The book of Job; a transcription

Preface

This transcription of the Book of Job was made for the purpose of enabling the writer to its better understanding. Having read the book several times in the Authorized Version, the resulting impression was that, while the larger portion was clear and spiritually stimulating, a great many passages were obscure and difficult, as though the translators had imperfectly rendered the original into the English language. This impression became emphasized on comparing the Authorized with the Revised Version of the Bible and with the alternate marginal readings. The result of this comparison was so satisfactory, that a written copy of the book was made in order to furnish opportunity for selecting the renderings which seemed most understandable. The necessarily slow work of comparison and selection happily afforded opportunity for better appreciating the meaning of the author, or authors, of the book than did the ordinary casual reading of it.

Who was the writer of the Book of Job is not known. Its oriental origin is obvious in its opening phrase — "There was a man in the land of Uz"; as though the oral story-teller was about to commence a fascinating narrative. That it was put into permanent literary form during the period embraced between the reign of King Solomon and the return of the Jews from the Captivity seems to be acknowledged, as also that it was previously transmitted orally from narrator to narrator, and that additions had been made to its original form (as, for instance, the address of the younger man, Elihu, after the three older friends of Job had concluded). Tradition held that Job lived at some period between the death of Joseph and the Exodus of the Children of Israel. That it is historically a record of the experiences of one man is improbable. It is doubtless an allegory, the purpose of which is to elucidate, if possible, the great problems of life — sin and suffering; their dependence one on the other ; how God's dealings with men are conformable to law, even though the human mind is forced to the conclusion that it is incapable of unraveling the workings of that law.

As stated by Professor John David Michaelis, of Gottingen (1750) : "I feel very little doubt that the subject of the poem is altogether fabulous, and designed to teach us that, the rewards of virtue being in another state, it is very possible for the good to suffer afflictions in this life ; but that, when it so happens, it is permitted by Providence for the wisest reasons, though they may not be obvious to human eyes.''

No one carefully reading the Book of Job can fail to be impressed with the fact that it is a masterly discussion of the greatest of all human problems, even though at its conclusion one retains the conviction that the problem is still unsolved.

"Who by searching can find out God? Who can understand the Almighty unto the perfection?"

In this connection, however, one cannot fail to appreciate the comfortable Christian teaching enunciated by St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians (10:13): "There hath no temptation [trial | taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Edwin Freegard.

St. Louis, Mo.

Xnvcmber, 1909.

The Book of Job.

From the Encyclopedia Britannica.

The Book of Job, the most splendid creation of the Hebrew poetry, is so called from the name of the man whose history and afflictions and sayings form the theme of it.

Contents. — As it now lies before us it consists of five parts. (1.) The prologue, in prose (chapters 1 and 2), describes in rapid and dramatic steps the history of this man, his piety, and prosperity and greatness corresponding to his godliness; then how his life is drawn in under the operation of the trying, sifting providence of God, through the suspicion suggested by Satan, the minister of this aspect of God's providence, that his godliness is but selfish and only the natural return for the unexampled prosperity bestowed upon him, and the insinuation that if stripped of his prosperity he will renounce God to His face. These suspicious bring down two severe calamities on Job, one depriving him of all external blessings, children and possessions alike, and the other throwing the man himself under a loathsome and painful malady. In spite of these afflictions Job retains his integrity and ascribes no wrong to God. Then the advent of Job's three friends is described, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, who, having heard of Job's calamities, come to condole with him.

(2) The body of the book, in poetry (chapters 3 to 31), contains a series of speeches in which the problem of Job's afflictions and the relation of external evil to the righteousness of God and the conduct of men is brilliantly discussed. That part is divided into three cycles, each containing four speeches, one by Job and one by each of his friends (chapters

3 to 14; 15 to 21; 22 to 31), although in the last cycle the third speaker, Zophar, fails to answer, and Job, having driven his opponents from the field, carries his reply through a series of discourses in which he dwells in pathetic words upon his early prosperity, contrasting with it his present misery and humiliation, and ends with a solemn repudiation of all the offences that had been insinuated or might be suggested against him, and a challenge to God to appear and put his hand to the charge which he had against him and for which he afflicted him.

(3.) A youthful bystander named Elihu, the representative of a younger generation, who had been a silent observer of the debate, intervenes and expresses his dissatisfaction with the manner in which both Job and his friends had conducted the cause, and offers what in some respects is a new solution of the question (chapters 32 to 37).

(4.) In answer to Job's repeated demands that God would appear and solve the riddle of his life, the Lord answers Job out of the whirlwind. The Divine speaker does not condescend to refer to Job's individual problem; but in a series of ironical interrogations asks him, as he thinks himself capable of fathoming all things, to expound the mysteries of the origin and subsistence of the world, the phenomena of the atmosphere, the instincts of the creatures that inhabit the desert, and, as he judges God's conduct of the world amiss, invites him to seize the reins himself and gird him with the Divine thunder and quell the rebellious forces of evil in the universe (chapters 38 to 42:6). Job is humbled and abashed, and lays his hand upon his mouth, and repents his hast)' words in dust and ashes. No solution of his problem is vouchsafed ; hut God himself effects that which neither the man's own thoughts of God nor the representations of his friends could accomplish : he heard of Him with the hearing of the ear without effect, but now his eye saw Him. This is the profoundest religious deep in the book.

(5.) The epilogue, also in prose (chapter 42:7-17), describes Job's restoration to a prosperity double that of his former estate, his family felicity, and long life.

Chapter 1

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that

2 feared God and eschewed evil. And there were born

3 unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the

4 greatest of all the children of the east. And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day ; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and

5 to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all : for Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and renounced God in their hearts." Thus did Job continually.

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan [the Adver-

7 sary] came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, "Whence comest thou?" Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, "From going to and from in the earth, and

8 from walking up and down in it." And the Lord said unto Satan, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth — a perfect and an upright man,

9 one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, "Doth Job fear God for

10 naught? Hast thou not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his sub-

11 stance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee

12 to thy face." And the Lord said unto Satan, "Behold, all that he hath is in thy power ; only upon himself put not forth thine hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

13 And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's

14 house : and there came a messenger unto Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside

15 them; and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away ; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword ; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."

16 While he was yet speaking there came also another, and said, "A great fire hath fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed

17 them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee." While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, "The Chaldeans came out in three bands, and rushed upon the camels, and have taken them away ; yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword ; and 1 only am escaped

18 alone to tell thee." While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, "Thy sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's

1 ( J house; and, behold, there came a great wind over from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell Upon the young men, and they are dead; and 1 only

20 am escaped alone to tell thee." Then Job arose and rent his mantle, and fell down upon the ground, and wor-

21 shipped; and he said. "Naked came 1 out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; the LORD gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the 22 Lord/' In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Chapter 2

1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also

2 among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said unto Satan, "From whence comest thou?" And Satan answered the Lord, and said, "From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in

3 it." And the Lord said unto Satan, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth — a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him to destroy him with-

4 out cause." And Satan answered the Lord, and said, "Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for

5 his life ; but put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh and he will renounce thee to thy face."

6 And the Lord said unto Satan, "Behold he is in thine hand ; but only spare his life."

7 So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot

8 unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrap himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

9 Then said his wife unto him, "Dost thou still hold

10 fast thine integrity? Renounce God and die." But he said unto her, "ThoU speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What ! shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all the evil which was come upon him, they came every one from his own place : Eliphaz, the Temanite ; and Bildad, the Shuhite; and Zophar, the Naamathite; for they made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to

12 comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept,

13 and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his pain was very great.

Job's Lament.

Chapter 3

1 After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day ;

2 and Job spake, and said:

3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, And the night wherein it was said, "There is a man child conceived."

4 Let the day be darkness,

Let not God inquire after it from above, Neither let the light shine upon it.

5 Let deep darkness and the shadow of death claim it for

their own ; Let a cloud dwell upon it ; Let all that maketh black the day terrify it.

6 As for that night,

Let thick darkness seize upon it ;

Let it not be joined unto the days of the year ;

Let it not come into the number of the months.

7 Lo ! let that night be barren ; Let no joyful voice come therein.

8 Let them curse it that curse the day,

Who are skillful to raise up their mourning.

9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; Let it look for light, but have none;

Neither let it behold the eyelids of the morning:

10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, Nor hid trouble from mine eyes.

11 Why died I not from the womb?

Why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

12 Why did the knees receive me?

Or why the breasts, that I should suck?

13 For now I should have lain still and been quiet; I should have slept.

Then had I been at rest,

14 With kings and counsellors of the earth, Which built up desolate places for themselves;

15 Or with princes that had gold, Who filled their houses with silver.

16 Or as a hidden untimely birth, I had not been ; As infants which never saw light.

17 There the wicked cease from troubling; And there the weary be at rest.

18 There the prisoners are at ease together ; They hear not the voice of the taskmaker.

19 The small and the great are there ; And the slave is free from his master.

20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul?

21 Which wait long for death, but it cometh not; And dig for it more than for hid treasures ;

22 Which rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they can find

the grave?

23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, And whom God hath hedged in ?

24 For my sighing cometh with my food, And my roarings are poured out like water.

25 For the thing which I greatly fear is come upon me, And that which I am afraid of cometh unto me.

26 I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, Neither have I rest ; yet trouble cometh.

The Philosophy of Eliphaz.

Chapter 4. 1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said

2 If one essay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

3 Behold, thou hast instructed many,

And thou hast strengthened the weak hands ;

4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast strengthened the feeble knees ;

5 But now it is come unto thee, and thou faintest ; It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

6 Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, And thy hope the uprightness of thy ways?

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

8 According as I have seen,

They that plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.

9 By the breath of God they perish,

And by the blast of his anger are they consumed.

10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey,

And the w helps of the lioness are scattered abroad.

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, And mine ear received a whisper thereof.

13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep f alleth upon man,

14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones to shake.

15 Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair of my flesh stood up;

16 It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance

thereof ; A form was before mine eyes ; There was stillness, and I heard a voice saying:

17 "Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker ?

18 Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants, And his angels he charged with folly :

19 How much more so them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust,

Which are crushed before the moth!

20 Betwixt morning and evening they are destroyed ; They perish for ever without any regarding it.

21 Doth not the excellency which is in them go away? They die, and that without wisdom."

Chapter 5

1 Call now ! Is there any that will answer thee ; And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn?

2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, And envy slayeth the silly one.

3 I have seen the foolish taking root; But suddenly I cursed his habitation.

4 His children are far from safety, And they are crushed in the gate ; Neither is there any to deliver them.

5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, And taketh it even out of the thorns,

And the robber swalloweth up their substance.

6 For affliction cometh not forth of the dust, Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground ;

7 But man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward.

8 But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause ;

9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable — Marvellous things without number :

10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields ;

11 So that he setteth up on high those that be low, And those which mourn are exalted to safety.

12 He frustrateth the devices of the crafty,

So that their hands perform not their enterprise.

13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness,

And the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

14 They meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noon-day as in the night.

15 But he saveth the poor from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.

16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth : Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up;

He woundeth, and his hands make whole.

19 Me shall deliver thee in six troubles;

Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

20 Tn famine he shall redeem thee from death; And in war from the power of the sword.

21 Thou shall be hid from the scourge of the tongue; Neither shall thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh ;

Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field ; And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

24 And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace,

And thou shalt visit thy fold and shalt miss nothing.

25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, And thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, Like as a shock of corn cometh in in its season.

27 Lo this : we have searched it, so it is ; Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

Job's rejoinder to Eliphaz.

Chapter 6. 1 Then Job answered, and said

2 Oh, that my grief were throughly weighed, And my calamity laid in the balances together.

3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea : Therefore have my words been rash.

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up:

The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass ? Or loweth the ox over his fodder ?

6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 My soul refuseth to touch them; They are loathsome meat to me.

8 Oh, that I might have my request,

And that God would grant me the thing that I long for !

9 Even that it would please God to destroy me;

That he would let loose his hand and cut me off !

10 Then should I yet have comfort;

Yea, I would exult in pain that spareth not;

For I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I should wait?

And what is mine end, that I should be patient?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

13 Is it not that I have no help in me,

And that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?

14 To him that is afflicted, kindness should be shewed from

his friend, Else might he forsake the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook; As the current of brooks, they pass away ;

16 Which are black by reason of the ice. And wherein the snow hideth itself :

17 What time they wax warm they vanish:

When it is hot they are consumed out of their place.

18 The caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside ; They go up into the desert, and perish.

19 The caravans of Tenia looked —

The companies of Sheba waited for them :

20 They were ashamed because they had hoped ; They came thither, and were confounded.

21 For now ye are nothing [to mel ; Ye see my terror, and arc afraid.

22 Did I say, "Give unto me?"

( )r, "Offer a present for me of your substance?"

23 Or, "Deliver me from the adversary's hand?"

Or, "Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?"

24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace ;

And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

25 How forcible are right words !

But what doth your arguing reprove?

26 Do you imagine to reprove words,

Seeing the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind? 21 Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, And would make merchandise of your friend.

28 Now therefore be pleased to look upon me ; For it will be evident unto you if I lie.

29 Return, I pray you; let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, for my cause is righteous.

30 Is there iniquity in my tongue?

Can not my taste discern perverse things? Chapter 7.

1 Is there not a warfare appointed to man upon earth? Are not his days like the days of an hireling?

2 As a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow, And as an hireling that looketh for his wages,

3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, And wearisome nights are appointed to me.

4 When I lie down, I say : "When shall I arise ?" But the night is long, and I am full of tossings To and fro until the dawning of the day.

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust ; My skin is broken, and become loathsome.

6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And are spent without hope.

7 Oh, remember that my life is vanity ; Mine eye shall no more see good.

8 The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more ; Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.

9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away,

So he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

10 He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.

1 1 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth ; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit ;

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12 Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me?

13 When I say, "My bed shall comfort me; My couch shall ease my complaint,"

14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions :

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than life.

16 I loathe my life ; I would not live alway ; Let me alone, for my days are vanity.

17 What is man, that thou shouldst magnify him? And that thou shouldst set thine heart upon him?

18 And that thou shouldst visit him every morning. And try him every moment?

19 How long wilt thou not look away from me, Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

20 If I have sinned, what can I do unto thee, O thou watcher of men?

Why hast thou set me as a mark for thee, So that I am a burden to myself?

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

For now shall I lie down in the dust.

And thou shalt seek me diligently, but shall not find me.

The Reproof of Bildad.

Chapter 8. 1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said

2 How long wilt thou speak these things?

And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a mighty wind?

3 Doth God pervert judgment?

Or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

4 If thy children have sinned against him,

And he have cast them away for their transgressions ;

5 If thou wouldst seek diligently unto God, And make thy supplication unto the Almighty;

6 If thou wert pure and upright, Surely he would now awake for thee,

And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

7 And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age,

And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out:

9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, And utter words out of their heart?

11 Can the rush grow up without mire?

Can the flag grow up without water?

12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, It withereth before any other herb.

13 So are the paths of all that forget God ;

And the hope of the godless man shall perish;

14 Whose confidence shall break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider's web.

15 He shall lean against his tent, but it shall not stand; He shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

16 He is green before the sun,

And his branches shoot forth over his garden ;

17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, And he beholdeth the place of stones.

18 If he be destroyed from his place,

Then it shall deny him ; saying, "I have not seen thee."

19 Behold, this is the joy of his way,

And out of the dust shall others spring.

20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil doers.

21 He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with shouting.

22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.