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. |
Chap. VI.
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| 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. VI.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
Chap. VI.
He ceas'd, and Job in Pain and Anguish said,
O, that my Grief was in a Ballance laid,
And all my Suff'rings were against it weigh'd!
Then let an equal Judge decide my Case,
Whether my Grief my Suff'rings does surpass.
My massy Burden and my pondrous Woe,
In weight the Sand around the Sea out-do.
Unutterable Groans my Soul oppress,
Nor have I words to shew my deep Distress.
Th'Allmighty's Arrows stick within my Heart,
And every fest'ring Wound gives deadly smart.
Arrows whose heads, like pointed Lightning, shine,
Steep'd in the strongest Lees of Wrath Divine.
Their raging Poison spreds without controul,
Drinks up my Life, and Eats my very Soul.
Th' Allmighty's Terrors drawn out in Array
Surround me, and invade me every Way.
You that can triumph free from Care and Pain
In Peace and Plenty, never need Complain;
Is the Wild Ass in grassy Fields diseas'd?
Or o'er his Fodder lows the Oxe displeas'd.
But did you my Affliction undergo,
Your groans with mine would some proportion show,
And to as high a Tyde your swelling Sorrows grow.
Who in unsavory Meats can take delight?
What Taste is in an Egg's insipid White?
Then noxious Food, such as my Sorrows are,
'Tis madness to commend, as wholsom Fare.
I'm now compell'd, my Poverty is such,
To feed on Meats which I abhorr'd to touch.
My Troubles rise to such amazing height,
Such is my Grief's unsufferable Weight;
My Soul to such extremity is driv'n,
That I must still implore the God of Heav'n
That I may find the Blessing I require,
That he would grant my passionate desire;
That he my Life in Mercy would destroy,
And let me Death, for which I long, enjoy.
That he would bowels of Compassion show,
And loose his Hand to give the fatal blow.
To welcome Death I would my Arms extend,
Embrace and hug my Death tho' ghastly Friend.
Did I but see the kind Deliverer near,
Did from the Grave some dawning hope appear,
This Anodyne my Anguish would appease,
That with my Life my Grief would quickly cease.
I'd then a firm, unshaken Courage show,
Harden'd in Grief, and strengthen'd by my Woe.
I hate to live, of Death I'm not affraid,
Conscious that Heav'n I strictly have obey'd.
What is my Strength? how weak, and how absurd
Is it to hope it er'e shall be restor'd?
What is my End? where is my Period set
When I no more shall my sad moans repeat?
Wasted and worn I linger and complain,
And by prolonging Life prolong my Pain.
O, that my Grief was in a Ballance laid,
And all my Suff'rings were against it weigh'd!
Then let an equal Judge decide my Case,
Whether my Grief my Suff'rings does surpass.
My massy Burden and my pondrous Woe,
In weight the Sand around the Sea out-do.
22
Nor have I words to shew my deep Distress.
Th'Allmighty's Arrows stick within my Heart,
And every fest'ring Wound gives deadly smart.
Arrows whose heads, like pointed Lightning, shine,
Steep'd in the strongest Lees of Wrath Divine.
Their raging Poison spreds without controul,
Drinks up my Life, and Eats my very Soul.
Th' Allmighty's Terrors drawn out in Array
Surround me, and invade me every Way.
You that can triumph free from Care and Pain
In Peace and Plenty, never need Complain;
Is the Wild Ass in grassy Fields diseas'd?
Or o'er his Fodder lows the Oxe displeas'd.
But did you my Affliction undergo,
Your groans with mine would some proportion show,
And to as high a Tyde your swelling Sorrows grow.
Who in unsavory Meats can take delight?
What Taste is in an Egg's insipid White?
Then noxious Food, such as my Sorrows are,
'Tis madness to commend, as wholsom Fare.
I'm now compell'd, my Poverty is such,
To feed on Meats which I abhorr'd to touch.
My Troubles rise to such amazing height,
Such is my Grief's unsufferable Weight;
My Soul to such extremity is driv'n,
That I must still implore the God of Heav'n
That I may find the Blessing I require,
That he would grant my passionate desire;
23
And let me Death, for which I long, enjoy.
That he would bowels of Compassion show,
And loose his Hand to give the fatal blow.
To welcome Death I would my Arms extend,
Embrace and hug my Death tho' ghastly Friend.
Did I but see the kind Deliverer near,
Did from the Grave some dawning hope appear,
This Anodyne my Anguish would appease,
That with my Life my Grief would quickly cease.
I'd then a firm, unshaken Courage show,
Harden'd in Grief, and strengthen'd by my Woe.
I hate to live, of Death I'm not affraid,
Conscious that Heav'n I strictly have obey'd.
What is my Strength? how weak, and how absurd
Is it to hope it er'e shall be restor'd?
What is my End? where is my Period set
When I no more shall my sad moans repeat?
Wasted and worn I linger and complain,
And by prolonging Life prolong my Pain.
I from your Love and Council hop'd Relief,
Thought your Discourses would abate my Grief;
But your perverse, unskilful ways confess
You know not how to treat your Friend's distress.
Mistaking my Distemper you enrage
The sharp Disease, but not the Pain asswage.
Thought your Discourses would abate my Grief;
But your perverse, unskilful ways confess
You know not how to treat your Friend's distress.
Mistaking my Distemper you enrage
The sharp Disease, but not the Pain asswage.
Am I a Marble Rock that cannot feel?
Are all my Muscles Brass, my Sinews Steel?
That I this mighty Load of Grief must bear,
While Death which I invoke neglects my Pray'r,
And at a distance keeps, deriding my Despair.
O Eliphaz, was I desponding left,
Of help without, and sense within bereft,
Yet still a Friend Compassion should express
To one in such Affliction, and Distress.
As when with burning heat a Trav'ller fry'd
Finds out the Brook, but sees the Channel dry'd,
Where he expected cooling Streams should flow,
Since 'twas in Winter fill'd with Ice and Snow;
But when the Waters felt a warmer heat,
They rose in Vapours, and forsook their Seat:
Won by the Summer's importuning Ray,
Th' eloping Flood did from its Channel stray,
And with enticing Sun-beams stole away:
The Trav'ller casting down a troubled look,
Sighs and upbraids the false deceitful Brook.
Fair Sheba's Convoys and the thirsty Troops
Of Tema mourn their disappointed Hopes.
Confounded they express their Grief and Shame,
To find the Banks without th' expected Stream.
No less am I amaz'd, no less I grieve
That you my bosom Friends my hopes deceive.
Are all my Muscles Brass, my Sinews Steel?
24
While Death which I invoke neglects my Pray'r,
And at a distance keeps, deriding my Despair.
O Eliphaz, was I desponding left,
Of help without, and sense within bereft,
Yet still a Friend Compassion should express
To one in such Affliction, and Distress.
As when with burning heat a Trav'ller fry'd
Finds out the Brook, but sees the Channel dry'd,
Where he expected cooling Streams should flow,
Since 'twas in Winter fill'd with Ice and Snow;
But when the Waters felt a warmer heat,
They rose in Vapours, and forsook their Seat:
Won by the Summer's importuning Ray,
Th' eloping Flood did from its Channel stray,
And with enticing Sun-beams stole away:
The Trav'ller casting down a troubled look,
Sighs and upbraids the false deceitful Brook.
Fair Sheba's Convoys and the thirsty Troops
Of Tema mourn their disappointed Hopes.
Confounded they express their Grief and Shame,
To find the Banks without th' expected Stream.
No less am I amaz'd, no less I grieve
That you my bosom Friends my hopes deceive.
You are unable to afford me Aid,
Seeing my Grief you start and are affraid.
Do my prodigious Woes my Friends amaze?
Why do you wildly stare, and at a distance gaze?
Has my Disease this Consternation bred?
D'ye fear my Ulcers will Infection spred?
D'ye fear your Friend now Poor, will craving grow,
And beg Supplies of you to ease his Woe?
Did I e'er importune my Friends to grant
Part of their Substance to relieve my want?
Did ever Job at your Expence demand
To be deliver'd from th'Oppressor's hand?
If your Instructions can my Ways correct,
Thankfull I'll hold my Peace, and not reject
The Heav'nly Light, that will my Crime detect.
Right Reason's Beams a quick admission find,
And breaking all Obstructions force the Mind:
But whom can your Weak Arguments confute?
Short, or beside the Mark you ever shoot.
Will you your Ignominious Slanders throw,
And tho' I am your Friend, insult my Woe?
Almost bereft of sense yet I can find
Your Words are vain and empty, as the Wind.
Your Indiscretion far from your Intent,
With cruel Comforts does my Grief augment.
You sink me down too low before deprest,
And in your subtile Snares your Friend Arrest.
And now if you my Troubles would survey,
And with deliberate Thoughts my Sorrow weigh,
You would pronounce I justly did Complain,
Acquit my Speeches, and your own Arraign.
Return I pray, to Reason's Paths return,
You'll then assert my Cause, my Suff'rings mourn.
You will defend my Righteousness, and all
Your rash and unconsider'd Words recall.
I do not find my Reason so debas'd,
Nor yet so undistinguishing my Taste,
But I can see your words are misapply'd;
They cannot Truth's Impartial Test abide.
Seeing my Grief you start and are affraid.
Do my prodigious Woes my Friends amaze?
Why do you wildly stare, and at a distance gaze?
25
D'ye fear my Ulcers will Infection spred?
D'ye fear your Friend now Poor, will craving grow,
And beg Supplies of you to ease his Woe?
Did I e'er importune my Friends to grant
Part of their Substance to relieve my want?
Did ever Job at your Expence demand
To be deliver'd from th'Oppressor's hand?
If your Instructions can my Ways correct,
Thankfull I'll hold my Peace, and not reject
The Heav'nly Light, that will my Crime detect.
Right Reason's Beams a quick admission find,
And breaking all Obstructions force the Mind:
But whom can your Weak Arguments confute?
Short, or beside the Mark you ever shoot.
Will you your Ignominious Slanders throw,
And tho' I am your Friend, insult my Woe?
Almost bereft of sense yet I can find
Your Words are vain and empty, as the Wind.
Your Indiscretion far from your Intent,
With cruel Comforts does my Grief augment.
You sink me down too low before deprest,
And in your subtile Snares your Friend Arrest.
And now if you my Troubles would survey,
And with deliberate Thoughts my Sorrow weigh,
You would pronounce I justly did Complain,
Acquit my Speeches, and your own Arraign.
Return I pray, to Reason's Paths return,
You'll then assert my Cause, my Suff'rings mourn.
26
Your rash and unconsider'd Words recall.
I do not find my Reason so debas'd,
Nor yet so undistinguishing my Taste,
But I can see your words are misapply'd;
They cannot Truth's Impartial Test abide.
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Chap. VI.
A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |