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. |
Chap. V.
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| 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. V.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
Chap. V.
Perhaps the Foolish may thy Conduct praise
And against Heav'n may bold Objections raise.
But try the Wise and Upright, call and see
Which Saint of all the sacred Hierarchy
Will thy rash Words applaud, thy Cause maintain,
And with audacious Charges Heav'n arraign?
Why dost thou, Job, thy Discontent express
That wicked Men do Power and Wealth possess?
That Power and Wealth they will not long enjoy,
For wrath Divine will the vile Race destroy.
I have with wonder seen the Wicked shoot
Deep in a fertile soil his thriving Root:
But soon assaulted with a suddain storm,
His ghastly Ruin did the Ground deform.
His Limbs and Leaves and wither'd Fruit were spred
Round his dismember'd Trunk, and blasted head.
His hated Sons impleaded by the Poor,
Their Wealth by Rapine gotten did restore.
Inextricable Troubles, vast Distress
Did this accurs't, despairing Race oppress.
The Hungry did their thorny Fences leap,
Enjoy their Labour, and their Harvest reap.
Robbers did Inroades make in furious Bands,
Their Houses rifle, and lay wast their Lands.
And against Heav'n may bold Objections raise.
18
Which Saint of all the sacred Hierarchy
Will thy rash Words applaud, thy Cause maintain,
And with audacious Charges Heav'n arraign?
Why dost thou, Job, thy Discontent express
That wicked Men do Power and Wealth possess?
That Power and Wealth they will not long enjoy,
For wrath Divine will the vile Race destroy.
I have with wonder seen the Wicked shoot
Deep in a fertile soil his thriving Root:
But soon assaulted with a suddain storm,
His ghastly Ruin did the Ground deform.
His Limbs and Leaves and wither'd Fruit were spred
Round his dismember'd Trunk, and blasted head.
His hated Sons impleaded by the Poor,
Their Wealth by Rapine gotten did restore.
Inextricable Troubles, vast Distress
Did this accurs't, despairing Race oppress.
The Hungry did their thorny Fences leap,
Enjoy their Labour, and their Harvest reap.
Robbers did Inroades make in furious Bands,
Their Houses rifle, and lay wast their Lands.
What means these Cries? why this Impatience shown?
Is Trouble rare? are Woes uncommon grown?
'Tis true, Affliction springs not from the Earth,
Nor to the Ground owes a spontaneous Birth;
Yet Men to Woe as to their Center tend,
As Streams to Seas, and Flames to Heav'n ascend.
This is the sad Inheritance convey'd
From Man to Man since Adam disobey'd.
This is the Lot which God does Man assign;
Wherefore, O Job, were thy Affliction mine,
I would to Heav'n's dread Majesty submit;
All my own Ways Arraign, but his Acquit.
I would his Justice and his Truth adore,
Revere his Greatness, but my self abhor.
By humble Resignation I would ly
Beneath his Feet, and for his Mercy cry.
Is Trouble rare? are Woes uncommon grown?
'Tis true, Affliction springs not from the Earth,
Nor to the Ground owes a spontaneous Birth;
Yet Men to Woe as to their Center tend,
As Streams to Seas, and Flames to Heav'n ascend.
19
From Man to Man since Adam disobey'd.
This is the Lot which God does Man assign;
Wherefore, O Job, were thy Affliction mine,
I would to Heav'n's dread Majesty submit;
All my own Ways Arraign, but his Acquit.
I would his Justice and his Truth adore,
Revere his Greatness, but my self abhor.
By humble Resignation I would ly
Beneath his Feet, and for his Mercy cry.
His Deeds are great, unsearchable his Ways,
Which in observing Minds Amazement raise.
His Providence when least 'tis understood,
Is always Just, and Merciful and Good.
The Wonders of this dark, unfathom'd Deep,
Our Thoughts in endless Admiration keep.
He hangs his Clouds, amazing to behold,
And shapes his Rain-drops in an unknown Mould.
Then he his Waters on the Mountains pours,
And on the Vallys his Prolific Showers.
He sets the Servant in the Master's place,
And wipes the Tears off from the Mourner's Face.
The crafty he Entangles, Countermines
The Councellor, and blasts his Wise designs.
He turns against himself the Statesman's Art,
And does the Politician's Hopes subvert.
By interposing Mists, the clearest Sight
He oft obstructs, and intercepts the Light.
Involv'd in thicken'd Shades they lose their way,
Believe 'tis Night, and seek at Noon the Day.
He from th' Oppressor does Protect the Poor,
And from his Mighty Foe the Weak secure:
So to the Poor he gives reviving Hopes,
And the black Mouth of proud Injustice stops.
Which in observing Minds Amazement raise.
His Providence when least 'tis understood,
Is always Just, and Merciful and Good.
The Wonders of this dark, unfathom'd Deep,
Our Thoughts in endless Admiration keep.
He hangs his Clouds, amazing to behold,
And shapes his Rain-drops in an unknown Mould.
Then he his Waters on the Mountains pours,
And on the Vallys his Prolific Showers.
He sets the Servant in the Master's place,
And wipes the Tears off from the Mourner's Face.
The crafty he Entangles, Countermines
The Councellor, and blasts his Wise designs.
He turns against himself the Statesman's Art,
And does the Politician's Hopes subvert.
By interposing Mists, the clearest Sight
He oft obstructs, and intercepts the Light.
20
Believe 'tis Night, and seek at Noon the Day.
He from th' Oppressor does Protect the Poor,
And from his Mighty Foe the Weak secure:
So to the Poor he gives reviving Hopes,
And the black Mouth of proud Injustice stops.
Thrice happy is the Man, who feels the smart
Which kindly God's correcting Strokes impart.
When chasten'd, think, thou art with Favours crown'd;
Let no desponding Thoughts thy Hopes confound,
The Hand that made, will likewise heal thy Wound.
He'll from thy various Troubles set thee free,
And change to Joy this Scene of Misery.
His powerful Word shall call the smiling Light
From this wild Chaos, and this sullen Night.
He shall protect thee with a tender Care
From the fierce Jaws of Famine and of War.
The poisonous Arrows of the Sland'ring Tongue,
Shall neither gall thy Fame, or Honour wrong.
When grim Destruction with her horrid Train
And dire Attendants, Anguish, Woe and Pain
Advances, shaking her tremendous Spear,
Her Threats shall move thy Laughter, not thy Fear.
All Nature reconcil'd shall give thee Peace,
If thy just Ways the Lord of Nature please.
The Stones and all the Elements with thee,
Shall ratify a strict Confed'racy.
Wild Beasts their salvage Nature shall forget,
And for a firm Allyance with thee treat.
The Finny Tyrants of the spacious Seas,
Shall send a Scaly Embassy for Peace.
His plighted Faith the Crocodile shall keep,
And seeing thee, for Joy sincerely Weep.
Dragons shall thee with friendly Hissings greet,
And wanton Serpents roll, and lick thy Feet.
The fawning Lyon shall thy Friendship Court,
And gentle Tygers shall around thee sport.
These awkard Sycophants shall thee address,
And unaccustom'd Flattery express.
Thy Habitation shall be ever blest
With undisturb'd Tranquility and Rest.
Thy House in Numbers shall surpass the Sand,
And as the Rocks around, unshaken stand.
When watchful Death shall on her Harvest look,
And see thee ripe with Age invite the Hook,
She'll gently cut thy bending Stalk, and thee
Lay kindly in the Grave her Granary.
Weigh these undoubted Truths, and thou wilt find
Great Consolation to thy wounded Mind.
Which kindly God's correcting Strokes impart.
When chasten'd, think, thou art with Favours crown'd;
Let no desponding Thoughts thy Hopes confound,
The Hand that made, will likewise heal thy Wound.
He'll from thy various Troubles set thee free,
And change to Joy this Scene of Misery.
His powerful Word shall call the smiling Light
From this wild Chaos, and this sullen Night.
He shall protect thee with a tender Care
From the fierce Jaws of Famine and of War.
The poisonous Arrows of the Sland'ring Tongue,
Shall neither gall thy Fame, or Honour wrong.
When grim Destruction with her horrid Train
And dire Attendants, Anguish, Woe and Pain
Advances, shaking her tremendous Spear,
Her Threats shall move thy Laughter, not thy Fear.
All Nature reconcil'd shall give thee Peace,
If thy just Ways the Lord of Nature please.
The Stones and all the Elements with thee,
Shall ratify a strict Confed'racy.
Wild Beasts their salvage Nature shall forget,
And for a firm Allyance with thee treat.
21
Shall send a Scaly Embassy for Peace.
His plighted Faith the Crocodile shall keep,
And seeing thee, for Joy sincerely Weep.
Dragons shall thee with friendly Hissings greet,
And wanton Serpents roll, and lick thy Feet.
The fawning Lyon shall thy Friendship Court,
And gentle Tygers shall around thee sport.
These awkard Sycophants shall thee address,
And unaccustom'd Flattery express.
Thy Habitation shall be ever blest
With undisturb'd Tranquility and Rest.
Thy House in Numbers shall surpass the Sand,
And as the Rocks around, unshaken stand.
When watchful Death shall on her Harvest look,
And see thee ripe with Age invite the Hook,
She'll gently cut thy bending Stalk, and thee
Lay kindly in the Grave her Granary.
Weigh these undoubted Truths, and thou wilt find
Great Consolation to thy wounded Mind.
|
Chap. V.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |