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. |
Chap. II.
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| 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. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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| LIII. |
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Chap. II.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
Chap. II.
The glorious Sons of God, a second time
Adoring stood, around his Throne sublime.
A second time ambitious Lucifer,
Amidst the happy Seraphs did appear.
To whom th' Eternal thus. Apostate, whence
Com'st thou to these blest Seats of Innocence?
Adoring stood, around his Throne sublime.
A second time ambitious Lucifer,
Amidst the happy Seraphs did appear.
To whom th' Eternal thus. Apostate, whence
Com'st thou to these blest Seats of Innocence?
Th'Apostate said. I Lands and Seas have crost,
And past from Clime to Clime, from Coast to Coast,
Till I the Tour of yon low World had made,
And all its Empires, and its States survey'd.
And now am hither come. In all thy way,
Th' Allmighty said, Ambitious Spirit, say,
Hast thou observ'd good Job, my Servant, one
In Righteousness and Piety, by none
Thro' all the wide Terrestrial World out-done?
How 'midst his Suff'rings he asserts my Cause,
Defends my Justice, and Obeys my Laws.
He perseveres unchang'd, and still holds fast
Th' Integrity which he has long embrac't.
Thou mov'st me to afflict his Soul in vain,
He still his generous Virtue does retain.
Shock'd with this Storm, he still takes deeper root,
Nor is he less adorn'd with Noble Fruit.
The Constancy th' unshaken Man has shew'd,
Does thy malicious Policy Elude.
Still against Sin he makes a brave defence,
Despoil'd of all things, but his Innocence.
And past from Clime to Clime, from Coast to Coast,
7
And all its Empires, and its States survey'd.
And now am hither come. In all thy way,
Th' Allmighty said, Ambitious Spirit, say,
Hast thou observ'd good Job, my Servant, one
In Righteousness and Piety, by none
Thro' all the wide Terrestrial World out-done?
How 'midst his Suff'rings he asserts my Cause,
Defends my Justice, and Obeys my Laws.
He perseveres unchang'd, and still holds fast
Th' Integrity which he has long embrac't.
Thou mov'st me to afflict his Soul in vain,
He still his generous Virtue does retain.
Shock'd with this Storm, he still takes deeper root,
Nor is he less adorn'd with Noble Fruit.
The Constancy th' unshaken Man has shew'd,
Does thy malicious Policy Elude.
Still against Sin he makes a brave defence,
Despoil'd of all things, but his Innocence.
Th' Apostate then reply'd. Mankind, 'tis known,
Will give their Childrens Skins, to save their own.
To save their Lives, their Treasures they produce;
Rather than Death, a naked Being chuse.
But now extend thy Hand, and let the smart
Of some Disease, afflict him to the Heart;
And thou wilt find my Accusation true,
That he with Curses will his God pursue.
Will give their Childrens Skins, to save their own.
To save their Lives, their Treasures they produce;
Rather than Death, a naked Being chuse.
But now extend thy Hand, and let the smart
Of some Disease, afflict him to the Heart;
And thou wilt find my Accusation true,
That he with Curses will his God pursue.
8
Then said th' Allmighty, Job is in thy power,
Afflict his Flesh, but be his Life secure.
Afflict his Flesh, but be his Life secure.
In haste th' Apostate on this Errand went,
Pleas'd with a Power to vex the Innocent.
He soon collected thro' the Atmosphere,
Crude Exhalations, and corrupted Air.
He fetch'd raw Vapours, and unwholsom Damps
From standing Lakes, low Caves, and marshy Swamps.
Then finding Job, he secretly convey'd
Thro' all his winding Veins, th'infectious Seed.
The poyson'd Blood with Pestilential Boyls,
From Head to Foot the guiltless Man defiles.
In Ashes humbly silent, down he sate;
With Groans bewailing his unhappy Fate.
To clean his Skin, he with a Potsherd took
The Filth away, that from his Ulcers broke.
Pleas'd with a Power to vex the Innocent.
He soon collected thro' the Atmosphere,
Crude Exhalations, and corrupted Air.
He fetch'd raw Vapours, and unwholsom Damps
From standing Lakes, low Caves, and marshy Swamps.
Then finding Job, he secretly convey'd
Thro' all his winding Veins, th'infectious Seed.
The poyson'd Blood with Pestilential Boyls,
From Head to Foot the guiltless Man defiles.
In Ashes humbly silent, down he sate;
With Groans bewailing his unhappy Fate.
To clean his Skin, he with a Potsherd took
The Filth away, that from his Ulcers broke.
Then thus his Wife the Constant Man addrest.
How much thy pious dullness I detest!
Dost thou not see that thy Devotion's vain;
What have thy Pray'rs procur'd but Woe and Pain?
To suff'ring Virtue wilt thou still adhere,
And harden'd in Religion persevere?
Wilt thou retain thy Praying, Whining Cant?
And bless thy God; for what? for Plagues and Want?
Hast thou not yet thy Int'rest understood,
Perversly Righteous, and absurdly Good?
These painful Sores, and all thy Losses show,
How Heav'n regards the foolish Saint below.
Incorrigibly Pious, can't thy God
Reform thy stupid Virtue with his Rod?
Since only Woe attends thy Piety,
Be Wise and Brave for once, Curse God, and Dye.
Provoke th' Allmighty thus to be thy Friend,
To take thy Life, and so thy Suff'rings end.
How much thy pious dullness I detest!
Dost thou not see that thy Devotion's vain;
What have thy Pray'rs procur'd but Woe and Pain?
To suff'ring Virtue wilt thou still adhere,
And harden'd in Religion persevere?
Wilt thou retain thy Praying, Whining Cant?
And bless thy God; for what? for Plagues and Want?
Hast thou not yet thy Int'rest understood,
Perversly Righteous, and absurdly Good?
9
How Heav'n regards the foolish Saint below.
Incorrigibly Pious, can't thy God
Reform thy stupid Virtue with his Rod?
Since only Woe attends thy Piety,
Be Wise and Brave for once, Curse God, and Dye.
Provoke th' Allmighty thus to be thy Friend,
To take thy Life, and so thy Suff'rings end.
Then Job reply'd. Thou speakest as the Weak,
As the Prophane, Flagitious Women speak.
What! shall a Man, a Worm with God contend?
Dispute his Will, his Rule of Justice mend?
He once enrich'd, and made us to abound,
Fill'd us with Goodness, and our Wishes crown'd:
Shall we receive his Blessings, but complain
When his afflicting Hand Creates our Pain?
We should our Patience in our Suff'rings shew;
Blessings are not, but Suff'rings are our Due.
As the Prophane, Flagitious Women speak.
What! shall a Man, a Worm with God contend?
Dispute his Will, his Rule of Justice mend?
He once enrich'd, and made us to abound,
Fill'd us with Goodness, and our Wishes crown'd:
Shall we receive his Blessings, but complain
When his afflicting Hand Creates our Pain?
We should our Patience in our Suff'rings shew;
Blessings are not, but Suff'rings are our Due.
When Bildad, Zophar, and Wise Eliphaz,
Rever'd for Knowledge, and their Noble Race,
All three to Job by Friendship long endear'd,
The News of his Calamitys had heard;
They left their Seats, and meeting on the Day
And Place of Rendezvous, they took their way
To Mourn with Job, to share his mighty Grief,
And by their Councels to afford Relief.
His Pain in part, by Kindness to remove,
And sooth his Anguish by condoling Love.
Rever'd for Knowledge, and their Noble Race,
All three to Job by Friendship long endear'd,
The News of his Calamitys had heard;
They left their Seats, and meeting on the Day
And Place of Rendezvous, they took their way
To Mourn with Job, to share his mighty Grief,
And by their Councels to afford Relief.
His Pain in part, by Kindness to remove,
And sooth his Anguish by condoling Love.
10
Then from afar they lifted up their Eyes,
Directed by his Moans, and wofull Crys,
And spy'd th' afflicted Job upon the Sand,
In Ashes laid, his Potsherd in his Hand.
Consummate Sorrow in his Eyes appear'd,
And Tears and Dust his meagre Cheeks besmear'd.
Deform'd he lay, Disfigur'd, Cover'd o'er
With running Boyls, and undigested Gore.
They sought him in himself, and scarce did know
Their ancient Friend, disguis'd with so much Woe.
At last convinc'd, they whisper'd, sure 'tis he;
But, O, how chang'd with Pain and Poverty?
What wondrous Turn of Providence is this,
And how precarious is Terrestrial Bliss?
Amazing Change! how soon, O Righteous God,
Man's Glory fades beneath thy blasting Rod?
To see a Righteous Friend so much distrest,
Awaken'd various Passions in their Breast:
Grief, Pity, Wonder in their Bosoms pent;
Prest with like force, and strove at once for Vent.
They tore their Vests, like Men in deep Despair,
And scatter'd Clouds of Ashes thro' the Air;
Which thence descending, on their Heads did rest,
Their inward Grief and Trouble to attest.
Not to molest a Sorrow so profound,
Sev'n Nights and Days they Silent sate around.
So long a Time they held their Peace, to show
A Rev'rence due to such prodigious Woe.
Directed by his Moans, and wofull Crys,
And spy'd th' afflicted Job upon the Sand,
In Ashes laid, his Potsherd in his Hand.
Consummate Sorrow in his Eyes appear'd,
And Tears and Dust his meagre Cheeks besmear'd.
Deform'd he lay, Disfigur'd, Cover'd o'er
With running Boyls, and undigested Gore.
They sought him in himself, and scarce did know
Their ancient Friend, disguis'd with so much Woe.
At last convinc'd, they whisper'd, sure 'tis he;
But, O, how chang'd with Pain and Poverty?
What wondrous Turn of Providence is this,
And how precarious is Terrestrial Bliss?
Amazing Change! how soon, O Righteous God,
Man's Glory fades beneath thy blasting Rod?
To see a Righteous Friend so much distrest,
Awaken'd various Passions in their Breast:
Grief, Pity, Wonder in their Bosoms pent;
Prest with like force, and strove at once for Vent.
They tore their Vests, like Men in deep Despair,
And scatter'd Clouds of Ashes thro' the Air;
Which thence descending, on their Heads did rest,
Their inward Grief and Trouble to attest.
Not to molest a Sorrow so profound,
Sev'n Nights and Days they Silent sate around.
So long a Time they held their Peace, to show
A Rev'rence due to such prodigious Woe.
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Chap. II.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |