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joy, and of sending portions one to another, from among the Jews, nor the memorial of and gifts to the poor. them perish from their seed.

23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority,to confirm this second letterofPurim. 30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

31 To confirm these days of Purim in

24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot) to consume them, and to destroy thein: 25 But when Esther came before the king, their times appointed, according as Mordecai he commanded by letters, that his wicked the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined Levice, which he devised against the Jews, them, and as they had decreed for themshould return upon his own head, and that selves, and for their seed, the matters of the he and his sons should be hanged on the gal-fastings and their cry. lows.

32 And the decree of Esther confirmed 26 Wherefore they called these days Pu- these matters of Purim; and it was written rim, after the name of Pur: therefore, for all in the book. the words of this letter, and of that which they

CHAP. X.

had seen concerning this matter, and which on the land, and upon the isles of the sea.

ND the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute up

had come unto them,

27 The Jews ordained, and took upon 2 And all the acts of his power, and of his them, and upon their seed, and upon all such might, and the declaration of the greatness as joined themselves unto them, so as it should of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced not fail, that they would keep these two days him, are they not written in the book of the according to their writing, and according to Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? their appointed time, every year; 3 For Mordecai the Jew was next unto 28 And that these days should be remem-king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, bered, and kept throughout every generation, and accepted of the multitude of his breevery family, every province, and every city; thren, seeking the wealth of his people, and and that these days of Purim should not fail speaking peace to all his seed.

¶ The Book of JOB.

CHAP. 1.

considered my servant Job, that there is none THERE HERE was a man in the land of Uz, like him in the earth, a perfect and an upwhose name was Job; and that man right man, one that feareth God, and eswas perfect and upright, and one that fear-cheweth evil? ed God, and eschewed evil.

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7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down

in it.
3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou

9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, doth Job fear God for nought?

10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land:

11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house :

14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them;

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came

also another, and said, The Chaldeans made an appointment together to come to mourn out three bands, and fell upon the camels, with him, and to comfort him. and have carried them away, yea, and slain 12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar the servants with the edge of the sword; and off, and knew him not, they lifted up their I only am escaped alone to tell thee. voice, and wept; and they rent every one 18 While he was yet speaking, there his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their came also another, and said, Thy sons and heads toward heaven. thy daughters were eating and drinking wine 13 So they sat down with him upon the in their eldest brother's house: ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. CHAP. III.

AFTER this opened Job his mouth, and 2 And Job spake, and said,

cursed his

3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man-child conceived.

19 And behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. CHAP. II.

GAIN there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them, to present himself before the LORD.

2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin; yea, all that a man bath will he give for his life:

8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: 10 Because it shut not up the doors of my

3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine upright man, one that feareth God, and es-eyes. cheweth evil? and still be holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils, from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.

91 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

7 Lo, let that night be solitary; let no joy. ful voice come therein.

11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest

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20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

10 Bat he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

21 Which long for death, but it cometh not, and dig for it more than for hid treasures; 22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad when they can find the grave?

23 Why is light given to a man whose way

11 Now, when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and 24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made my roarings are poured out like the waters.

£5 For the thing which I greatly feared is taketh it even out of the thorns, and the rob come upon me, and that which I was afraid ber swalloweth up their substance. of is come unto me.

26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. CHAP. IV.

6 Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;

Tand said,
HEN Eliphaz the Temanite answered

2 If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved but who can withhold himself from speaking?

3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble

13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,

14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

Knees.

5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee,and thou art troubled. 6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever per-ried headlong. ished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. 10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:

16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes; there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause;

9 Which doeth great things and unsearch able; marvellous things without number : 10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:

17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the froward is car

14 They meet with darkness in the day-time, and grope in the noon-day as in the night.

15 But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.

16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death; and in war from the power of the sword.

21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh; neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth:

20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever, without any regarding it.

25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die,even without wisdom. CHAP. V.

26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season.

27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is, Case now, if and to which of the saints ALL now, if there be any that will an-hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

CHAP. VI.

BUT Job answered and said,

2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the bal

wilt thou turn?

2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and

envy slayeth the silly one.

3I have seen the foolish taking root: but ances together! suddenly I cursed his habitation."

4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there swallowed up. any to deliver them.

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are with

5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and in me, the poison whereof drinketh up my

3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are

spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt or is there any taste in the white of an egg

7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! 9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, i would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy one.

11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

Is my strength the strength of stones or is my flesh of brass

13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

1 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. 21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a eward for me of your substance?

23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty 24 Teach me, and i will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have

erred.

25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprøve?

26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

28 Now therefore be content; look upon me: for it is evident unto you if I lie.

29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. 30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

CHAP. VII.

an appointed time to

2 As a servant earnestly desireth the sha dow, and as an hireling looketh for the re ward of his work;

3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. 4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

70 remember that my life is wind; mine eye shall no more see good.

8 The eye of him that bath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away; so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

10 He shall return no more to bis house, neither shall his place know him any more. 11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth will speak in the anguish of my spirit; will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 12 Ami a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

I

13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;

15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

16 I loathe it ; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him

18 And that thou shouldest visit bim every morning, and try him every moment?

1. How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 20I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou Preserver of men why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning,but I shall not be. CHAP. VIII.

HEN answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

THE

2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; 6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely

I earth? are no points also like the days now he would awake for thee, and make the

of an hireling?

habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

7 Though thy beginning was small, yet would I not answer, but I would make sup thy latter end should greatly increase. plication to my judge.

8 For, enquire, I pray thee, of the former 16 If I had called, and he had answered age, and prepare thyself to the search of me; yet would I not believe that he had their fathers; hearkened unto my voice.

9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are shadow ;)

a

10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. 18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

?

19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

11 Can the rush grow up without mire can the flag grow without water?

12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. 13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.

15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.

it

18 If he destroy him from his place, then shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee. 19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

26 They are passed away as the swift ships; as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. 27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I

20 Behold, God will not cast away a per-will leave off my heaviness, and comfort fect man, neither will he help the evil-doers; 21 Till be fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling-place of the wicked shall come to nought. CHAP. IX.

20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul; I would despise my life.

22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

25 Now my days are swifter than a post; they flee away, they see no good.

myself;

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow-water, and make my hands never so clean;

31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

3 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. 34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me ;

35 Then would I speak, and not fear him: but it is not so with me.

CHAP. X. soul is weary of

lace, and the pillars thereof trembled it ri-Mmy complaint upon myself, I will leave

THE

HEN Job answered and said,

2 I know it is so of a truth; but how should man be just with God?

3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

4 He wise in heart, and mighty strength who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

:

5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not; which overturneth them in his anger;

6 Which shaketh the earth out of her

seth not, and sealeth up the stars;

in the bitterness of my soul.

8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, 2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn and treadeth upon the waves of the sea; me; shew me wherefore thou contendest 9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and with me. Pleiades and the chambers of the south;

3 Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest

10 Which doeth great things past finding oppress, that thou shouldest despise the out; yea, and wonders without number. work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked:

11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

4 Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?

12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

o Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,

6 That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?

7 Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine

13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet'hand.

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