A paraphrase on the Book of Job As likewise on the Songs of Moses, Deborah, David: On Four Select Psalms: Some Chapters of Isaiah, and the Third Chapter of Habakkuk. By Sir Richard Blackmore |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
Ch. XXIX.
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| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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| LIII. |
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Ch. XXIX.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
Ch. XXIX.
Moreover Job continued thus, and said:
O that the happy Days might be restor'd,
When gracious Aid th' Almighty did afford.
When his Celestial Lamp shone o'er my Head,
And with its Light directed me to tread
In lonesome Paths, with horrid Darkness spread.
When secret Blessings did my Youth attend,
And Guardian Providence my House defend.
When all my Children round me stood, and God
Did with his Presence bless my safe abode.
With Teats distended with their milky store,
Such numerous lowing Herds before my door
Their painful Burden to unload, did meet,
That we with Butter might have wash'd our Feet.
O that the happy Days might be restor'd,
When gracious Aid th' Almighty did afford.
When his Celestial Lamp shone o'er my Head,
And with its Light directed me to tread
In lonesome Paths, with horrid Darkness spread.
When secret Blessings did my Youth attend,
And Guardian Providence my House defend.
When all my Children round me stood, and God
Did with his Presence bless my safe abode.
With Teats distended with their milky store,
Such numerous lowing Herds before my door
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That we with Butter might have wash'd our Feet.
Besides the Harvest of my richer Soil,
Ev'n Rocks themselves pour'd Rivers out of Oyl.
When thro' the Streets I march'd in Princely State,
To sit in Judgment in the City Gate;
The younger Men, soon as my Face they saw,
Drew back thro' Fear, or reverential Awe.
The Aged Fathers as I past along,
Stood up, and bow'd amidst the gazing throng.
Princes and Lords, of ancient noble Blood,
To shew Regard, before me silent stood.
The Ear that heard me did the Speaker bless,
The Eye that saw me, did its Joy confess.
Because th'Oppressor's Rage I did withstand,
And wrested Suff'rers from his griping hand.
The Poor and Helpless when almost devour'd,
Rescu'd by me, on me their Blessings pour'd.
A Father's Place to Orphans I supply'd,
And made the Widow joyful, as a Bride.
With Righteousness and Mercy cloath'd I sate,
Awful, as drest in splendid Robes of State.
And spotless Justice won me more esteem,
Then a great Monarch's Guards or Diadem.
Refresh'd by me, the Naked, Blind and Lame,
Thro' ringing Streets my Bounty did proclaim.
I with Paternal Bowels fed the Poor,
No needy Wretch went Hungry from my Door.
Those Frauds and Injurys, of which th' Opprest
Durst not complain, I sought out and redrest.
My righteous Hand broke fierce Oppressor's Jaws,
And of their Spoil disseiz'd their bloody Paws.
Ev'n Rocks themselves pour'd Rivers out of Oyl.
When thro' the Streets I march'd in Princely State,
To sit in Judgment in the City Gate;
The younger Men, soon as my Face they saw,
Drew back thro' Fear, or reverential Awe.
The Aged Fathers as I past along,
Stood up, and bow'd amidst the gazing throng.
Princes and Lords, of ancient noble Blood,
To shew Regard, before me silent stood.
The Ear that heard me did the Speaker bless,
The Eye that saw me, did its Joy confess.
Because th'Oppressor's Rage I did withstand,
And wrested Suff'rers from his griping hand.
The Poor and Helpless when almost devour'd,
Rescu'd by me, on me their Blessings pour'd.
A Father's Place to Orphans I supply'd,
And made the Widow joyful, as a Bride.
With Righteousness and Mercy cloath'd I sate,
Awful, as drest in splendid Robes of State.
And spotless Justice won me more esteem,
Then a great Monarch's Guards or Diadem.
Refresh'd by me, the Naked, Blind and Lame,
Thro' ringing Streets my Bounty did proclaim.
I with Paternal Bowels fed the Poor,
No needy Wretch went Hungry from my Door.
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Durst not complain, I sought out and redrest.
My righteous Hand broke fierce Oppressor's Jaws,
And of their Spoil disseiz'd their bloody Paws.
I now have built, said I, my lofty Nest
Where I'll repose, and feed on endless Rest.
My Days shall all be prosp'rous, and increase,
Till they exceed the Sands around the Seas.
With neighb'ring Streams below my Root was fed,
And from above kind Heav'n by Night did spread
Refreshing Dews o'er all my branching Head.
I then was strong, as in my youthful Bloom,
And with new Vigour did my Bow assume.
Th' attentive Throng while I in Judgment sate
Profoundly Silent, did around me wait.
Like clust'ring Bees upon my Lips they hung,
And suck'd the Words, like Honey from my Tongue.
To my Discourses no reply was made,
My Dictates were, as Oracles obey'd.
My Speech upon them drop'd like Summer Rain,
That falls from Heav'n upon the thirsty Plain.
If I my solemn Air put off, if e'er
I kind and condescending did appear,
The People scarcely could believe me so,
Nor did they rude, or too Familiar grow.
They no ill use of those my Favours made,
But still a due Respect and Rev'rence paid.
What way to follow I th' Enquirer told,
And all Mens doubtful Questions did unfold.
I sate as Chief, while they around did stand,
My Looks and Language did their Minds command.
When I appear'd, they did such Joy express,
As shouting Armys do, when in distress
They see their General come, whose Presence gives
Their Breasts new Courage, and their Hopes revives.
Where I'll repose, and feed on endless Rest.
My Days shall all be prosp'rous, and increase,
Till they exceed the Sands around the Seas.
With neighb'ring Streams below my Root was fed,
And from above kind Heav'n by Night did spread
Refreshing Dews o'er all my branching Head.
I then was strong, as in my youthful Bloom,
And with new Vigour did my Bow assume.
Th' attentive Throng while I in Judgment sate
Profoundly Silent, did around me wait.
Like clust'ring Bees upon my Lips they hung,
And suck'd the Words, like Honey from my Tongue.
To my Discourses no reply was made,
My Dictates were, as Oracles obey'd.
My Speech upon them drop'd like Summer Rain,
That falls from Heav'n upon the thirsty Plain.
If I my solemn Air put off, if e'er
I kind and condescending did appear,
The People scarcely could believe me so,
Nor did they rude, or too Familiar grow.
They no ill use of those my Favours made,
But still a due Respect and Rev'rence paid.
What way to follow I th' Enquirer told,
And all Mens doubtful Questions did unfold.
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My Looks and Language did their Minds command.
When I appear'd, they did such Joy express,
As shouting Armys do, when in distress
They see their General come, whose Presence gives
Their Breasts new Courage, and their Hopes revives.
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Ch. XXIX.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |