Moff JOB Chapter 23

23 Then Eyob replied:

2 

“But my complaint is bit- 2 ter still;

under his heavy hand I lie and moan.

3 

Oh that I knew where to find 3 him,

how to reach his very throne,

4 

and there lay my case before him,

arguing it out to the full!

5 

Fain would I learn what his reply would be,

and understand what he would say to me.

6 

Would he confront me with his 6 almighty power?

No, he would listen to me;

7 

there I might argue with him as one innocent,

and have my judge acquit me for all time.

8 

But I go forward, and he is not there;

backward, and yet I cannot behold him;

9 

I seek him on my left, in vain;

when I turn to the right, I cannot see him.

10 

Yet he knows how I live;

when he tests me, I shall prove sterling gold,

11 

I have kept closely to his footsteps,

never swerving from his path;

12 

I never stray from his commands,

I treasure up his orders.

13 

But who can make him change his mind?

He does whatever he may choose!

15 

So I am cowed before him;

the thought of him dismays me.

16 

For God makes my heart faint,

the Almighty cows me;

17 

I am appalled at his dark mystery,

and its black shadow has bewildered me.

24 

Why has not the AImighty sessions of set justice?

Why do his followers never see him intervening?

2 

Evil men are removing landmarks,

plundering flocks and shepherds,

3 

driving off the orphan’s ass,

seizing the widow’s cow for debt,

9 

tearing the fatherless babe from her breast,

seizing the very infants of the poor for debt,

4 

evicting poor folk, till these 4 humble souls

must hide and huddle away;

5 

they wander like the wild ass in the desert,

roaming in search of food--

for the children have no bread.

6 

They have to steal corn from the fields by night,

and rob the vineyards of the rich;

7 

all night they lie naked, unclad, uncovered from the cold,

8 

drenched by downpour from the hills,

and clinging to rocks for shelter,

till vigour fails them,

2 

and their vital strength is gone.

3 

Gaunt with hunger and with want,

they gnaw herbs in the wold,

4 

gathering saltwort under bushes,

using broom-roots for their fuel.

3 

They grope in waste and desolate places,

5 

driven from the haunts of men--

the hue and cry after them, like thieves!

6 

They live in dark ravines,

in caves and rocks,

7 

grunting among the bushes,

coupling under the scrub,

8 

brainless creatures and base-born,

routed out of the country.

Some have to go bare, sy A unclothed,