Book of Job - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 852

35-·1 ]OB. 35 IO II I2 16 86 I0 II

I2 36- 15

Elihu spoke again and said Think you this to be just that you said, ‘ I myself am more righteous than GOD ? Would it profit to you? What gain I by freedom from sin I, myself, will reply to your speech And to your friends as well as yourself. Look up to the heavens, and see,

Watch the clouds that are far above you l If sinful, what matter to Him; How affect Him your many revolts ? If righteous·—-what give you to Him, And what in your hand do you bring ? A man, like yourself, you may hurt; And your justice may benefit man l Under wrongs the oppressed may shriek, And may groan from the might of the great; Where is GOD who made me, Allowing these tortures at night? We know more than the beasts of the earth And are wiser than birds of the sky; We shriek, but He never replies To the face of the tyrants themselves.' it is false, to say GOD does not hear, And that the Mosr Hxcm replies not, And more false that He does not see you l He does justice, if you will but wait. Does He, when His anger refrains, Not recognise manifest crime? job opens his mouth like a fool Yes, with folly has loaded his speech l Elihu consequently continued and said: Wait for me, and I will reveal The reasons I still have for GOD. I will gather my teachings from far And prove that my Maker is right; For I certainly utter no lies; Pure truth is presented to you. GOD is mighty and does not neglect, He is mighty in power of mind; He does not encourage the bad, But gives the afflicted their right. From judges He takes not His eyes Or from monarchs who sit on the throne! Whom He sanctions, are mighty for aye : But if they are fettered in chains And bound in the cords of distress, He is showing their conduct to them And the faults that their pride has produced ; And uncovers their hearing to learn, And tells them to turn from their sins. If they listen to Him, and obey, They complete with enjoyment their days And end up their years in delight, lf they hear not, they pass like a dart, And expire in their want of good sensei But the wicked in heartheap up wrath; When He binds them, it is not to save; Their life goes to death in their youth, For their life is among the depraved. But He rescues the wronged from their woes, 8 52