Book of Job - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 823

8-:4

rr Now three friends of ]ob heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, so each came fxtom his Namathite—·—and agreed to go and mourn with him, and comfort him; but when they from adistance raised their eyes and could not recognise him, they lifted up their voices and wept, and each tore his robe, and Hung dust on their heads, and were stupefied, aud sat with him for seven days and seven nights on the earth, but did not speak to him, for they saw that his despair was great. §¤h’s {amen}. At length job opened his mouth, and cursed his day; and job exclaimed, md said: Perish the Day I was born, A man is conceived l' Let that day be darkness itself, Let GOD not look down from above Nor shine upon it with His light! Let death’s gloomy shadow avenge, Black clouds make their resting-place there; And terrors in daytime affright. Count it not in thébourse of the year, Nor reckon along with the months Let solitude be in that night, That in it no joy may be heard! Let them curse it, who curse at the day, Those stripped to be offered the Snake. Let the stars of its dawning be dark. Let it long for, but never have light, And see not the eyelids of morn ! For it closed not the doors of the womb, Nor hid my distress from my sight! Why died I not in the womb, Or expired in the act of my birth? Oh l why did the knees give support ? And why did the breasts that I sucked? For then I had Iain, and been still, Then had rest and found ease for myself, With the kings and the statesmen of earth, Who build themselves desolate tombs; Or with princes, along with their gold, Who fill up their graves with their wealth; Or had been like abortions concealed, Like children that never see light, Where the wicked must cease from their crimes Where the strong, when exhausted, have rest Where together the captives can lie, And hear not their driver’s fierce voice! Where the small and the great are alike, And the slave from his master is free! I2 IC II I2 16 18 20 Oh E why give the wretched the light And life to the bitter in soul 21 Who long for, but cannot meet death, Dig more than for treasure for him! 22 Who delight, and will even exult, And are glad when they rind out the tomb To a man on a path that is lost, And whose landmarks his GOD has confused, For my sighing comes up with my food, And my groanings like water poured out; S2 3