Part 570

30:14. They have rushed in upon me, as when a wall is broken, and a gate opened, and have rolled themselves down to my miseries.

30:15. I am brought to nothing: as a wind thou hast taken away my desire: and my prosperity hath passed away like a cloud.

30:16. And now my soul fadeth within myself, and the days of affliction possess me.

30:17. In the night my bone is pierced with sorrows: and they that feed upon me, do not sleep.

30:18. With the multitude of them my garment is consumed, and they have girded me about, as with the collar of my coat.

30:19. I am compared to dirt, and am likened to embers and ashes.

30:20. I cry to thee, and thou hearest me not: I stand up, and thou dost not regard me.

30:21. Thou art changed to be cruel toward me, and in the hardness of thy hand thou art against me.

30:22. Thou hast lifted me up, and set me as it were upon the wind, and thou hast mightily dashed me.

30:23. I know that thou wilt deliver me to death, where a house is appointed for every one that liveth.

30:24. But yet thou stretchest not forth thy hand to their consumption: and if they shall fall down thou wilt save.

30:25. I wept heretofore for him that was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor.

30:26. I expected good things, and evils are come upon me: I waited for light, and darkness broke out.

30:27. My inner parts have boiled without any rest, the days of affliction have prevented me.

30:28. I went mourning without indignation; I rose up, and cried in the crowd.

30:29. I was the brother of dragons, and companion of ostriches.

Brother of dragons, etc. . .Imitating these creatures in their lamentable noise.

30:30. My skin is become black upon me, and my bones are dried up with heat.

30:31. My harp is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of those that weep.

Job Chapter 31

Job, to defend himself from the unjust judgments of his friends, gives a sincere account of his own virtues.

31:1. I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.

31:2. For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?

31:3. Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?

31:4. Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?

31:5. If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:

31:6. Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.

31:7. If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands: