not for it. ] and the people shalbe troubled at midnight, [Note: [p] The messengers of visitation that God shall send. ] & they shall passe foorth and take away the mightie without hand.

²¹ For his eyes are vpon the wayes of man, and he seeth all his goings.

²² There is no darkenesse nor shadowe of death, that the workers of iniquitie might be hid therein.

²³ For he will not lay on man so much, that he should [Note: [q] God doeth not afflict man aboue measure, so that he should haue occasion to contende with him. ] enter into iudgement with God.

²⁴ He shall breake the mightie without [Note: [r] For all his creatures are at hande to serue him so that he needeth not to seeke for any other army. ] seeking, and shall set vp other in their stead.

²⁵ Therefore shall he declare their [Note: [s] Make them manifest that they are wicked. ] works: he shall turne the [Note: [t] Declare the things that were hid. ] night, & they shalbe destroyed.

²⁶ He striketh them as wicked men in the places of the [Note: [u] Meaning, openly in the sight of all men. ] seers,

²⁷ Because they haue turned backe from him, and would not consider all his wayes:

²⁸ So that they haue caused the voyce of the poore to [Note: [x] By their crueltie, and extortion. ] come vnto him, and he hath heard the cry of the afflicted.

²⁹ And when he giueth quietnesse, who can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who can beholde him, whether it be vpon nations, or vpon a man onely?

³⁰ Because the [Note: [y] When tyrants sit in the throne of iustice which vnder pretence of executing iustice are but hypocrites and oppresse the people, it is a signe that God hath drawen backe his countenance and fauour from that place. ] hypocrite doeth reigne, and because the people are snared.

³¹ Surely it appertaineth vnto God [Note: [z] Onely it belongeth to God to moderate his corrections, and not vnto man. ] to say, I haue pardoned, I will not destroy.

³² [Note: [a] Thus Elihu speaketh in the person of God, as it were mocking Iob because he would be wiser then God. ] But if I see not, teach thou me: if I haue done wickedly, I will doe no more.

³³ Wil he performe the thing through [Note: [b] Will God vse thy counsell in doing his workes? ] thee? for thou hast reproued [Note: [c] Thus he speaketh in the person of God, as though Iob should chuse and refuse affliction at his pleasure. ] it, because that thou hast chosen, & not I. now speake what thou knowest.

³⁴ Let men of vnderstanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken vnto me.

³⁵ Iob hath not spoken of knowledge, neyther were his wordes according to wisedome.

³⁶ I desire that Iob may be [Note: [d] That he may speake as much as he can, that we may answere him and all the wicked that shall vse such arguments. ] tryed, vnto the ende touching the answeres for wicked men.

³⁷ For he [Note: [e] He standeth stubburnely in the maintenance of his cause. ] addeth rebellion vnto his sinne: he clappeth his handes among vs, and multiplieth his wordes against God.

6 Neither doeth godlinesse profite, or vngodlinesse hurt God, but man. 13 The wicked crie vnto God & are not heard.

¹ Elihu spake moreouer, and said,

² Thinkest thou this right, that thou hast said, I am [Note: [a] Iob neuer spake these wordes: but because he maintained his innocencie, it seemed as though he would say, that God tormented him without iust cause. ] more righteous then God?

³ For thou hast said, What profiteth it thee and what auaileth it me, to purge me fro my sinne?
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⁴ Therefore will I answere thee, & thy [Note: [b] Such as are in the like errour. ] companions with thee.

⁵ Looke vnto the heauen, and see and behold the [Note: [c] If thou canst not controle ye clouds, wilt thou presume to instruct God? ] cloudes which are hyer then thou.

⁶ If thou sinnest, what doest thou [Note: [d] Neither doth thy sinne hurt God, nor thy iustice profite him: for he will be glorified wtout thee. ] against him, yea, when thy sinnes be many, what doest thou vnto him?

⁷ If thou be righteous, what giuest thou vnto him? or what receiueth he at thine hand?

⁸ Thy wickednesse may hurt a man as thou art: and thy righteousnes may profite ye sonne of man.

⁹ They cause many that are oppressed, [Note: [e] The wicked may hurt man and cause him to cry, who if he sought to God, which sendeth comfort, should be deliuered. ] to crye, which crye out for ye violence of the mightie.

¹⁰ But none saieth, Where is God that made me, which giueth songs in the nyght?

¹¹ Which teacheth vs more then the beastes of the earth, and giueth vs more wisdome then the foules of the heauen.

¹² Then they crye because of the violence of the wicked, but [Note: [f] Because they pray not in faith, as feeling Gods mercies. ] he answereth not.

¹³ Surely God will not heare vanitie, neyther will the Almightie regard it.

¹⁴ Although thou sayest to God, Thou wilt not regard it, [Note: [g] God is iust, howsoeuer thou iudgest of him. ] yet iudgement is before him: trust thou in him.

¹⁵ But nowe because his anger hath not visited, nor called to count the euill with great extremitie,

¹⁶ Therfore Iob [Note: [h] For if he did punish thee, as thou deseruest, thou shouldest not be able to open thy mouth. ] openeth his mouth in vaine, and multiplieth wordes without knowledge.

1 Elihu sheweth the power of God, 6 And his iustice, 9 And wherefore he punisheth. 13 The propertie of the wicked.

¹ Elihu also proceeded and sayde,

² Suffer me a litle, and I will instruct thee: for I haue yet to speake on Gods behalfe.

³ I will fetche [Note: [a] Hee sheweth that when wee speake of God, we must lift our spirits more hie, then our naturall sense is able to teach. ] my knowledge afarre off, & will attribute rigteousnesse vnto my Maker.

⁴ For truely my wordes shall not be false, and he that is [Note: [b] Thou shalt perceiue that I am a faithful instructour, and that I speake to thee in the name of God. ] perfect in knowledge, speaketh wt thee.

⁵ Behold, the mighty God casteth away none that is [Note: [c] Strong and constant, & of vnderstanding: for these are the giftes of god, and he loueth them in man: but forasmuch as God punished now Iob, it is a signe yt these are not in him. ] mighty and valiant of courage.

⁶ [Note: [d] Therefore he will not preserue the wicked: but to the humble and afflicted heart hee will shew grace. ] He mainteineth not the wicked, but he giueth iudgement to the afflicted.

⁷ He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous, but they are with [Note: [e] He preferreth the godly to honour. ] Kings in ye throne, where he placeth them for euer: thus they are exalted.

⁸ And if they bee bound in fetters and tyed with the cordes of affliction,

⁹ Then will he shewe them their [Note: [f] Hee will moue their hearts to feele their sinnes that they may come to him by repentance as hee did Manasseh. ] worke and their sinnes, because they haue bene proude.

¹⁰ He openeth also their eare to discipline, and commandeth them that they returne fro iniquity.

¹¹ [Note: Isa. 1.19. ] If they obey and serue him, they shal end their dayes in prosperity, & their yeres in pleasures.

¹² But if they wil not obey, they shal passe by the sworde, and perish [Note: [g] That is, in their folly or obstination, and so shalbe cause of their owne destruction. ] without knowledge.

¹³ But the hypocrites [Note: [h] Which are maliciously bent against God and flatter themselues in their vices. ] of heart increase the wrath: for they [Note: [i] When they are in affliction they seeke not to God for succour, as Asa. 2. Chro. 16.12. Reue.16 11. ] call not when he bindeth them.

¹⁴ Their soule dyeth in [Note: [k] They dye of some vile death and that before they come to age. ] youth, and their life among the whoremongers.

¹⁵ He deliuereth the poore in his affliction, & openeth their eare in trouble.

¹⁶ Euen so woulde he haue taken thee out of the streight place into a broade place and not shut vp beneath: and [Note: [l] If thou hadest bene obedient to God, he would haue brought thee to libertie and wealth. ] that which resteth vpon thy table,

had bene full of fat.

¹⁷ But thou art ful of the [Note: [m] Thou art altogether after the maner of the wicked: for thou doest murmure against the iustice of God. ] iudgement of the wicked, though iudgement and equitie maintaine all things.

¹⁸ [Note: [n] God doth punish thee, least thou shouldest forget God in thy welth & so perish. ] For Gods wrath is, least hee should take that away in thine abundance: for no multitude of giftes can deliuer thee.

¹⁹ Wil he regard thy riches? he regardeth not golde, nor all them that excel in strength.

²⁰ [Note: [o] Be not thou curious in seeking the cause of Gods iudgements, when he destroyeth any. ] Be not carefull in the night, howe he destroyeth the people out of their place.

²¹ Take thou heede: looke not to [Note: [p] And so murmure against God through impaciencie. ] iniquitie: for thou hast chosen it rather then affliction.

²² Beholde, God exalteth by his power: what teacher is like him?

²³ Who hath appointed to him his way? or who can say, Thou hast done wickedly?

²⁴ Remember that thou magnifie his worke, which men behold.

²⁵ All men see it, and men beholde it [Note: [q] The works of God are so manifest, that a man may see them afarre of and know God by the same. ] afarre off.

²⁶ Beholde, God is excellent, [Note: [r] Our infirmitie hindereth vs so, that we cannot attaine to the perfite knowledge of God. ] and we knowe him not, neither can the nomber of his yeres bee searched out.

²⁷ When he restraineth the droppes of water, the rayne [Note: [s] That is, the raine commeth of those drops of water, which hee kepeth in ye clouds. ] powreth down by the vapour thereof,

²⁸ Which raine the cloudes do droppe and let fall abundantly vpon man.

²⁹ Who can know the diuisions of ye clouds and the thunders of his [Note: [t] Meaning of the cloudes, which he calleth the Tabernacle of God. ] tabernacle?

³⁰ Beholde, he spreadeth his light vpon [Note: [u] Vpon the cloud ] it, and couereth the [Note: [x] That men cannot come to the knowledge of the springes thereof. ] bottome of the sea.

³¹ For thereby hee iudgeth [Note: [y] Hee sheweth that the rayne hath double vse: the one that it declareth Gods iudgements, when it doeth ouerflowe any places, and the other that it maketh the land fruitefull. ] the people, and giueth meate abundantly.

³² He couereth the light with the clouds, and commandeth them to go [Note: [z] That is, one cloude to dashe against another. ] against it.

³³ [Note: [a] The colde vapor sheweth him: that is, the cloude of the hote exhalation, which being taken in the cold cloude mounteth vp toward the place where the fire is, and so anger is ingendred: that is, noyse and thunder clappes. ] His companion sheweth him thereof, and there is anger in rising vp.

2 Elihu proueth that the vnsearcheable wisedome of God is manifest by his works, 4 As by the thunders, 6 The snow, 9 The whirlewinde, 11 And the raine.

¹ At this also mine heart is [Note: [a] At the marueiling of the thunder & lightnings: whereby hee declareth that the faithful are liuely touched with the maiestie of God, when they behold his workes. ] astonied, & is mooued out of his place.

² Heare the [Note: [b] That is, the thuder, whereby hee speaketh to men to wake their dulnes, and to bring them to the consideration of his workes. ] sound of his voyce, and the noyse that goeth out of his mouth.

³ He directeth it vnder the whole heauen, and his light vnto the endes of the world.

⁴ After it a noyse soundeth: hee thundereth with the voyce of his maiestie, and hee will not stay [Note: [c] Meaning, the raines & thunders. ] them when his voyce is heard.

⁵ God thundereth marueilously wt his voyce: he worketh great things, which we know not.

⁶ For he sayth to the snowe, Be thou vpon the earth: [Note: [d] So that neither small raine nor great, snow nor any thing els commeth without Gods appointment. ] likewise to the small rayne and to the great rayne of his power.

⁷ With the force thereof he [Note: [e] By raynes and thunders God causeth men to keepe them selues within their houses. ] shutteth vp euery man, that all men may knowe his worke.

⁸ Then the beastes go into the denne, and remaine in their places.

⁹ The whirlewind commeth out of the South, and the colde from the [Note: [f] In Ebrewe it is called the scattering winde, because it driueth away the cloudes and purgeth the ayre. ] North winde.


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¹⁰ At the breath of God the frost is giuen, & the breadth of the waters [Note: [g] That is, is frosen vp and dryed. ] is made narrowe.

¹¹ He maketh also the cloudes to [Note: [h] Gather the vapours, and mooue to and fro to water the earth. ] labour, to water the earth, and scattereth the cloude of [Note: [i] That is, the cloude that hath lightening in it. ] his light.

¹² And it is turned about by his gouernment, that they may doe whatsoeuer he commandeth them vpon the whole worlde:

¹³ Whether it be for [Note: [k] Rayne, colde, heate, tempestes and such like are sent of God, either to punish man, or to profite the earth, or to declare his fauour toward man, as Chap. 36.31. ] punishment, or for his lande, or of mercie, he causeth it to come.

¹⁴ Hearken vnto this, O Iob: stand and consider the wonderous workes of God.

¹⁵ Diddest thou knowe when God disposed them? & caused the [Note: [l] That is, the lightning to breake foorth in the cloudes? ] light of his cloud to shine?

¹⁶ Hast thou knowen the [Note: [m] Which is sometime changed into raine, or snowe, or hayle or such like. ] varietie of the cloude, and the wonderous workes of him, that is perfite in knowledge?

¹⁷ Or howe thy clothes are [Note: [n] Why thy clothes shoulde keepe thee warm, when the South winde bloweth, rather then when any other winde bloweth? ] warme, when he maketh the earth quiet through the South winde?

¹⁸ Hast thou stretched out the heaues, which are strong, and as a molten [Note: [o] For their clearenesse. ] glasse?

¹⁹ Tell vs what we shall say vnto him: for we can not dispose our matter because of [Note: [p] That is, our ignorance: signifying that Iob was so presumptuous that he woulde controlle the workes of God. ] darknes.

²⁰ Shall it be [Note: [q] Hath God need that any should tell him when man murmureth against him? ] told him when I speake? or shall man speake when he shalbe [Note: [r] If God woulde destroy a man, should he repine? ] destroyed?

²¹ And nowe men see not the light, [Note: [s] The cloude stoppeth the shining of the sunne, that man can not see it till the winde haue chased away the cloude: and if man be not able to attaine to the knowledge of these things, howe much lesse of Gods iudgements? ] which shineth in the cloudes, but the winde passeth and clenseth them.

²² The [Note: [t] In Ebrewe, golde: meaning faire weather and cleare as golde. ] brightnesse commeth out of the North: the praise thereof is to God, which is terrible.

²³ It is the Almightie: we can not finde him out: he is excellent in power and iudgement, & aboundant in iustice: he [Note: [u] Meaning, without cause. ] afflicteth not.

²⁴ Let men therefore feare him: for he will not regarde any that are wise in their owne conceit.

1 God speaketh to Iob, and delareth the weaknesse of man in the consideration of his creatures, by whose excellencie the power, iustice and prouidence of the Creator is knowen.

¹ Then answered the Lord vnto Iob out of the [Note: [a] That his words might haue greater maiestie, & that Iob might knowe with whome he had to doe. ] whirle winde, and said,

² Who is this that [Note: [b] Which by seeking out the secret counsell of God by mans reason, maketh it more obscure and sheweth his owne follie. ] darkeneth the counsell by wordes without knowledge?

³ Girde vp nowe thy loynes like a man: I [Note: [c] Because he had wished to dispute wt God, Chap.13.3 God reasoneth with him to declare his rashnesse. ] will demande of thee & declare thou vnto me.

⁴ Where wast thou when I layd the [Note: [d] Seeing he could not iudge of those things, which were done so long before he was borne, he was not able to comprehende all Gods works: much lesse the secret causes of his iudgements. ] foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast vnderstanding,

⁵ Who hath layde the measures thereof, if thou knowest, or who hath stretched the line ouer it:

⁶ Whereupon are the foundations thereof set: or who layed the corner stone thereof:

⁷ When the starres of the morning [Note: [e] The starres and dumme creatures are said to praise God, because his power, wisdome and goodnesse is manifest and knowen therein. ] praysed me together, and all the [Note: [f] Meaning, the Angels. ] children of God reioyced:

⁸ Or who hath shut vp the Sea with doores, when it yssued and came foorth as out of the wombe:

⁹ When I made the cloudes as a couering thereof, and darkenesse as the [Note: [g] As though the great sea were but as a litle babe in the handes of God to turne to & fro. ] swadeling bands thereof:

¹⁰ When I stablished my commandement vpon it, and set barres and doores,

¹¹ And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther, and here [Note: [h] That is, Gods decree and commandement as verse 10. ] shall it stay thy proude waues.

¹² Hast thou commanded the [Note: [i] To wit, to rise, since thou wast borne? ] morning since thy dayes? hast thou caused the morning to knowe his place,

¹³ That it might take hold of the corners of the earth, and that the wicked might be [Note: [k] Who hauing in the night bene giuen to wickednesse, can not abide the light, but hide them selues. ] shaken out of it?

¹⁴ It is turned as clay to facion, [Note: [l] The earth which seemed in the night to haue no forme, by the rising of the sunne is as it were created anewe, and all things therein clad with new beautie. ] and all stand vp as a garment.

¹⁵ And from the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the hie arme shalbe broken.

¹⁶ Hast thou entred into the bottomes of the sea? or hast thou walked to seeke out the [Note: [m] If thou art not able to seeke out the depth of the sea, howe much lesse art thou able to comprehende the cousell of God? ] depth?

¹⁷ Haue the gates of death bene opened vnto thee? or hast thou seene the gates of the shadowe of death?

¹⁸ Hast thou perceiued the breadth of the earth? tell if thou knowest all this.

¹⁹ Where is the way where light dwelleth? and where is the place of darkenesse,

²⁰ That thou [Note: [n] That thou mightest appoint it his way and limits. ] shouldest receiue it in the boundes thereof, and that thou shouldest knowe the paths to the house thereof?

²¹ Knewest thou it, because thou wast then borne, and because the nomber of thy dayes is great?

²² Hast thou entred into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seene the treasures of ye haile,

²³ Which I haue [Note: [o] To punish mine enemies with them, as Exod.9.18. Iosh.10.11. ] hid against the time of trouble, against the day of warre and battell?

²⁴ By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the East winde vpon the earth?

²⁵ Who hath deuided the spowtes for the raine? or the way for the lightning of ye thunders,

²⁶ To cause it to raine on the earth where no man is, and in the wildernes where there is no man?

²⁷ To fulfil the wilde and waste place, and to cause the bud of the herbe to spring forth?

²⁸ Who is the father of the rayne? or who hath begotten the droppes of the dewe?

²⁹ Out of whose wombe came the yee? who hath ingendred the frost of the heauen?

³⁰ The waters are hid [Note: [p] The yee couereth it, as though it were paued with stone. ] as with a stone: and the face of the depth is frosen.

³¹ Canst thou restraine the sweete influences of [Note: [q] Which starres arise when the sunne is in Taurus, which is the spring time, and bring floures. ] the Pleiades? or loose the bandes of [Note: [r] Which starre bringeth in winter. ] Orion?

³² Canst thou bring foorth [Note: [s] Certaine starres so called: some thinke they were the twelue signes ] Mazzaroth in their time? canst thou also guide [Note: [t] The North starre with those that are about him? ] Arcturus with his sonnes?

³³ Knowest thou the course of heauen, or canst thou set [Note: [u] Canst thou cause the heauenly bodyes to haue any power ouer the earthly bodyes? ] the rule thereof in the earth?

³⁴ Canst thou lift vp thy voice to the cloudes that the aboundance of water may couer thee?

³⁵ Canst thou sende the lightenings that they may walke, and say vnto thee, Loe, heere we are?

³⁶ Who hath put wisedome in the [Note: [x] In the secrete partes of man. ] reines? or who hath giuen the heart vnderstanding?

³⁷ Who can nomber cloudes by wisedome? or who can cause to cease the [Note: [y] That is, the cloudes, wherein the water is contained as in bottels. ] bottels of heaue,

³⁸ When the earth groweth into hardnesse, [Note: [z] For when God doeth not open these bottels, the earth commeth to this inconuenience. ] and the clottes are fast together?
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The bountie and prouidence of God, which extendeth euen to the yong rauens, giueth man full occasion to put his confidence in God. 37 Iob confesseth and humbleth himselfe.

¹ Wilt [Note: [a] After he had declared Gods workes in the heauens, he sheweth his marueilons prouidence in earth, euen toward the bruite beastes. ] thou hunt the pray for the lyon? or fill the appetite of the lyons whelpes,

² When they couch in their places, and remaine in the couert to lye in waite?

³ Who prepareth for the rauen his meate, when his birdes [Note: [b] Reade Psal. 147.9. ] crie vnto God, wandering for lacke of meate?

⁴ Knowest thou the time when the wilde goates bring foorth yong? or doest thou marke when the [Note: [c] He chiefly maketh mention of wilde goates and hindes, because they bring foorth their yong with most difficultie. ] hindes doe calue?

⁵ Canst thou nomber the moneths that they [Note: [d] That is, howe long they go with yong? ] fulfill? or knowest thou the time when they bring foorth?

⁶ They bow them selues: they [Note: [e] They bring foorth with great difficultie. ] bruise their yong and cast out their sorowes.

⁷ Yet their yong waxe fatte, and growe vp with corne: they goe foorth and returne not vnto them.

⁸ Who hath set the wilde asse at libertie? or who hath loosed the bondes of the wilde asse?

⁹ It is I which haue made the wildernesse his house, and the [Note: [f] That is, the barren grounde where no good fruites growe. ] salt places his dwellings.

¹⁰ He derideth the multitude of the citie: he heareth not the crie of the driuer.

¹¹ He seeketh out the mountaine for his pasture, and searcheth after euery greene thing.

¹² Will the vnicorne [Note: [g] Is it possible to make the vnicorne tame? signifying that if man can not rule a creature, that it is much more impossible that he shoulde appoint the wisdome of God, whereby he gouerneth all the worlde. ] serue thee? or will he tary by thy cribbe?

¹³ Canst thou binde the vnicorne with his band to labour in the furrowe? or will he plowe the valleyes after thee?

¹⁴ Wilt thou trust in him, because his stregth is great, and cast off thy labour vnto him?

¹⁵ Wilt thou beleeue him, that he will bring home thy seede, and gather it vnto thy barne?

¹⁶ Hast thou giuen the pleasant wings vnto the peacockes? or winges and feathers vnto the ostriche?

¹⁷ Which leaueth his egges in the earth, and maketh [Note: [h] They write that the ostrich couereth her egges in the sande, and because the countrey is hote and the sunne still keepeth them warme, they are hatched. ] them hote in the dust,

¹⁸ And forgetteth that the foote might scatter the, or that the wild beast might breake the.

¹⁹ He sheweth himselfe cruell vnto his yong ones, as they were not his, and is without feare, as if he trauailed [Note: [i] If he should take care for them. ] in vaine.

²⁰ For God had depriued him of [Note: [k] That is, to haue a care, & natural affection towarde his yong. ] wisedom, and hath giuen him no part of vnderstanding.

²¹ When [Note: [l] When the yong ostrich is growen vp, he outrunneth the horse. ] time is, he mounteth on hie: he mocketh the horse and his rider.

²² Hast thou giuen the horse strength? or couered his necke with [Note: [m] That is, giuen him courage? which is meant by neying and shaking his mane: for with his breath he couereth his necke. ] neying?

²³ Hast thou made him afraid as the grashopper? his strong neying is fearefull.

²⁴ He [Note: [n] He beateth with his hoofe. ] diggeth in the valley, and reioyceth in his strength: he goeth foorth to meete the harnest man.

²⁵ He mocketh at feare, and is not afraid, and turneth not backe from the sworde,

²⁶ Though the quiuer rattle against him, the glittering speare and the shield.

²⁷ He [Note: [o] He so riddeth the ground, that it seemeth nothing vnder him. ] swalloweth the ground for fearcenes and rage, and he beleeueth not that it is the noise of the trumpet.

²⁸ He sayth among the trumpets, Ha, ha: hee smelleth the battell afarre off, and the noyse of the captaines, and the shouting.

²⁹ Shall the hauke flie by thy wisedome, stretching out his wings toward the [Note: [p] That is, when colde commeth, to flie into the warme countries. ] South?

³⁰ Doeth the egle mount vp at thy commandement, or make his nest on hie?

³¹ Shee abideth and remaineth in the rocke, euen vpon the toppe of the rocke, and the tower.

³² From thence she spieth for meate, and her eyes beholde afarre off.

³³ His young ones also sucke vp blood: and where the slaine are, there is she.

³⁴ Moreouer ye Lord spake vnto Iob, & said,

³⁵ Is this to [Note: [q] Is this the way for a man that will learne to striue with God? which thing he reproueth in Iob. ] learne to striue with the Almightie? he that reprooueth God, let him answere to it.

³⁶ ¶ Then Iob answered the Lord, saying,

³⁷ Beholde, I am [Note: [r] Whereby he sheweth that he repented, and desired pardon for his fautes. ] vile: what shall I answere thee? I will lay mine hand vpon my mouth.

³⁸ Once haue I spoken, but I will answere no more, yea twise, but I will proceede no further.

2 Howe weake mans power is, being compared to the workes of God: 10 Whose power appeareth in the creation, and gouerning of the great beastes.

¹ Againe the Lord answered Iob out of [Note: Chap.38.1. ] the whirle winde, and said,

² Girde vp now thy loynes like a man: I will demaunde of thee, and declare thou vnto me.

³ Wilt thou disanul [Note: [a] Signifying that they that iustifie themselues, condemne God as vniust. ] my iudgement? or wilt thou condemne me, that thou mayst be iustified?

⁴ Or hast thou an arme like God? or doest thou thunder with a voyce like him?

⁵ Decke thy selfe now with [Note: [b] Meaning, that these were proper vnto God, and belonged to no man. ] maiestie & excellencie, & aray thy selfe with beautie & glory.

⁶ Cast abroad the indignation of thy wrath, and beholde euery one that is proude, and abase him.

⁷ Looke on euery one that is arrogant, and bring him lowe: and destroy the wicked in their place.

⁸ Hide them in the dust together, and binde [Note: [c] Cause them to die if thou canst. ] their faces in a secret place.

⁹ Then will I confesse vnto thee also, that thy right hand can [Note: [d] Prouing hereby that whosoeuer attributeth to him selfe power and abilitie to saue himselfe, maketh himselfe God. ] saue thee.

¹⁰ ¶ Behold now [Note: [e] This beast is thought to be the elephant, or some other, which is vnknowen. ] Behemoth (whom I made [Note: [f] Whom I made aswell as thee. ] with thee) which eateth [Note: [g] This commendeth the prouidence of God toward man: for if he were giuen to deuour as a lion, nothing were able to resist him or content him. ] grasse as an oxe.

¹¹ Behold now, his strength is in his loynes, and his force is in the nauil of his belly.

¹² When hee taketh pleasure, his taile is like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapt together.

¹³ His bones are like staues of brasse, and his small bones like staues of yron.

¹⁴ [Note: [h] He is one of the chiefest workes of God among the beastes. ] He is the chiefe of the wayes of God: [Note: [i] Though man dare not come neere him, yet God can kill him. ] he that made him, will make his sworde to approch vnto him.

¹⁵ Surely the mountaines bring him foorth grasse, where all the beastes of the fielde play.

¹⁶ Lyeth hee vnder the trees in the couert of the reede and fennes?

¹⁷ Can the trees couer him with their shadow? or can the willowes of the riuer compasse him about?

¹⁸ Behold, he spoyleth the riuer, [Note: [k] He drinketh at leasure and feareth no body. ] and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw vp Iorden into his mouth.

¹⁹ Hee taketh it with his eyes, and thrusteth his nose through whatsoeuer meeteth him.

²⁰ ¶ Canst thou drawe out [Note: [l] Meaning, the whale. ] Liuiathan with an hooke, and with a line which thou shalt cast downe vnto his tongue?

²¹ Canst thou cast an hooke into his nose?

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canst thou perce his iawes with an angle?
²² Will he make many [Note: [m] Because he feareth lest thou shouldest take him. ] prayers vnto thee, or speake thee faire?

²³ Will hee make a couenant with thee? and wilt thou take [Note: [n] To do thy businesse, and be at thy commandement? ] him as a seruant for euer?

²⁴ Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bynd him for thy maydes?

²⁵ Shall the companions baket with him? shal they deuide him among the marchants?

²⁶ Canst thou fill the basket with his skinne? or the fishpanier with his head?

²⁷ Lay thine hand vpon him: remember [Note: [o] If thou once consider the danger, thou wilt not medle with him. ] the battel, and do no more so.

²⁸ Behold, [Note: [p] To wit, that trusteth to take him. ] his hope is in vaine: for shal not one perish euen at the sight of him?

1 By the greatnesse of this monster Liuiathan God sheweth his greatnesse, and his power, which nothing can resist.

¹ None is so fearce that dare stirre him vp. Who is he then that can stand [Note: [a] If none dare stand against a whale, which is but a creature, who is able to compare with God the Creator? ] before me?

² Who hath preuented mee that I shoulde [Note: [b] Who hath taught me to accomplish my worke? ] make an ende? Al vnder heauen is mine.

³ I will not keepe silence concerning [Note: [c] The partes, and members of the whale. ] his partes, nor his power nor his comely proportion.

⁴ Who can discouer the face [Note: [d] That is, who dare pul off his skinne? ] of his garmet? or who shall come to him with a double [Note: [e] Who dare put a bridle in his mouth? ] bridle?

⁵ Who shall [Note: [f] Who dare looke in his mouth? ] open the doores of his face? his teeth are fearefull ronnd about.

⁶ The maiestie of his scales is like strog shields, and are sure sealed.

⁷ One is set to another, that no winde can come betweene them.

⁸ One is ioyned to another: they sticke together, that they cannot be sundered.

⁹ His niesings [Note: [g] That is, casteth out flames of fire. ] make the light to shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

¹⁰ Out of his mouth go lampes, and sparkes of fire leape out.

¹¹ Out of his nostrels commeth out smoke, as out of a boyling pot or caldron.

¹² His breath maketh the coales burne: for a flame goeth out of his mouth.

¹³ In his necke remayneth strength, & [Note: [h] Nothing is paynfull or hard vnto him. ] labour is reiected before his face.

¹⁴ The members of his bodie are ioyned: they are strong in themselues, and cannot be mooued.

¹⁵ His heart is as strong as a stone, & as hard as the nether milstone.

¹⁶ The mightie are afrayd of his maiestie, and for feare they faint in themselues.

¹⁷ When the sword doeth touch him, he will not rise vp, nor for the speare, dart nor habergeon.

¹⁸ He esteemeth yron as strawe, and brasse as rotten wood.

¹⁹ The archer canot make him flee: ye stones of the sling are turned into stubble vnto him:

²⁰ The dartes are counted as strawe: and hee laugheth at the shaking of the speare.

²¹ Sharpe stones [Note: [i] His skinne is so hard that he lyeth with as great ease on the stones as in myre. ] are vnder him, and he spreadeth sharpe things vpon the myre.

²² He maketh the depth to [Note: [k] Either he maketh the sea to seeme as it boyled by his wallowing, or els he spouteth water in such abudance, as it would seeme that the sea boyled. ] boyle like a pot, and maketh the sea like a pot of oyntment.

²³ He maketh a path to [Note: [l] That is, a white froth, and shining streame before him. ] shine after him: one

would thinke the depth as an hoare head.

²⁴ In the earth there is none like him: hee is made without feare.

²⁵ He beholdeth [Note: [m] He despiseth all other beasts and monsters, and is the prowdest of all others. ] al hie things: he is a King ouer all the children of pride.

6 The repentance of Iob. 9 Hee prayeth for his friends. 12 His goods are restored double vnto him. 13 His children, age and death.

¹ Then Iob answered the Lord, and sayd,

² I knowe that thou canst doe all things, and that there is no [Note: [a] No thought so secret, but thou doest see it, nor any thing that thou thinkest, but thou canst bring it to passe. ] thought hidde from thee.

³ Who is hee that hideth counsell without [Note: [b] Is there any but I? for this God layd to his charge, Chap.38.2. ] knowledge? therefore haue I spoken that I vnderstood not, euen things too wonderfull for me, [Note: [c] I confesse herein mine ignorance, and that I spake I wist not what. ] and which I knew not.

⁴ Heare, I beseech thee, and I will speake: I will demaunde of thee, [Note: [d] Hee sheweth that he wil bee Gods scholer to learne of him. ] & declare thou vnto me.

⁵ I haue [Note: [e] I knewe thee onely before by hearesay: but now thou hast caused me to feele what thou art to me, that I may resigne my selfe ouer vnto thee. ] heard of thee by the hearing of the eare, but now mine eye seeth thee.

⁶ Therefore I abhorre my selfe, and repent in dust and ashes.

⁷ ¶ Now after that the Lord had spoken these wordes vnto Iob, ye Lord also said vnto Eliphaz ye Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for yee haue not spoken of me the thing yt is [Note: [f] You tooke in hand an euil cause, in that you condemned him by his outward afflictions and not comforted him with my mercies. ] right, like my seruant [Note: [g] Who had a good cause, but handeled it euil. ] Iob.

⁸ Therefore take vnto you nowe seuen bullockes, and seuen rammes, and go to my seruant Iob, and offer vp for your selues a burnt offring, and my seruant Iob shall [Note: [h] When you haue reconciled your selues to him for ye fautes that you haue committed against him, he shal pray for you, and I will heare him. ] pray for you: for I wil accept him, least I should put you to shame, because ye haue not spoken of me the thing, which is right, like my seruant Iob.

⁹ So Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lorde had saide vnto them, and the Lord accepted Iob.

¹⁰ ¶ Then the Lord turned the [Note: [i] He deliuered him out of the affliction wherein he was. ] captiuitie of Iob, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gaue Iob twise so much as he had before.

¹¹ Then came vnto him all his [Note: [k] That is, all his kinred, reade Chap.19.13. ] brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had bene of his acquaintance before, and did eate bread with him in his house, & had compassion of him, & comforted him for al the euil, that the Lord had brought vpon him, and euery man gaue him a [Note: Or, lambe, or money so marked. ] piece of money, and euery one an earing of golde.

¹² So the Lorde blessed the last dayes of Iob more then the first: for he had [Note: [l] God made him twise so riche in cattell as he was afore, and gaue him as many children, as he had taken from him. ] foureteene thousand sheepe, and sixe thousand camels, & a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand shee asses.

¹³ He had also seue sonnes, & three daughters.

¹⁴ And he called the name of one [Note: [m] That is, of long life, or beautifull as the day. ] Iemimah, and the name of the seconde [Note: [n] As pleasant as cassia, or sweete spice. ] Keziah, and the name of the third [Note: [o] That is, the horne of beautie. ] Keren-happuch.

¹⁵ In all the lande were no women found so faire as the daughters of Iob, & their father gaue them inheritaunce among their brethren.

¹⁶ And after this liued Iob an hundreth and fourtie yeres, and sawe his sonnes, and his sonnes sonnes, euen foure generations.

¹⁷ So Iob dyed, being old, and full of dayes.