6

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

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

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Or, Deliver me from the enemy"s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

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

For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

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

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

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

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

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

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

But Job answered and said,

And while they were yet talking with him, came the king"s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

And Mordecai came again to the king"s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.