Job, Chapter 11

Thus Zophar with acerbity reply'd:
Think'st thon by talking to be justifi'd?
Or shall these wild distempers of thy mind,
This tempest of thy tongue, thus rave, and find
No opposition? shall we guilty be
Of thy untruths, in not reproving thee?
Nor die thy cheekes in Blushes for the scorne
Thou throw'st on us; till now with patience borne?
Hast thou not said to God? my heart's upright,
My Doctrine pure, I blamelesse in thy sight.
O that he would be pleased to reply:
And take the vaile from thy Hypocrisie!
Should he reveale his wisedome to thine eyes:
How would'st thou thy integritie despise?
Acknowledging these punnishments farre lesse
Then thy offences? and his grace professe?
Canst thou into thy Makers Councels dive?
Or to the knowledge of his thoughts arrive?
Higher then highest Heavens; more deepe then Hell;
Longer then Earth; more broad then Seas that swell
Above their shores, can man his foot-steps trace?
Would he the course of Nature change? the face
Of things invert? and all dissolve againe
To their old Chaos? who could God restraine?
He knowes that man is vaine: his eyes detect
Their secret crimes? and shall not he correct?
Thus Fooles grow wise; subdue their stubborne soules:
Though in their pride more rude then Asses foles.
If thou affect thy cure: reforme thy wayes:
Let penitence resolve to teares, and raise
Thy hands to heaven; what Rapine got, restore:
Nor let insidious Vice approach thy Doore.
Then thou thy lookes shalt raise from blemish cleare:
Walke in full strength, and no disaster feare.
As winter Torrents, tumbling from on high,
Waste with their speed, and leave their channels dry:
So shall the sense of former sorrowes runne
From thy Remembrance. As the mounted Sunne
Breakes through the Clouds, and throwes his golden Raies
About the world; shall thy increasing Dayes
Succeed in Glory. Thou thy selfe shalt rise
Like that bright Starre, which last forsakes the skies:
For ever by thy stedfast hopes secur'd;
Intrenched, and with walles of Brasse immur'd:
Confirm'd against all Stormes. Soft sleepe shall close
Thy guarded eyes with undisturb'd repose.
The Great shall honour; the distressed shall
Thy grace implore: belov'd, or fear'd of all.
The sight of thee, shall strike the envious blind:
The wicked, with anxietie of Mind
Shall pine away; in sighes consume their breath:
Prevented in their hopes by sudden Death.