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⁷And though thy beginning was small,

Yet thy end should greatly increase.

 

⁸For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation,

And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out—

⁹For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing,

Because our days upon earth are a shadow—

¹⁰Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee,

And utter words out of their heart?

 

¹¹Can the rush shoot up without mire?

Can the reed-grass grow without water?

¹²Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down,

It withereth before any other herb.

¹³So are the paths of all that forget God;

And the hope of the godless man shall perish;

¹⁴Whose confidence is gossamer,

And whose trust is a spider's web.

¹⁵He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand;

He shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.

¹⁶He is green before the sun,

And his shoots go forth over his garden.

¹⁷His roots are wrapped about the heap,

He beholdeth the place of stones.

¹⁸If he be destroyed from his place,

Then it shall deny him: 'I have not seen thee.'

¹⁹Behold, this is the joy of his way,

And out of the earth shall others spring.

²⁰Behold, God will not cast away an innocent man,

Neither will He uphold the evil-doers;

²¹Till He fill thy mouth with laughter,

And thy lips with shouting.

²²They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame;

And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.

9 Then Job answered and said:

²Of a truth I know that it is so;

And how can man be just with God?

³If one should desire to contend with Him,

He could not answer Him one of a thousand.

⁴He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength;

Who hath hardened himself against Him, and prospered?

⁵Who removeth the mountains, and they know it not,

When He overturneth them in His anger.

⁶Who shaketh the earth out of her place,

And the pillars thereof tremble.

⁷Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not;

And sealeth up the stars.

⁸Who alone stretcheth out the heavens,

And treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

⁹Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,

And the chambers of the south.

¹⁰Who doeth great things past finding out;

Yea, marvellous things without number.

¹¹Lo, He goeth by me, and I see Him not.

He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not.

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