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. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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| LIII. |
THE III Ch. of Habakkuk. PARAPHRAS'D. |
 | A paraphrase on the Book of Job |  |
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THE III Ch. of Habakkuk. PARAPHRAS'D.
As God advanc'd from lofty Teman's Head,
And o'er the Plains of Paran came,
The Heav'ns around were with his glory spread,
And Wonders on the Earth his Presence did proclaim.
He did the Marks of Majesty display,
And fearful Ensigns of Omnipotence,
Ten thousand Prodigys prepar'd his way,
Such Power th' Almighty did dispence.
And o'er the Plains of Paran came,
The Heav'ns around were with his glory spread,
And Wonders on the Earth his Presence did proclaim.
He did the Marks of Majesty display,
And fearful Ensigns of Omnipotence,
Ten thousand Prodigys prepar'd his way,
Such Power th' Almighty did dispence.
Torrents of Glory dazling bright,
Too fierce and keen for Humane Sight
Broke from th'immense Abyss of uncreated Light.
Ev'n from his Hands a bright Eruption came,
A pointed Efflux of Immortal Flame.
Transcendant Splendor did th' Almighty shroud;
No less than did the thick surrounding Cloud.
His Being thus lay hidden either way,
In too much Darkness, or in too much Day.
Too fierce and keen for Humane Sight
Broke from th'immense Abyss of uncreated Light.
Ev'n from his Hands a bright Eruption came,
A pointed Efflux of Immortal Flame.
Transcendant Splendor did th' Almighty shroud;
No less than did the thick surrounding Cloud.
His Being thus lay hidden either way,
In too much Darkness, or in too much Day.
Of thirsty, panting Plagues a fiery Train,
Pale Pestilence and yelling Pain,
His dreadful Equipage, before him ran,
And of his Terrors led the Van.
While Famine, Desolation and Despair,
Wringing their Hands and tearing off their Hair,
A formidable Troop, came howling in the Reer.
Pale Pestilence and yelling Pain,
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And of his Terrors led the Van.
While Famine, Desolation and Despair,
Wringing their Hands and tearing off their Hair,
A formidable Troop, came howling in the Reer.
Th'Almighty on the Frontiers made a stand
To measure out the promis'd Land.
He did distinctly circumscribe
Th'Inheritance of every Tribe.
That done the Nations he asunder drove,
And march'd the Lords of Canaan to remove.
To measure out the promis'd Land.
He did distinctly circumscribe
Th'Inheritance of every Tribe.
That done the Nations he asunder drove,
And march'd the Lords of Canaan to remove.
His swift-wing'd Whirlwinds onward flew,
And o'er the Hills his Chariot drew;
Whose awful Wheels roll'd on in Clouds and Smoke,
Whence Flakes of Fire and flashing Lightnings broke.
Such Bolts were cast, such Thunder claps did roar,
As shook the Rocks which never shook before.
The shudd'ring Hills exprest their dread
And everlasting Mountains bow'd their aged Head.
And o'er the Hills his Chariot drew;
Whose awful Wheels roll'd on in Clouds and Smoke,
Whence Flakes of Fire and flashing Lightnings broke.
Such Bolts were cast, such Thunder claps did roar,
As shook the Rocks which never shook before.
The shudd'ring Hills exprest their dread
And everlasting Mountains bow'd their aged Head.
When Isr'el march'd o'er dry Arabia's Sand,
By Moses led to Canaan's Land,
How were the States on either side
At their approach alarm'd and terrify'd?
How did the Tents of Cushan shake?
How did the Kings of Midian quake?
How did they dread the Fame of Isr'el's God,
And his great Gen'ral's wonder-working Rod?
That Rod which turn'd to Crystal Walls the Flood,
Its Virtue still retains,
And in the trembling Heathens Veins
Chills and congeals their Vital Streams of Blood.
By Moses led to Canaan's Land,
How were the States on either side
At their approach alarm'd and terrify'd?
How did the Tents of Cushan shake?
How did the Kings of Midian quake?
How did they dread the Fame of Isr'el's God,
And his great Gen'ral's wonder-working Rod?
287
Its Virtue still retains,
And in the trembling Heathens Veins
Chills and congeals their Vital Streams of Blood.
Did e'er the Rivers God displease?
Or did his Anger rise against the Seas,
That he their Waters did divide,
And roll'd them up on Heaps on either side,
When he prepar'd his warlike Equipage
His Chariots and his Horse King Pharoah to engage?
No, those amazing Miracles were shown
To make his kindness to his People known.
His Chariots and his Horsemen brought
Salvation to the Tribes, for whom he fought.
Or did his Anger rise against the Seas,
That he their Waters did divide,
And roll'd them up on Heaps on either side,
When he prepar'd his warlike Equipage
His Chariots and his Horse King Pharoah to engage?
No, those amazing Miracles were shown
To make his kindness to his People known.
His Chariots and his Horsemen brought
Salvation to the Tribes, for whom he fought.
He did his fatal Bow prepare,
And all his dreadful Instruments of War,
Which put the Pagan Lords to flight
And from their Country chas'd the Cananite.
Thus to his Promise God was true
Which to the Tribes he did so oft renew.
And all his dreadful Instruments of War,
Which put the Pagan Lords to flight
And from their Country chas'd the Cananite.
Thus to his Promise God was true
Which to the Tribes he did so oft renew.
As Israel's Host advanc'd to Canaan's Land,
Opprest with drought amidst the Sand.
Refreshing Streams were in the Desart found,
And bubbling Springs broke from the thirsty Ground.
Instead of Fire th' Almighty struck
Fresh Water from the Flinty Rock.
Opprest with drought amidst the Sand.
Refreshing Streams were in the Desart found,
And bubbling Springs broke from the thirsty Ground.
Instead of Fire th' Almighty struck
Fresh Water from the Flinty Rock.
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When God in Triumph did appear,
The lofty Mountains shook for fear.
Jordan held back his cleaving Flood
And high in Craggy Heaps the Crystal Waters stood.
Bare and defrauded of its Tyde,
The sandy Chanel lay from side to side;
This Passage for the Tribes th' Almighty did provide.
Th' obsequious Deep did raise its roaring Voice
And split asunder with prodigious noise
It shew'd as if by lifting up the Hand
It's Readiness t' obey the high Command.
The lofty Mountains shook for fear.
Jordan held back his cleaving Flood
And high in Craggy Heaps the Crystal Waters stood.
Bare and defrauded of its Tyde,
The sandy Chanel lay from side to side;
This Passage for the Tribes th' Almighty did provide.
Th' obsequious Deep did raise its roaring Voice
And split asunder with prodigious noise
It shew'd as if by lifting up the Hand
It's Readiness t' obey the high Command.
At God's command the restless Sun
That as a Gyant loves his Course to run,
Did in his full Carreer his Chariot stay
On Heav'ns Descent, and stopt the falling Day.
Progressive Time was at a stand,
His drooping Wings unable to expand.
The Constellations, and th' astonish'd Moon,
Halted to gaze upon the standing Sun.
So long its ling'ring Orb its Light did lend
As Joshuah's Troops had Spears to spend;
As long as they had Darts to cast away,
Or there remain'd a Foe to slay.
That as a Gyant loves his Course to run,
Did in his full Carreer his Chariot stay
On Heav'ns Descent, and stopt the falling Day.
Progressive Time was at a stand,
His drooping Wings unable to expand.
The Constellations, and th' astonish'd Moon,
Halted to gaze upon the standing Sun.
So long its ling'ring Orb its Light did lend
As Joshuah's Troops had Spears to spend;
As long as they had Darts to cast away,
Or there remain'd a Foe to slay.
In Indignation God thro' Canaan past,
And with his terrible alarms
And Conq'ring Arms
He chas'd the Kings, and laid the Nations wast.
Isr'els Salvation to compleat
He onward march'd the Heathen to defeat.
To save his People and to crown
Great Josua's Arms with Triumph and Renown,
To Canaan's Kings he gave a deadly Wound
And did their Friends and Familys confound.
He overthrew their Palaces
Th' Imperial Seats of Pride and Wickedness.
He broke the Pillars that sustain'd their weight,
And raz'd the strong Foundations of their State.
And with his terrible alarms
And Conq'ring Arms
He chas'd the Kings, and laid the Nations wast.
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He onward march'd the Heathen to defeat.
To save his People and to crown
Great Josua's Arms with Triumph and Renown,
To Canaan's Kings he gave a deadly Wound
And did their Friends and Familys confound.
He overthrew their Palaces
Th' Imperial Seats of Pride and Wickedness.
He broke the Pillars that sustain'd their weight,
And raz'd the strong Foundations of their State.
God did by Isr'el's Arms subdue
Their Towns and all their Villages o'erthrew.
Tho' at the first the Nations round arose
And like a Tempest did our March oppose,
They onward came with Shouts of Joy
As sure the Tribes they should destroy:
They did our Army so much slight
They thought they came to Plunder, not to fight.
O Israel, in despight of these alarms,
In spite of all their Plots and Arms:
Thou with thy Conq'ring Sword didst make thy way,
From Jordan's Flood to the great Western Sea.
Their Towns and all their Villages o'erthrew.
Tho' at the first the Nations round arose
And like a Tempest did our March oppose,
They onward came with Shouts of Joy
As sure the Tribes they should destroy:
They did our Army so much slight
They thought they came to Plunder, not to fight.
O Israel, in despight of these alarms,
In spite of all their Plots and Arms:
Thou with thy Conq'ring Sword didst make thy way,
From Jordan's Flood to the great Western Sea.
Thus for the Tribes th' Almighty did appear,
Once to their God his People were so dear.
But now he threatens to employ
Assyrian Arms his People to destroy.
For this my Blood hangs curdled in my Veins,
And strong Convulsions rend my tortur'd Reins
My Bones all rattle in their rocking Frame,
And in my Heart Fear damps the Vital Flame.
Horror my Spirits does possess,
Nor can my quiv'ring Lips one perfect word express.
I Tremble now, and Weep and Mourn,
That when the sad amazing Turn
Shall happen, and the gloomy Day
Of Vengeance all its Terrors shall display;
Safe from the Tempest I may find,
Peace in my House, and Comfort in my Mind.
I'll to th' Almighty's Mercy fly
And on his faithful Providence rely,
When Babylon's insulting King
Shall all his fierce and numerous Armys bring,
Armys to Blood and Rapine bred,
To pull down Isr'el's lofty Head,
And dreadful Desolation o'er our Citys spread
Once to their God his People were so dear.
But now he threatens to employ
Assyrian Arms his People to destroy.
For this my Blood hangs curdled in my Veins,
And strong Convulsions rend my tortur'd Reins
290
And in my Heart Fear damps the Vital Flame.
Horror my Spirits does possess,
Nor can my quiv'ring Lips one perfect word express.
I Tremble now, and Weep and Mourn,
That when the sad amazing Turn
Shall happen, and the gloomy Day
Of Vengeance all its Terrors shall display;
Safe from the Tempest I may find,
Peace in my House, and Comfort in my Mind.
I'll to th' Almighty's Mercy fly
And on his faithful Providence rely,
When Babylon's insulting King
Shall all his fierce and numerous Armys bring,
Armys to Blood and Rapine bred,
To pull down Isr'el's lofty Head,
And dreadful Desolation o'er our Citys spread
And then tho' Famine should invade,
Tho' Plants and Flow'rs and Fruits should fade;
Tho' on the Vine no Clusters should appear,
And tho' the Fig-tree should no Blossoms bear;
Tho' th' Olive yields not to the Dresser Oyl,
And barren Fields defeat the Farmer's toyl;
Tho' the high Folds no bleating Flocks surround,
And in the Stalls no lowing Heards are found;
Yet I'll rejoyce in God my sure defence,
And in his Strength repose my Confidence.
Still will I trust him still I will believe,
That he will Isr'el's Captive State retrieve:
That to our Country he'll our Sons restore,
And rescue them from Babylonish Pow'r.
Tho' Plants and Flow'rs and Fruits should fade;
Tho' on the Vine no Clusters should appear,
And tho' the Fig-tree should no Blossoms bear;
Tho' th' Olive yields not to the Dresser Oyl,
And barren Fields defeat the Farmer's toyl;
Tho' the high Folds no bleating Flocks surround,
And in the Stalls no lowing Heards are found;
Yet I'll rejoyce in God my sure defence,
And in his Strength repose my Confidence.
291
That he will Isr'el's Captive State retrieve:
That to our Country he'll our Sons restore,
And rescue them from Babylonish Pow'r.
| A paraphrase on the Book of Job | |