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Chapter 1
In the land of *hus, there was a
man called Job: an innocent and virtuous man, such one as feared
God, *exchewed evil. This man had seven sons, and three daughters.
His substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five
hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she asses, and a very great
household: so that he was one of the most principal men among all
them of the east country. And his sons went, and made banquets: one
day in one house, another day in another, and sent for their three
sisters to eat and to drink with them. So when they had passed over
the time of their banqueting round about, Job sent for them, and
cleansed them again, and gat up early, and offered for everyone a
burnt offering. For Job thought thus: peradventure my sons have done
some offense, and have been unthankful to God in their hearts. And
thus did Job everyday. Now upon the time, when the servants of God
came and stood before the Lord, *Sathan came also among them. And
the Lord said unto Sathan: From whence comest thou? Sathan answered
the Lord, and said: I have gone about the land and walked through
it.
Then said the Lord unto Sathan: hast thou not considered my
servant Job, and how that he is an innocent and virtuous man: such
one as feareth God, and *extueth evil, and that there is none like
him in the land? Sathan answered, and said unto the Lord: Doth Job
fear God for nought? hast thou not preserved him, his house, and all
his substance on every side? hast thou not blessed the work of his
hands? Is not his possession is increased in the land? But lay thine
hand upon him a little, touch once all that he hath, and ( I hold )
he shall curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Sathan: lo
all that he hath, be in thy power: only upon him self see that thou
lay not thine hand. Then went Sathan forth from the Lord.
Now upon a certain day when his sons and his daughters
were eating, and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house, there
came a messenger unto Job, and said: While the oxen were plowing,
and the Asses going in the pasture beside them: the *Sabeens came in
violently, and took them all away: yee, they have slain thy servants
with the sword, and I only ran my way, to tell thee.
And while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said:
The fire of God is fallen from heaven, it hath consumed, and burnt
up all thy sheep and servants: and I only ran my way , to tell thee.
In the mean season while he was yet speaking, there came another,
and said: The *Caldees made three armies, and fell upon thy camels,
which they have carried away, yee and slain thy servants with the
sword: and I only am gotten away, to tell thee: While he was
speaking, there came yet another, and said: Thy sons and daughters
were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house, and
suddenly there came a mighty great wind out of the South, and smote
the four corners of the house: which fell upon thy children, so that
they are dead: and I am gotten away alone, to tell thee.
Then Job stood up, and rent his clothes, shaved his head, and
fell down upon the ground, worshipped, and said: Naked came I out of
my mothers womb, and naked shall I turn thither again. The Lord
gave, and the Lord hath taken away, now blessed be the name of the
Lord. In all these things did Job not offend, ner murmur foolishly
against God.
*hus (Uz), *Sathan (Satan)
*exchewed = to avoid, shun, escape evil,
*extueth: eschew; avoid, shun, escape; put away from ones self . RN
*Sabeens HEB = "drunkard" or "he who is coming" drunk with the wine
of the world, maker of oaths /a gatherer together RN *Caldees =
desirous and willing
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Chapter 2
It happened also upon a time,
that when the servants of God came and stood before the Lord, Sathan
came among them, and stood before him. And the Lord said unto Sathan:
From whence comest thou? Sathan answered and said: I have gone about
the land, and walked through it.
Then said the Lord unto Sathan: hast thou not considered my
servant Job, how that he is an innocent and virtuous man such one as
feareth God, and Extueth evil, and that there is none like him in
the land? But thou movedst me against him, to punish him: yet is it
in vain, for he continueth still in his goodness. Sathan answered
the Lord, and said: Skin for skin? yee a man will give all that ever
he hath, for his life. But lay thine hand upon him, touch him once
upon the bone and flesh, and ( I hold ) he shall curse thee to thy
face. Then said the Lord unto Sathan: lo, there hast him in thy
power, but save his life.
So went Sathan forth from the Lord, and smote Job with
marvelous sore *boils, from the sole of his foot unto his crown. So
that he sat upon the ground in ashes, and scraped off the filth of
his with sores with a *potsherd.
Then said his wife unto him: Dost thou continue in thy
perfectness? curse God, and die. But Job said unto her: Thou
speakest like a foolish women. Seeing we have received prosperity at
the hand of God, wherefore should we be not content with adversity
also? In all these things, did not Job sin with his lips.
Now when Jobs friends heard of all the trouble, that happened
to him, there came three of them, every one from his own place:
*namely, Eliphas the Thamanite, Baldad the Suhite, and Zophar the
Naamathite.
For they were agreed together to come, and to show their
compassion on him, and to comfort him. So when they lifted up their
eyes afar off, they knew him not.
Then they cried, and wept: They sat them down by him also upon
the ground seven days and seven nights. Neither was there any of
them that spake one word unto him, for they saw that his pain was
very great.
.*boils = from the Hebrew to
hasten , burning as in the burning up of the flesh ( desires of the
flesh) *potsherd = a piece of a broken pot ( vessel )RN
*namely = these names from the Hebrew are: Eliphaz = "my God is
(fine) gold" Themanite = "southward" to destroy, to perish Bildad =
"confusing (by mingling) love" Shuhite = "wealth" Zophar = "sparrow"
"Melek is father" or "my father is king" Abel Mizraim = "meadow of
Egypt" field of copts (adversaries) to go early, depart early ,Naamathite
= see Naamah "pleasantness"
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Chapter 3
After this
opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day, and said: lost be the day,
wherein I was born: and the night, in the which it was said: there
is a man child conceived. The same day be turned to darkness, and
not regarded of God from above, neither be shined upon with light:
but be covered with darkness, and the shadow of death. let the dim
cloud fall upon it, and let it be lapped with sorrow. Let the dark
storm over come that night, let it not be reckoned among the days of
the year, ner counted in months. Despised be that night, and
discommended: let them that curse the day, even those that be ready
to raise up mourning give it also their curse. Let the stars be dim
through darkness of it. Let it look for light, but let it see none,
neither the raising up of the fair morning: because it shut not up
the womb that bare me, ner hide these sorrows from my eyes.
Alas, why died I not in the birth? Why did not I perish, as
soon as I came out of my mothers womb? Why set they me upon their
knees? Why gave they me suck with their breasts? Then should I now
have layen still, I should have slept, and been at rest: like as the
kings and Lords of the earth, which build themselves special places:
As the princes that have great substance of gold, and their houses
full of silver. O that I utterly had no being, or were as a thing
born out of time ( that is put aside ) ether as young children,
which never saw the light. There must the wicked cease from their
tyranny, there such as are overlabored be at rest: there are those
let out free, which have been in prison, so that they hear no more
the voice of the oppressor: There are small and great: the bondman,
and he that is free from his master.
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery? and life
unto them, that have heavy hearts? Which long for death, if it come
not: and search for it more than for treasure which also would be
exceedingly glad, and rejoice if they found their grave. That should
be joy to the man whose way is hid, which God keepeth back from him.
For my sighs come before I eat, and my roarings fall out like
flowing water. For the thing that I feared, is come upon me: and the
thing that I was afraid of, is happened to me? Was I not happy? Had
I not quietness? Was I not in rest? And now cometh such misery upon
me.
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Chapter 4
Then answered Eliphaz the
Temanite and said unto him: If we begin to commune with thee
peradventure thou wilt be discontent, but who can withhold himself
from speaking? Behold, thou hast been a teacher of many, and hast
comforted the weary hands.
Thy words have set up those that were fallen, thou hast
refreshed the weak knees. But now that the plague is come upon thee,
thou shrinkest away: now that it hath touched thy self, thou art
faint hearted. Is not this thy fear, thy steadfastness, thy
patience, and the perfectness of thy ways? Consider (I pray thee)
who ever perished being innocent? Or, when were the godly destroyed?
As I have seen them that plow vanity and sow malice reap the same.
With the blast of God did they perish, and by the breath of his
anger consumed they away. The roaring of the lion, the voice of the
lioness, and the teeth of the lions whelps are broken. The lion
perisheth, for lack of prey and the lions whelps are scattered
abroad.
And unto me was the word hid, and mine hath ear hath received
a little thereof. In the fantasies and thoughts of the visions of
the night, when sleep cometh on men: Fear came upon me and dread and
made all my bones to shake. And when the wind passed by before my
presence it made the hairs of my flesh stand up. He stood there and
I knew not his face, an image there was before me and there was
stillness, so that I heard this voice. Shall man be more just than
God? Or shall man be purer than his maker? Behold there is no trust
to his servants, and in his angels hath he found frowardness. How
much more in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is
but earth: which shall be consumed by the moth? They shall be
smitten from morning unto the evening: yea they shall perish
everlastingly, and no man think theron. Is not their dignity taken
away with them, they shall die and not in wisdom.
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Chapter 5
Name me one else, if thou can
find any: yee look about thee, upon any of the holy men. As for the
foolish man, displeasure killeth him and anger slayeth the ignorant.
I have seen my self, when the foolish was deep rooted, that his
beauty was suddenly destroyed, that his children were without
prosperity or health: that they were slain in the door, and no man
to deliver them: that his harvest is eaten up of the hungry: that
the weaponed man had spoiled it, and that the thirsty had drunk up
his riches. Is it not the earth that bringeth forth travail, neither
cometh sorrow out of the ground: but it is man, that is born unto
misery, like as the bird for to fly.
But now I will speak of the Lord, and talk of God: which doeth
things, that are unsearchable, and marvelous without number: Which
giveth rain upon the earth, and poureth water upon all things: which
set up them of low degree, and sendeth prosperity, to those that are
in heaviness: Which destroyeth the devices of the subtle, so that
they are not able to perform the things that they take in hand:
which compass the wise in their own craftiness, and over through the
counsel of the wicked? In so much that they might run in to darkness
by fair day, and grope about them at the noon day, like as in the
night.
And so he delivereth the poor from the sword, from their
mouth, and from the hand of the cruel, that the poor hath hope, and
that the mouth of the oppressor may be stopped.
Behold, happy is the man, whom God punisheth: therefore,
despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. For though he make
a wound, he giveth medicine again: though he smite, his hand maketh
whole again.
He deliver thee out of six troubles, so that in the seventh
there can no harm touch thee. In the midst of hunger he saveth thee
from death: and when it is war, from the power of the sword.
He shall keep thee from the perilous tongue so that when
trouble cometh, thou shalt not need to fear. In destruction and *derth
thou shalt be merry, and shalt not be afraid for the beasts of the
earth: But the castles in the land shall be confederate with thee,
and the beasts of the field, shall give thee peace.
Yee thou shalt know, that thy dwelling place shall be in rest:
thou shalt hold thy substance, and be no more punished for sin. Thou
shalt see also, that thy seed shall increase, and that thy posterity
shall be as the grass of the earth. Thou shalt come to thy grave in
a fair age, like as the of corn sheaves are brought in to the barn
in due season. Lo, this is the matter, as we ourselves have proved
by experience. Therefore now that thou hearest it, take better heed
to thyself.
*derth (famine)
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Chapter 6
Job answered,
and said: Oh that my misery were weighed, and my punishment weighed
in the balances: For then should it be heavier, than the sand of the
sea. This is the cause, that my words are so sorrowful.
For the arrows of the allmighty are in me, whose indignation
hath drunk up my spirit, and the terrible fears of God fight against
me. Doth the wild ass roar when he hath grass? Or crieth the ox,
when he hath fodder enough? That which is unsavory, shalt it be
eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
The things that some time I might not away withal, are now my meat
for very sorrow. 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: yee, I would desire him in my pain, that he
should not spare, for I will not be against the words of the holy
one.
What power have I to endure? Or, what is mine end, that my
soul might be patient? Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is
my flesh made of brass? Is it not so that there is in me no help?
that my substance is taken from me. He that is in tribulation ought
to be comforted of his neighbor: but the fear of the Lord is clean
away: Mine own brethren pass over by me as the water broke, that
hastily runneth through the valleys. But they that fear the
hoarfrost, the snow shall fall upon them.
When their time cometh, they shall be destroyed and perish:
and when they be set on fire, they shall be removed out of their
place, for the paths that they go in, are crooked: they haste after
vain things, and shall perish. Consider the paths of Theman, and the
ways of Saba, wherein they have put their trust. Confounded are
they, that put any confidence in them: For when they came to obtain
the things they looked for, they were brought to confusion.
Even so are ye also come unto me: but now that ye see my
misery, ye are afraid. Did I desire you, to come hither? Or, to give
me any of your substance? To deliver me from the enemies hand, or to
save me from the power of the mighty? Teach me and I will hold my
tongue: and if I do error, show me wherein.
Wherefore blame ye the words, that are well and truly spoken?
which of you can reprove them? Saving only that ye are subtle to
check mens sayings, and can speak many words in the wind. Ye fall
upon the fatherless, and go about to overthrow your own friend.
Wherefore look not only upon me, but upon yourselves: whether I lie,
or no. Turn into your own selves ( I pray you ) be indifferent
judges, and consider mine unguiltiness: whether there be any
unrighteousness in my tongue, or vain words in my mouth.
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Chapter 7
Is not the life
of man upon earth a battle? Are not his days like the days of an
hired servant? For like as a bond servant desireth the shadow, and
as an hireling would faine have an end of his work: Even so have I
labored whole months long ( but in vain ) and many a careful night
have I told. When I layed me down to sleep, I said: O' when shall I
rise? Again, I longed for the night. Thus am I full of sorrow, till
it be dark. My flesh is clothed with worms, filthiness and dust: my
skin is withered, and crumpled together: my days pass over more
speedily, than a weaver can weave out his web: and are gone, or I am
at war. O' remember, that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye
shall no more see the pleasures thereof, yee and that none other
mans eye shall see me anymore. For if thou fasten thine eyes upon
me, I come to naught like as a cloud is consumed and vanisheth away,
even so he that goeth down to hell, cometh no more up, nor turneth
again into his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speak in the
trouble of my spirit, in that bitterness of my mind will I talk. Am
I a sea, or a whalefish, that thou keepest me so in prison? When I
think: my bed shall comfort me. I shall have some refreshing by
talking by myself upon my couch: Then troublest thou me with dreams,
and makest me so afraid through visions, that my soul wisheth rather
to be strangled, and my bones to be dead.
I can see no remedy, I shall live no more: O' spare me then,
for my days are but vain. What is man, that thou hast him in such
reputation, and setest so much by him? Thou takest diligent care for
him, and suddenly doest thou try him.
Why goest thou not from me, nor letest me alone, so long till
I swallow down my spittle? I have offended, what shall I do unto
thee, O' thou preserver of men? Why hast thou made me to stand in
thy way, and am so heavy a burden unto to myself? Why doest thou not
forgive my sin? Wherefore takest thou not away my wickedness.
Behold, now must I sleep in the dust: And if thou seekest me
tomorrow in the morning, I shall be gone.
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Chapter 8
Then answered *Baldad the Suhite,
and said: How long wilt thou talk of such things? how long shall thy
mouth speak so proud words? Doth God pervert the thing that is
lawful? Or, doth the Almighty destroy the thing that is right? When
thy sons sinned against him, did not he punish them for their
wickedness? If thou wouldest now resort unto God by times, and make
thy humble prayer to the Almighty: If thou wouldest live a pure and
godly life: should he not wake up unto thee immediately, and give
thee the beauty of righteousness again? In so much, that wherein
soever thou haddest little afore, thou should have great abundance.
Enquire of them that have been before thee, search diligently among
thy forefathers: Namely, that we are but of yesterday, and consider
not, that our days upon the earth are but a very shadow. They shall
show thee, they shall tell thee, yee they will gladly confess the
same.
May a rush be green without moistness? may the grass grow
without water? No: but ( or ever it be shot forth, and or ever it be
gathered ) it withereth, before any other herb. Even so goeth it
with all them, that forget God: and even thus also shall the
hypocrites hope come to naught. His confidence shall be destroyed,
for he trusteth in a spiders web. He leaneth upon his house, but he
shall not stand: he holdeth him fast by it, yet shall he not endure.
Often time a thing do flourish, and men think that it may abide the
*Son shining: it shooteth forth the branches in his garden, it
taketh many roots, in so much that it is like a house of
stones. But if it be taken out of his place, every man denyeth
it, saying: I know thee not. Lo, thus it is with him, that rejoiceth
in his own doings: and as for others, they grow out of the earth.
Behold, God will not cast away a virtuous man, neither will he
help the ungodly. Thy mouth shall be still with laughing, and thy
lips with gladness. They that hate thee, shall be confounded, and
the dwellings of the ungodly shall come to nought.
*Bildad = "confusing (by
mingling) love" Shuhite = "wealth"
*Son = exact spelling from original ...this word Sonne is Son, they
did make a spelling difference between Sun : sunne and Son, this is
Son.
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Chapter 9
Job answered, and said: As for
that, I know it is so of a truth, that a man compared unto God, can
not be justified. If he will argue with him, he shall not be able to
answer him unto one among a thousand. He is wise of heart, and
mighty in strength. Who ever prospered that took part against him?
He translateth the mountains, or ever they be a ware, and
overthroweth them in his wrath. He removeth the earth out of her
place, that her pillars shake withal. He commandeth the *Son, and it
riseth not: he closeth up the stars, as it were under a signet. He
himself alone spreadeth out the heavens, and goeth upon the waves of
the sea. He maketh the vaines of heaven, the Orions, the seven stars
and the secrete places of the south. He doeth great things, such as
are unsearchable, yee and wonders without number.
If he came by me, I might not look upon him: if he went his
way, I should not perceive it. If he be hasty to take anything away,
who will make him restore it again? Who will say unto him: what
doest thou? He is God, whos wrath no man may withstand: but the
proudest of all must stoop under him. How then should I answer him?
or what words should I send out against him? Yee though I be
righteous, yet will I not give him one word again, but meekly submit
myself to my judge. All be it that I call upon him, and he hear me,
yet I am not sure, that he hath heard my voice: he troubleth me so
with the tempest, and woundeth me out of measure without a cause. He
will not let my spirit be in rest, but filleth me with bitterness.
If men speak of strength, he is the strongest of all: if men
speak of righteousness, who bare be my record. If I will justify
myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I will put forth myself
for a perfect man, he shall prove me a wicked doer: For that I
should be an innocent, my conscience knoweth it not, yee I my self
am weary of my life.
This is one thing will I say: He destroyeth both the righteous
and the ungodly. And though he slay suddenly with the scourge, yet
laugheth he at the punishment of the innocent. As for the world, he
give it over in to the power of the wicked, such as the rivers be,
whereof all the lands are full. Is it not so? where is there any,
but he is such on?
My days have been more swift than a runner: they are gone
suddenly, and have seen no good thing. They are passed away, as the
ships that be good under sail, and as the *Aegle that hasteth to the
prey. When I am purposed to forget my complainings, to change my
countenance, and to consider myself: Then I am afraid of all my
works, for I know, thou favorest not the evil doer. If I be then a
wicked one, why have I labored in vain? Though I washeth myself with
snow water, and made mine hands ever so clean, yet shouldest thou
dip me in the *inyer, and mine own clothes should defile me. For he
that I must give answer unto, and with whom I go to law, is not a
man as I am. Neither is there any daysman to reprove both parties,
or to lay his hand betwixt us. Let him take his rod away from me,
yee let him make me no more afraid of him, and then shall I answer
him without any fear. For as long as I am in such fearfulness, I can
make no answer: And why? it grieveth my soul to live.
*Son; exact spelling from original sonne, elsewhere sun is spelled
sunne.
*inyer (manure/dung)
*Aegle (eagle) and cap A .see also the eagle; 4th book of Esdras and
Revelation.
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Chapter 10
Nevertheless, now will I put
forth my words: I will speak out of the heaviness of my soul, and
will say unto God: Do not condemn me: but show me the cause,
wherefore thou judgest me on this manner. Thinkest thou it well
done, to oppress me, to cast me off ( being a work of thine hands )
and to maintain the counsel of the ungodly? Hast thou fleshly eyes
then, or doest thou look as a man looketh? Are thy days as the days
of man, and thy years as mans years? That thou makest such an
inquisition for my wickedness, and searchest out my sin? Whereas (
notwithstanding) thou knowest that I am no wicked person, and that
there is no man able to deliver me out of thine hand. Thy hands have
made me, and fashioned me altogether round about, wilt thou then
destroy me suddenly? O' remember ( I beseek thee ) how that thou
madest me of the mould of the earth, and shalt bring me to earth
again.
Hast thou not milked me, as it were milk: and turned me to
curdles like cheese? Thou hast covered me with skin and flesh, and
joined me together with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life,
and done me good: and the diligent heed that thou tookest upon me,
hath preserved my spirit.
Though thou hidest these things in thine heart, yet am I sure,
that thou rememberest them all. Wherefore didest thou keep me, when
I sinned, and hast not cleansed me from mine offense? If I do
wickedly, woe is me therefore: If I be righteous, yet dare I not
lift up my head: so full am I of confusion, and see mine own misery.
Thou huntest me out ( being in heaviness ) as it were a *Lion,
and troublest me out of measure. Thou bringest fresh witnesses
against me, thy wrath increases thou upon me, very many are the
plagues that I am in. Wherefore hast thou brought me out of my
mothers womb? O' that I had perished, and that no eye had seen me.
If they had carried me to my grave, as soon as I was born, then
should I be now, as though I had never been.
Shall not my short life come so soon to an end? O' hold thee
from me, let me alone, that I might ease myself a little afore I go
thither, from whence I shall not return again. Namely, to that land
of darkness and shadow of death: yee into that dark cloudy land and
deadly shadow, where as is no order, but terrible fear as in the
darkness.
*note cap L ...also see Lion of Juda
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Chapter 11
Then answered Zophar the
Naamathite, and said: Should not he that maketh many words, be
answered? Should he that bableth much, be commended therein? 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, that he might show thee
( out of his secrete wisdom ) how many fold his law is: then
shouldest thou know, that God had forgotten the, because of thy
sins.
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? His length
exceedeth the length of the earth, and his breadth the breadth of
the sea. Though he turn all things upside down, close them in, or
thrust them together, who dare check him therefore?
For it is he that knoweth the vanity of men: he seeth their
wickedness also, should he not then consider it? A vain body
exalteth himself, and the son of man is like a wild asses foal. If
thou haddest now a right heart, and lifted up thine hands toward
him: if thou would putest away the wickedness which thou hast in
hand, so that no ungodliness dwelt in thy house: Then mightest thou
lift up thy face without shame, then shouldest thou be sure, and
have no need to fear.
Then shouldest thou forget thy misery, and think no more upon
it, than upon the waters that run by. Then should thy life be as
clear as the noon day, and spring forth as the morning. Then
mightest thou have comfort , in the hope that thou hast: and sleep
quietly, when thou art buried. Then shouldest thou take rest, and no
man to make thee afraid, yee many one should set much by thee. As
for the eyes of the ungodly, they shall be consumed, and not escape:
their hope shall be misery and sorrow of mind.
*Zophar = "sparrow" "Melek is father"
or "my father is king" Abel Mizraim = "meadow of Egypt" field of
copts (adversaries) to go early, depart early ,Naamathite = see
Naamah "pleasantness"
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Chapters 1-11
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12-22 |
23-33 |
34-end |
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