and search for it more than for treasure. Which also would be exceedingly glad, and rejoice if they found their grave.

"If we begin to commune with thee, peradventure thou wilt be discontent; but who can withhold himself from speaking?

Doth the wild ass roar when he hath grass? Or crieth the ox, when he hath fodder enough?

"O that I might have my desire! O that God would grant me the thing, that I long for!

That he would begin and smite me: that he would let his hand go, and hew me down.

Then should I have some comfort: yea, I would desire him in my pain, that he should not spare, for I will not be against the words of the holy one.

For like as a bond servant desireth the shadow, and as a hireling would fain have an end of his work:

"How long wilt thou talk of such things? How long shall thy mouth speak so proud words?

If I had called upon him, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had heard my voice!

Then am I afraid of all my works, for I know thou wilt not judge me innocent.

"Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me altogether round about. Wilt thou then destroy me suddenly?

Should men give ear unto thee only? Thou wilt laugh other men to scorn; and shall nobody mock thee again?

Wilt thou say unto God, 'The thing that I take in hand is perfect, and I am clean in thy sight'?

O that God would speak, and open his lips against thee,

"Wilt thou find out God with thy seeking? Wilt thou attain to the perfectness of the Almighty?

He is higher than heaven; what wilt thou do? Deeper than hell; how wilt thou then know him?

A vain body exalteth himself, and man, newborn, is like a wild ass's colt.

"Among old persons there is wisdom, and among the aged is understanding.

Would God ye kept your tongue, that ye might be taken for wise men!

Wilt thou be so cruel and extreme unto a flying leaf, and follow upon dry stubble?

For though a root be waxen old and dead in the ground,

With us are old and aged men; yea, such as have lived longer than thy forefathers.

I could speak as ye do also. But would God, that your soul were in my soul's stead: then should I heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.

young and old shall be astonished at his death.

would God they were graven with an iron pen in lead or in stone.

That he favoured, that would he not forsake; but kept it close in his throat.

"Wherefore do wicked men live in health and prosperity, come to their old age, and increase in riches?

wilt thou therefore say, 'Tush, how should God know? Doth his dominion reach beyond the clouds?

"Well, thou wilt keep the old way, that all wicked men have gone:

For if thou wilt turn to the Almighty, thou shalt stand fast, and all unrighteousness shall be far from thy dwelling:

That I might know, what answer he would give me: and that I might understand, what he would say unto me.

Behold, even as the wild asses in the desert go they forth to their work, and rise betimes to spoil: Yea, the very wilderness ministereth food for them and their children. by times, as their manner is, to spoil: Yea the very wilderness ministereth food for their children.

Where is the counsel that thou shouldest give him, which hath no wisdom? Wilt thou so show thine excellent righteousness?

If I had spoken, they would have it none other ways, my words were so well taken among them.

But now, they that are mine inferiors and younger than I, have me in derision; yea even they, whose fathers I would have thought scorn to have set with the dogs of my cattle.

Sure I am, that thou wilt deliver me unto death: whereas a lodging is prepared for all men living.

I made a covenant with mine eyes, that I would not look upon a damsel.

O that I had one which would hear me. Lo, this is my cause: Let the almighty give me answer, and let him that is my contrary party, sue me with libel.

So these three men would strive no more with Job, because he held himself a righteous man.

for I thought thus within myself: It becometh old men to speak, and the aged to teach wisdom.

For if I would go about to please men, I know not how soon my maker would take me away.

Therefore turned they back traitorously and unfaithfully from him, and would not receive his ways.

Wilt thou not give a reasonable answer? Art thou afraid of anything, seeing thou begannest first to speak, and not I?

Even so shall he keep thee - if thou wilt be content - from the bottomless pit that is beneath: and if thou wilt hold the quiet, he shall fill thy table with plenteousness.

Knowest thou, when thou wast born, how old thou shouldest be?

Knowest thou the time when the wild goats bring forth their young among the stony rocks? Or layest thou wait when the hinds use to fawn?

Who letteth the wild ass go free, or who looseth the bonds of the mule?

She remembereth not that they might be trodden with feet or broken with some wild beast.

Wilt thou disannul my judgment? Or wilt thou condemn me, that thou thyself mayest be made righteous?

Wilt thou take thy pastime with him as with a bird? Or give him unto thy maidens,

And so he died, being old and of a perfect age.