ce, though man regardeth it not.
In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falleth upon men,
In slumberings upon the bed;
Then he openeth the ears of men,
And sealeth their instruction,
That he may withdraw man from his purpose,
And hide pride from man;
He keepeth back his soul from the pit,
And his life from perishing by the sword.
To shew unto man what is right for him;
Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, {216}
"Deliver him from going down to the pit,
I have found a ransom."
His flesh shall be fresher than a child's;
He returneth to the days of his youth:
He prayeth unto God, and he is favourable unto him;
So that he seeth his face with joy:
And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.
He singeth before men, and saith,
"I have sinned, and perverted that which was right,
And it profited me not:
He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit,
And my life shall behold the light."
Lo, all these things doth God work,
Twice, yea thrice, with a man,
To bring back his soul from the pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me:
Hold thy peace, and I will speak.
If thou hast any thing to say, answer me:
Speak, for I desire to justify thee.
If not, hearken thou unto me:
Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.

(He speaks again to the friends.)

Hear my words, ye wise men;
And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
For the ear trieth words,
As the palate tasteth meat.
Let us choose for us that which is right: {217}
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
For Job hath said, "I am righteous,
And God hath taken away my right."

Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding:
Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness;
And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
For the work of a man shall he render unto him,
And cause every man to find according to his ways.
Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly,
Neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Is it fit to say to a king, "Thou art vile?"
Or to nobles, "Ye are wicked?"
How much less to him that respecteth not the persons of princes,
Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor?
For they all are the work of his hands.
In a moment they die, even at midnight;
For his eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And he seeth all his goings.
There is no dark