Lx.x.xIII

Thine hand hath made and fashioned me, And now hast thou turned to destroy me; Remember, I pray thee, that thou hast formed me as clay; And now wilt thou grind me to dust again?

Lx.x.xIV

Didst thou not pour me out as milk, And curdle me like cheese?

Hast thou not clothed me with skin and flesh?

And knitted me with bones and sinews?

Lx.x.xV

Thou enduedst me with life and grace; And thy care hath cherished my spirit.

And yet these things hadst thou hid in thy heart!

I know that this was in thee!

Lx.x.xVI

Had I sinned, thou wouldst have watched me, Nor wouldst have acquitted me of my wrongdoing.

Had I been wicked, woe unto me!

And though righteous, I dare not to lift up my head.

Lx.x.xVII

As a lion thou huntest me, who am soaked in misery, And ever showest thyself marvellous[211] against me!

While I live, thou smitest me ever anew, And lettest thy wrath wax great against me.

Lx.x.xVIII

Wherefore, then, didst thou bring me out of the womb?

Would I had then given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

I should now be as though I had never been; I had been borne from the womb to the grave.

Lx.x.xIX

Are not the days of my life but few, So that he might let me be, while I take heart a little Before I depart whence I shall not return, To the land of darkness and of gloom?

XC

ZOPHAR:

Shall the mult.i.tude of words be left unanswered?

And shall the prattler[212] be deemed in the right?

Should men hold their peace at thy babbling?

And when thou jeerest, shall none make thee ashamed?

XCI

But oh that G.o.d would speak, And open his lips against thee, And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom That they are as marvels to the understanding!

XCII

It[213] is high as heaven; what canst thou do?

Deeper than h.e.l.l; what canst thou know?

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the ocean.

XCIII

For he knoweth men of deceit; He seeth wickedness and needeth not to gauge it.

Thus[214] the empty man gets understanding, And the wild-a.s.s' colt is born anew as man.

XCIV

If thou make ready thine heart, And stretch out thine hands towards him, Then shalt thou lift up thy face, And in time of affliction be fearless.

XCV

For then shalt thou forget thy misery, And remember it as waters that have pa.s.sed away; The darkness shall be as morning, And thine age shall be brighter than the noonday.

XCVI

Thou shalt be secure because there is hope, Thou shalt look around and take thy rest in safety; Thou shalt lie down and none shall startle thee, Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

XCVII

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, And refuge shall vanish from before them; Their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost; For with him is wisdom and might.

XCVIII

JOB:

No doubt but ye are clever people, And wisdom shall die with you; I too have understanding as well as ye; Just, upright is my way.

XCIX

He that is at ease, scorneth the judgments of Shaddai.[215]

His foot stands firm in the time of trial.

The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke G.o.d are secure.

C

But ask, I beseech you, the beasts, And the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee; Or speak to the earth and it shall teach thee, And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

CI

Is not the soul of every living thing in his hand, And the breath of all mankind?

Doth not the ear try words As the mouth tasteth its meat?

CII