The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.

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

And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me.

For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.

The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.

I put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.

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

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

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

Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.

For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.

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

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

After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.

And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.

If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.

I appoynted out their way, and did sit as chiefe, and dwelt as a King in the army, and like him that comforteth the mourners.

Bvt now they that are yonger then I, mocke me: yea, they whose fathers I haue refused to set with the dogges of my flockes.

For whereto shoulde the strength of their handes haue serued mee, seeing age perished in them?

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

They cut vp nettels by the bushes, and the iuniper rootes was their meate.

They were chased forth from among men: they shouted at them, as at a theefe.

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

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

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

And now am I their song, and I am their talke.

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

Because that God hath loosed my corde and humbled mee, they haue loosed the bridle before me.

The youth rise vp at my right hand: they haue pusht my feete, and haue trode on me as on the paths of their destruction.

They haue destroyed my paths: they tooke pleasure at my calamitie, they had none helpe.

They came as a great breach of waters, and vnder this calamitie they come on heapes.

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

Therefore my soule is nowe powred out vpon me, and the dayes of affliction haue taken holde on me.

It pearceth my bones in the night, and my sinewes take no rest.

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

He hath cast me into the myre, and I am become like ashes and dust.

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

Thou turnest thy selfe cruelly against me, and art enemie vnto mee with the strength of thine hand.

Thou takest me vp and causest mee to ride vpon the winde, and makest my strength to faile.

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

Doubtles none can stretch his hand vnto the graue, though they cry in his destruction.

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

Yet when I looked for good, euill came vnto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkenesse.

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

I went mourning without sunne: I stood vp in the congregation and cryed.

I am a brother to the dragons, and a companion to the ostriches.

My skinne is blacke vpon me, and my bones are burnt with heate.

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

I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?

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

Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?

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

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

Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes.

If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,

Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.

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

Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:

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

Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,

If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,

What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?

He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?

If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile,

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

(For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)

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

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

If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,

Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone.

For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.

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

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

If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,

If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,

(This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)

If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,

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

Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied.

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

If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,

Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did feare me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the doore.

Oh that I had some to heare me! beholde my signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me,

Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?

I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.

If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,

If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,

Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.

So these three men ceased to answere Iob, because he esteemed himselfe iust.

Then the wrath of Elihu the sonne of Barachel the Buzite, of the familie of Ram, was kindled: his wrath, I say, was kindled against Iob, because he iustified himselfe more then God.

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

(Now Elihu had wayted til Iob had spoken: for they were more ancient in yeeres then he)

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

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

For I said, The dayes shall speake, and the multitude of yeeres shall teach wisedome.

Surely there is a spirite in man, but the inspiration of the Almightie giueth vnderstanding.

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

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

Behold, I did waite vpon your wordes, and hearkened vnto your knowledge, whiles you sought out reasons.

Yea, when I had considered you, lo, there was none of you that reproued Iob, nor answered his wordes: