Man of Uz, and Other Poems | Page 9

me as a thing abhorr'd.?Have pity, pity on me, oh my friends!?The hand of God hath smitten me.
I know?That my Redeemer liveth, and shall stand?At last upon the earth, and though in death?Worms shall destroy this body, in my flesh?Shall I see God."

This glorious burst of faith?Springing from depths of misery and pain?Awed them a moment, like the lightning's flash,?Cleaving the cloud. But gathering strength again,?They sought the conflict.
"Thou, who art so wise,?Hast thou not learn'd how baseless is the joy?And boasting of the hypocrite? His head?Up to the heavens in excellence and pride?May seem to mount, yet shall he swiftly fall?Leaving no trace. Though still he toils to keep?His sin a secret from his fellow-men,?Like a sweet, stolen morsel, hiding it?Under his tongue, yet shall the veil be rent.?God's fearful judgments shall make evident?What he hath done in darkness. Vipers' tongues?And the dire poison of the asp, shall be?His recompense. Terrors shall strike him through,?An inward fire of sharp remorse, unblown?By mortal hand, shall on his vitals feed,?And all his strength consume. His wealth shall fleet,?And they who trusted to become his heirs?Embrace a shadow, for his goods shall flow?Away, as the false brook forsakes its sands.?This is the portion of the hypocrite,?The heritage appointed him by God."

To Zophar answered Job,--
"Hear ye my speech,?And when 'tis done, mock on. Not unto man?Is my complaint. For were it so, my heart?Would sink in darker depths of hopeless woe.?Say ye that earth's 'prosperity' rewards?The righteous man? Why do the wicked live,?Grow old, and magnify themselves in power??Their offspring flourish round them, their abodes?Are safe from fear. Their cattle multiply?And widely o'er the hills and pastures green?Wander their healthful herds. Forth like a flock?They send their little ones, with dance and song,?Tabret and harp. They spend their days in wealth?And sink to slumber in the quiet grave.?Yet unto God they said, Depart from us,?For we desire no knowledge of thy ways.?Why should we serve the Almighty? Who is he??And what our profit if we pray to Him?
Close by these impious ones lies down to sleep,?One in the strength and glory of his prime,?Whom sorrow never touch'd, nor age impair'd;?And still another, wan misfortune's child,?Nurtur'd in bitterness, who never took?His meat with pleasure. Side by side they rest?On Death's oblivious pillow. Do ye say?Their varied lot below, mark'd their deserts??In retribution just?

But as for you?With eyes so sharp for your own selfish ends,?Who by the wayside ask where'er ye go,?"_Where is the dwelling of the prince?_ and seek?Gain more than godliness, I know full well?Your deep contempt for one too poor to bribe?Your false allegiance, and the unkind device?Ye wrongfully imagine.
Will ye teach?Knowledge to God? Doth He not wisely judge?The highest? and reserve the sons of guilt?For the destruction that awaiteth them?"

In quick rejoinder, Eliphaz replied,?"What is thy fancied goodness in the sight?Of the Almighty? Is it gain to Him?If thou art righteous? Would it add to Him?Gladness or glory, that thy ways should be?What thou call'st perfect?
Rather turn thine eyes?Upon the record of thy sins, and see?Their countless number.
Hast thou taken a pledge?From thy poor brother's hand? or reft away?The garment from the shivering? or withheld?Bread from the hungry? or the widow sent?Empty away? not given the weary soul?What it implored? nor bound the broken arm?Of the forsaken fatherless?
For this?Have snares beset thee? and a secret fear?Dismay'd thy spirit? and a rayless night?Shut over thee?
Look to the height of heaven,?Above the utmost star. Is not God there??Think'st thou that aught can intercept His sight?Or bar His righteous judgment? He who makes?The thickest clouds His footstool, when He walks?Upon the circuit of the highest heavens??Acquaint thyself with Him and be at peace,?Return to Him, and He shall build thee up.?Take thou His precepts to thine inmost heart?That thy lost blessings may revisit thee.?Put far away thy foster'd sins, and share?The swelling flood-tide of prosperity.?Thou shalt have silver at thy will, and gold,?The gold of Ophir in thy path shall lie?As stones that pave the brooks.
Make thou thy prayer,?And pay thy vows, and He will hear thy voice?And give thee light, and thy desires confirm:?For He will save the humble and protect?The innocent and still deliver those?Whose hands are pure."
To whom, the Man of Uz,
"Oh that I knew where I might find my Judge,?That I might press even to His seat, and plead?My cause before Him. Would He strike me dumb?With His great power? Nay,--rather would he give?Strength to the weakness that would answer Him.?Lo! I go forward,--but He is not there,--?And backward, yet my eyes perceive Him not.?On the left hand, His works surround me still,?But He is absent,--on the right, I gaze,?Yet doth He hide Himself.
But well He knows?My way, and when the time of trial's o'er,?And the refining fire hath purg'd the dross,?I shall come forth as gold. My feet have