The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

Lest ye should say, We haue found wisedome: for God hath cast him downe, and no man.

Yet hath he not directed his words to me, neyther will I answere him by your wordes.

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

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

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

For I am full of matter, and the spirite within me compelleth me.

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

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

I will not now accept the person of man, neyther will I giue titles to man.

For I may not giue titles, lest my Maker should take me away suddenly.

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

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

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

The Spirite of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almightie hath giuen me life.

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

Beholde, I am according to thy wish in Gods stead: I am also formed of the clay.

Beholde, my terrour shall not feare thee, neither shall mine hand be heauie vpon thee.

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

I am cleane, without sinne: I am innocent, and there is none iniquitie in me.

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

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

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

Why doest thou striue against him? for he doeth not giue account of all his matters.

For God speaketh once or twise, and one seeth it not.

In dreames and visions of the night, when sleepe falleth vpon men, and they sleepe vpon their beds,

Then he openeth the eares of men, euen by their corrections, which he had sealed,

That he might cause man to turne away from his enterprise, and that he might hide the pride of man,

And keepe backe his soule from the pit, and that his life should not passe by the sword.

He is also striken with sorow vpon his bed, and the griefe of his bones is sore,

So that his life causeth him to abhorre bread, and his soule daintie meate.

His flesh faileth that it can not be seene, and his bones which were not seene, clatter.

So his soule draweth to the graue, and his life to the buriers.

If there be a messenger with him, or an interpreter, one of a thousand to declare vnto man his righteousnesse,

Then will he haue mercie vpon him, and will say, Deliuer him, that he go not downe into the pit: for I haue receiued a reconciliation.

Then shall his flesh be as fresh as a childes, and shall returne as in the dayes of his youth.

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 man his righteousnes.

He looketh vpon men, and if one say, I haue sinned, and peruerted righteousnesse, and it did not profite me,

He will deliuer his soule from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

Lo, all these things will God worke twise or thrise with a man,

That he may turne backe his soule from the pit, to be illuminate in the light of the liuing.

Marke well, O Iob, and heare me: keepe silence, and I will speake.

If there be matter, answere me, and speak: for I desire to iustifie thee.

If thou hast not, heare me: holde thy tongue, and I will teach thee wisedome.

Moreouer Elihu answered, and saide,

Heare my wordes, ye wise men, and hearken vnto me, ye that haue knowledge.

For the eare tryeth the words, as the mouth tasteth meate.

Let vs seeke iudgement among vs, and let vs knowe among our selues what is good.

For Iob hath saide, I am righteous, and God hath taken away my iudgement.

Should I lye in my right? my wound of the arrowe is grieuous without my sinne.

What man is like Iob, that drinketh scornfulnesse like water?

Which goeth in the companie of them that worke iniquitie, and walketh with wicked men?

For he hath saide, It profiteth a man nothing that he should walke with God.

Therefore hearken vnto me, ye men of wisedome, God forbid that wickednesse should be in God, and iniquitie in the Almightie.

For he will render vnto man according to his worke, and cause euery one to finde according to his way.

And certainely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almightie peruert iudgement.

Whome hath he appointed ouer the earth beside him selfe? or who hath placed the whole worlde?

If he set his heart vpon man, and gather vnto him selfe his spirit and his breath,

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall returne vnto dust.

And if thou hast vnderstanding, heare this and hearken to the voyce of my wordes.

Shal he that hateth iudgement, gouerne? and wilt thou iudge him wicked that is most iust?

Wilt thou say vnto a King, Thou art wicked? or to princes, Ye are vngodly?

How much lesse to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, and regardeth not the rich, more then the poore? for they be all the worke of his handes.

They shall die suddenly, and the people shalbe troubled at midnight, and they shall passe foorth and take away the mightie without hand.

For his eyes are vpon the wayes of man, and he seeth all his goings.

There is no darkenesse nor shadowe of death, that the workers of iniquitie might be hid therein.

For he will not lay on man so much, that he should enter into iudgement with God.

He shall breake the mightie without seeking, and shall set vp other in their stead.

Therefore shall he declare their works: he shall turne the night, and they shalbe destroyed.

He striketh them as wicked men in the places of the seers,

Because they haue turned backe from him, and would not consider all his wayes:

So that they haue caused the voyce of the poore to come vnto him, and he hath heard the cry of the afflicted.

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?

Because the hypocrite doeth reigne, and because the people are snared.

Surely it appertaineth vnto God to say, I haue pardoned, I will not destroy.

But if I see not, teach thou me: if I haue done wickedly, I will doe no more.

Wil he performe the thing through thee? for thou hast reproued it, because that thou hast chosen, and not I. now speake what thou knowest.

Let men of vnderstanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken vnto me.

Iob hath not spoken of knowledge, neyther were his wordes according to wisedome.

I desire that Iob may be tryed, vnto the ende touching the answeres for wicked men.

For he addeth rebellion vnto his sinne: he clappeth his handes among vs, and multiplieth his wordes against God.

Elihu spake moreouer, and said,

Thinkest thou this right, that thou hast said, I am more righteous then God?

For thou hast said, What profiteth it thee and what auaileth it me, to purge me from my sinne?

Therefore will I answere thee, and thy companions with thee.

Looke vnto the heauen, and see and behold the cloudes which are hyer then thou.

If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him, yea, when thy sinnes be many, what doest thou vnto him?

If thou be righteous, what giuest thou vnto him? or what receiueth he at thine hand?

Thy wickednesse may hurt a man as thou art: and thy righteousnes may profite ye sonne of man.

They cause many that are oppressed, to crye, which crye out for ye violence of the mightie.

But none saieth, Where is God that made me, which giueth songs in the nyght?

Which teacheth vs more then the beastes of the earth, and giueth vs more wisdome then the foules of the heauen.

Then they crye because of the violence of the wicked, but he answereth not.

Surely God will not heare vanitie, neyther will the Almightie regard it.

Although thou sayest to God, Thou wilt not regard it, yet iudgement is before him: trust thou in him.

But nowe because his anger hath not visited, nor called to count the euill with great extremitie,

Therfore Iob openeth his mouth in vaine, and multiplieth wordes without knowledge.

Elihu also proceeded and sayde,

Suffer me a litle, and I will instruct thee: for I haue yet to speake on Gods behalfe.

I will fetche my knowledge afarre off, and will attribute righteousnes vnto my Maker.

For truely my wordes shall not be false, and he that is perfect in knowledge, speaketh with thee.