The Sceptics of the Old Testament: Job - Koheleth - Agur Part 21

Shall the earth be deserted for thy sake?

And shall the rock be removed from its place?

Still the light of the wicked shall be douted, And the spark of his fire shall not twinkle.

CLXII

The light in his tent shall be dark; And his taper above him shall be put out.

The steps of his strength shall be straitened, And his own design shall ruin him.

CLXIII

For he is tangled in the net by his own feet, And he walketh upon a snare.

The slings shall catch him; Many terrors rage menacingly round him.

CLXIV

Hunger shall dog his footsteps; Misery and ruin stand ready by his side: The limbs of his body[225] shall be gnawed, Devoured by the firstborn of death.[226]

CLXV

He shall be dragged out from his stronghold, And he shall be brought to the king of terrors;[227]

The memory of him shall vanish from the earth, He shall be driven from light into darkness.

CLXVI

He shall have nor son nor offspring among his people, And he shall have no name above the ground; None shall survive in his dwellings; Strangers shall dwell in his tent.

CLXVII

They of the west are astonied at him, And those of the east stand aghast: Such are the dwellings of the wicked, And this his place who knoweth not G.o.d.

CLXVIII

JOB:

How long will ye harrow my soul, And crush me with words?

Already ten times have ye insulted me, Ever incensing me anew.

CLXIX

If indeed ye will glorify yourselves above me, And prove me guilty of blasphemy; Know, then, that G.o.d hath wronged me, And hath compa.s.sed me round with his net!

CLXX

Lo, I cry out against violence, but I am not heard; I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pa.s.s; And he hath set darkness in my paths.

CLXXI

He hath stripped me of my glory, And taken the crown from my head.

On all sides hath he ruined me, and I am undone; And mine hope hath he felled like a tree.

CLXXII

He hath kindled against me his wrath, And looketh on me as one of his foes.

His troops throng together on my way, And encamp round about my tent.

CLXXIII

He hath put my brethren far from me, And mine acquaintance are estranged from me; My kinsfolk stay away from me, And my bosom friends have forgotten me.

CLXXIV

They that dwell in my house, and my maids, As an alien am I in their eyes.

I call my servant, and he giveth me no answer, I must supplicate unto him with my mouth.

CLXXV

My breath is irksome to my wife, And my entreaty to the children of my body.[228]

Yea, mere lads despise me: When I arise, they talk about me.

CLXXVI

All my cherished friends abhor me, And they whom I loved are turned against me; My skin cleaveth to my bones, And my teeth are falling out.

CLXXVII

Have pity, have pity on me, O my friends!

For the hand of G.o.d hath smitten me.

Why do ye persecute me like G.o.d, And are not satiated with my flesh?

CLXXVIII

Oh would but that my words, Oh would that they were written down!

Consigned to writing for ever, Or engraven upon a rock!

CLXXIX

But I know that my avenger liveth, Though it be at the[229] end upon my dust; My witness will avenge these things, And a curse alight upon mine enemies.

CLx.x.x

My reins within me are consumed, Because you say: "How we shall persecute him!"

Fear, for yourselves, the sword, For "wrath overtaketh iniquities."

CLx.x.xI

ZOPHAR:

It is not thus that my thoughts inspire me, Nor is this the eternal law that I have known.[230]