The Makers and Teachers of Judaism Part 10

Then thou frightest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions: So that I myself choose strangling, And death rather than my pains.

I loath life, I would not live always, Let me alone, for my days are as a breath, What is man, that thou exaltest him, That on him thou directest thy thought, That thou visitest him each morning, And testest him each moment?

[Sidenote: Job 7:20, 21]

If I have sinned, what have I done to thee, O watcher of men?

Why hast thou set me as thy target?

And why am I a burden to thee?

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression and take away mine iniquity?

For now I shall lie down in the dust, When thou shalt seek me, I shall not be.

[Sidenote: Job 8:1-2]

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite and said,

How long will you speak these things?

And the words of your mouth be like a mighty wind?

Doth G.o.d pervert justice?

Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?

[Sidenote: Job 8:3-6]

If your children sinned against him, And he delivered them to the consequences of their guilt; You should earnestly seek G.o.d, Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid, Then would I speak and not fear him, For in myself I am not thus fearful.

[Sidenote: Job 10:9-15]

Remember that as clay thou hast fas.h.i.+oned me, And wilt thou again turn me into dust?

Hast thou not poured me out as milk?

And curdled me like a cheese?

Thou hast clothed me with a skin and with flesh, And knit me together with bones and with sinews.

Thou hast granted me life and favor, And thy care hath preserved my breath.

Yet these things thou didst hide in thy heart; I know that this is thy plan: If I sin, then thou watchest me, And if I be just, yet I cannot lift up my head!

[Sidenote: Job 10:20-22]

Are not the days of my life few enough?

Let me alone, that I may have a little cheer, Before I go whence I shall not return, To the land of darkness and of gloom, The land dark as blackness, Gloom without a gleam or ray of light.

[Sidenote: Job 11:1, 7-9]

Then answered Zophar, the Naamathite, and said:

Shall the mult.i.tude of words be unanswered?

Can you find the depths of G.o.d?

Can you reach the perfection of the Almighty?

It is high as heaven; what canst thou do?

Deeper than Sheol; what can you know?

Its measure is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.

[Sidenote: Job 11:13-15]

If you set your heart aright, And stretch out your hands toward him; If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, And let not unrighteousness dwell in your tent.

Then you shall lift up your face without spot; And you shall be steadfast, and have no fear.

And make your supplication to the Almighty.

If you are pure and upright, Then he will prosper your righteous habitation.

[Sidenote: Job 9:1-7]

Then Job answered and said: Verily I know that it is so, But how can a man be made just with G.o.d?

If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

He is wise in mind and mighty in strength; Who has defied him, and remained unharmed?

He who removeth mountains and they know it not, And overturneth them in his anger, Who shaketh the earth out of its place, So that its pillars tremble, Who commandeth the sun and it rises not, And on the stars placeth his seal.

[Sidenote: Job 9:16-20, 24]

If I called and he answered me, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.

He who crusheth me with a tempest, prey of And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

He will not permit me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness, If we speak of the strength of the mighty, lo it is he!

And if of justice, Who will summon him?

Though I am righteous, my own mouth condemns me, Though I am perfect, it would prove me to be perverse.

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of its judges; If not he, then who is it?

[Sidenote: Job 9:31-35]

If I wash myself with snow, And cleanse my hands with lye, Yet thou plunge me into the filth, prove And mine own friends will abhor me.

For he is not a man as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment, There is no arbiter betwixt us, To lay his hand upon us both.

[Sidenote: Job 12:1-3]

Then Job answered and said:

No doubt but you are the people, And wisdom shall die with you!

But I have a mind as well as you, And who does not know these things?

[Sidenote: Job 13:7-12]

Will you speak what is wrong for G.o.d?

And will you talk deceitfully for him?

Will you show favor to him?

Will you contend for G.o.d?

Would it be well, should he search you out?

Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?

He will surely reprove you, If secretly you show favor.

Shall not his majesty overawe you, And dread of him fall upon you?

Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defences are defences of clay!

[Sidenote: Job 13:13-18]

Hold your peace that I may speak, And let come to me what will.

I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand.

Behold he will slay me; I have no hope, But I will defend my ways before him.

No G.o.dless man would come before him.

Give careful heed to my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears.

Behold now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be justified.

[Sidenote: Job 13:21-25]

Withdraw thy hand far from me; And let not thy terror make me afraid.

Then call and I will answer, Or let me speak, and answer thou me.

How many are my iniquities and sins?

Make me know my transgression and my sin.

Why dost thou hide thy face, And regard me as thine enemy?

Wilt thou hara.s.s a wind blown leaf?

And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?