Testament of Job

Kohler1897 English translation, printed page 329

Testament of Job. 329 Kingdom, says he, shall last forever’”. 3. Eliphaz, then, rose in great commotion, and, turning away from them in great fury, said: “I go hence. We have indeed come to comfort him, but he declares war to us in view of our armies’. 4. But then Baldad seized him by the hand and said: “Not thus ought one to speak to an afflicted man, and especially to one stricken down with so many plagues. 5. Behold, we, being in good health, dared not approach him on account of the offensive odor, except with the help of plenty of fragrant aroma. But thou, Eliphaz, art forgetful of all this. 6. Let me speak plainly. Let us be magnanimous and learn what is the cause? Must he in remembering ') his former days of happiness not become mad in his mind? 7. Who should not be altogether perplexed seeing himself thus lapse into misfortune and plagues ? But let me step near him that I may find by what cause is he thus?” 8. And Baldad rose and approached me saying: “Art thou Job?” and he said: “Is thy heart still in good keeping? 9. And I said: “I did not hold fast to the earthly things, since the earth with all that inhabit it is unstable. But my heart holds fast to the heaven, because there is no trouble in heaven”. 10, Then Baldad rejoined and said: “We know that the earth is unstable, for it changes according to season. At times it is in a state of peace, and at times it is in a state of war. But of the heaven we hear that it is perfectly steady. 11. But art thou truly in a state of calmness? Therefore let me ask and speak, and when thou answerest me to my first word, 1 shall have a second question to ask?), and if again thou answerest in well-set words, it will be manifest that thy heart has not been unbalanced”. 12. And he said: “Upon what dost thou set thy hope?” And I said: “Upon the living God”. 13. And he said to me: “Who deprived thee of all thou didst possess? And who inflicted thee with these plagues?” And I said: “God”. 14. And he said: “If thou still placest thy hope upon God, how can He do wrong in judgment, having brought upon thee these plagues and mis- fortunes, and having taken from thee all thy possessions ? 1) Read: μιμνησχομενος instead of οι. 2) pond pansy PWN PWR awh.