CHAPTERS IX., X.

THE ANSWER OF JOB.

WHAT Bildad urged, Job admits might be and was true enough; yet he feels that not only his own first appeal to his friends for their pity had failed, but the real point was in no wise reached, while the suggestion of hidden sin was as false as it was uncharitable. therefore deals unsparingly with their reasonings.

He

We can see how immense is the difference when the gospel reveals the righteousness of God. It is no longer the question, How shall man be just with God? It has been proved fully by the law, not to speak of the coming of Christ, that man has no righteousness for God; but now is revealed in the gospel God's righteousness, and hence all on man's part is excluded but faith, that it might be wholly grace on God's part, though resting on the foundation of Christ's suffering for sins, just for unjust, that He might bring us to God. Therefore does the apostle say that in the gospel is revealed God's righteousness from faith to faith. It is from faith, not from works of law, so that Jewish boasting is shut out; and it is to faith, so that the blessing of justification is equally open to the Gentile, as to the Jew, who believes. But this wondrous, present revelation of divine righteousness, justifying the believer who, so far from having works to boast, openly confesses his own guilt and ruin, was still future, in due time predicted by the prophets as it

was prefigured in the types of the law, but now preached in the gospel, proclaimed as a present thing to every one who believes, instead of being held out as a promise merely. Hence "we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith," that is, not for righteousness or justification, but for the hope to which such righteousness entitles, even heavenly glory with Christ. But we must now return to the earlier questions.

And Job answered and said,

Verily I know that [it is] so,

But how shall mortal man be just with God?
If He desire to dispute with him,

He cannot answer Him one of a thousand:
Wise in heart, and mighty in strength !

Who hath held out against Him, and been unhurt?
He removeth mountains, and they know not
That He hath overturned them in His wrath;
He shaketh the earth out of its place,
And the pillars of it rock themselves;
He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not,
And He setteth a seal about the stars,
Spreading out the heavens Himself alone,
And treading on the heights of the sea,
Making Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades,
And the chambers of the south;
Doing great things past finding out,
And unravelling things past reckoning.

Lo, He passeth by me, and I see Him not.

And He glideth before me, and I perceive Him not.
Lo, He snatcheth away: who shall turn Him away?
Who saith to Him, What doest Thou?

God turneth not from His wrath:

The helpers of pride have stooped under Him. How much less should I answer HimChoose out my words with Him?

Whom, though I were just, I would not answer; For mercy would I plead with my Judge.

Though I had cited Him, and He had answered me,
I would not believe that He would listen to me,
For He bruiseth me with a storm,

And multiplieth my wounds without cause.
He suffereth me not to draw my breath,
But surfeiteth me with bitternesses.
If [I turn] to might, lo, [He is] strong,
If to judicial trial, who will cite me?

If I justify myself, my mouth would condemn me.
I perfect! He would prove me perverse.

I perfect! I should not know my own soul,
I should despise my life.

It [is] all one: therefore I said,

He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
If the scourge slay suddenly,

He laugheth at the trial of the innocent.

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, The face of the judges He veileth :

If not then, who [is] he?

And my days are swifter than a runner,
They flee, they see not good;

They have swept past like* skiffs of reed,
As an eagle swoopeth on the prey.

If I say, I will forget my plaint,

* Literally with, and hence as fast as.

I will leave off my looks, and brighten up;

I shudder at all my sorrows,

I know that Thou wilt not hold me innocent.

For me, I am to be guilty! why labour I then in vain? If I wash myself with snow-water,

And cleanse my hands with lye,

Then wouldest Thou plunge me in the ditch,

And mine own clothes would abhor me.

For [He is] not a man as I [that] I should answer Him.

Let us come together in judgment,
There is between us no arbiter,

Who might lay his hand on us both.
Let Him take His rod from off me,
And let not His terror frighten me;
I would speak, and not fear Him,
But not thus I with myself.

Chapter x.

My soul is weary of my life;
I will give way to my plaint,

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul,
I will say to God, Condemn me not;
Let me know why Thou contendest with me.
[Is it] good to Thee that Thou oppressest,
That Thou despisest the work of Thy hands,
And hast shone on the counsel of the wicked?
Hast Thou eyes of flesh?

Seest Thou as mortal man seeth?

[Are] Thy days as the days of mortal man?

[Are] Thy years as the days of a man,

That thou inquirest for my guilt,

And searchest after my sin,

Upon Thy knowledge that I am not guilty,

And that none can deliver out of Thy hand? Thy hands have carved me, and fashioned me round about,

And yet Thou destroyest me!

O remember now that as clay Thou formedst me,
And yet Thou bringest me back to dust!
Didst Thou not pour me out as milk,

And curdle me like cheese,

Clothe me with skin and flesh,

And fence me with bones and sinews?
Life and favour hast Thou shewn me,
And Thy care hath preserved my spirit;
And these things hast Thou hid in Thy heart!
I know that this [was] with Thee.

If I should sin, Thou wouldest mark me,
And not in mine iniquity hold me guiltless.
If I be guilty, woe unto me!

And righteous, I durst not raise my head,
Filled with shame, and seeing my misery;

And should it hold itself up, as a lion Thou wouldest

hunt me,

And turn again, and act wondrously against me. Thou wouldest renew Thy witnesses against me And multiply Thy displeasure against meReinforcements, and a host upon me.

Why then didst Thou bring me forth from the womb ?

I might have expired, and no eye had seen me
I might have been as though I had not been;