Job 26

which some endure) as the top of an ear of corn is cropped with your hand. Job, hearing Bildad wander so far from the business, derides his grave affectation of wisdom; and tells him, that though he talked as if he thought himself fit to be a coadjutor to God Almighty, yet, as his discourse was impertinent, so it was but mean and flat, in comparison with what he was able to speak himself, concerning the omnipotent wisdom of God: which he sots forth in a far more lively manner. vol. in. Ver.l. J~SUT Job answered and said.] To this Job replied almost as briefly; saying, [chap, xxvik

Job 26:2

How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?. O wonder-, ful advocate! how excellently hast thou defended him who. hath no need of thy help! dost thou think to-do the Al: mighty any service by such discourses?

Job 26:3

How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it, is?. What admirable advice wouldest thou give him in his government of the world, if he would admit thee to be his counsellor, who imagincst, no doubt, thou aboundest with wisdom, and hast hit the very mark!

Job 26:4

To whom hast thou tittered words? and whose spirit came from thee?. Dost thou think me ignorant of such things as these? or canst thou pretend to any extraordinary inspiration concerning them? 14. Lo, these are parts of his tvays; but hoio little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?] And yet these are but very small parcels of his works: for, alas! it is very little that such as we can comprehend of him; but the utmost force of his power is past all understanding.

Job 26:5

Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof. I know as well as thou canst inform me the power of God; which appears, not only in the heavens (to which thou biddest me look), but even in the lowest parts of the earth: where vast giant-like creatures are formed under the water, whose inhabitants are innumerable.

Job 26:6

Hell is nakedbefore him, and destruction hath no covering. Nor is his knowledge, I am sensible, less than his power; but penetrates into the greatest depths:.the very dead, who are quite removed out of our sight, being perfectly visible unto him.

Job 26:7

He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. Who by his wonderful power and wisdom stretches out the whole world from the one pole to the other, which he alone sustains; as he doth this globe of earth hanging in the air, without any thing to support it.

Job 26:8

He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds, and t the cloud is not rent tinder them. It is he who binds up the fluid waters, as it were in bags, and keeps them along time hanging in the clouds: through which they “do not burst all at once, but distil by drops to moisten the earth in due season.

Job 26:9

He holdeth back the face of his throne, and s spreadeth his cloud upon it. These clouds he spreads before the glorious face of heaven, to restrain the beams of the sun from scorching the earth.

Job 26:10

He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. He hath enclosed the* waters of the sea in shores; and so exactly compassed them about, that as long as the world lasts they shall not be able (be they never so furious) to exceed those bounds, but shall break all their rage against them into froth.

Job 26:11

Tlie pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at his reproof. And yet the highest mountains,’ which look as if they were the pillars and supporters of the heavens, quake and tremble, when he thunders and lightens upon them.

Job 26:12

He divideth the sea with his power, andMj his understanding he smiteth through the proud,. By his power he raises a tempest, which makes great furrows in the sea, and divideth, as’it were, one part of it from another: and (such is his wisdom) he knows how to appease it again, and depress its proud ^yaves into the deadest calm.

Job 26:13

By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. Finally, by his wise contrivance the heavens were adorned, and made thus beautiful, as we behold them: his power made the milky way (and other celestial signs), whose windings arc so admirable.

And if it be not so now, who willmake me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?. All this I know to be so true, that I challenge all the world to disprove me: I am sure it is not in any man’s power to shew that my discourse is frivolous.