Thus Zophar with acerbity replied:
" Think'st thou by talking to be justified?
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 dye thy cheeks in blushes, for the scorn
Thou throw'st on us, till now with patience borne?
Hast thou not said to God, " My heart's upright,
My doctrine pure, I blameless in Thy sight?"
O that He would be pleased to reply,
And take the veil from thy hypocrisy!
Should He reveal His wisdom to thine eyes,
How wouldst thou thy integrity despise!
Acknowledging these punishments far less
Than thy offences, and His grace profess!
Canst thou into thy Maker's counsels dive?
Or to the knowledge of His thoughts arrive,
Higher than highest heav'ns, more deep than hell,
Longer than earth, more broad than seas that swell
Above their shores. Can man His footsteps trace?
Would He the course of nature change, the face
Of things invert, and all dissolve again
To their old chaos? who could God restrain?
He knows that man is vain, His eyes detect
Their secret crimes; and shall not He correct?
Thus fools grow wise, subdue their stubborn souls,
Though in their pride more rude than ass's foals.
If thou effect thy cure, reform thy ways:
Let penitence resolve to tears, and raise
Thy hands to heav'n; what rapine got, restore;
Nor let insidious vice approach thy door.
Then thou thy looks shalt raise from blemish clear,
Walk in full strength, and no disaster fear.
As winter torrents, tumbling from on high,
Waste with their speed, and leave their channels dry;
So shall the sense of former sorrows run
From thy remembrance. As the mounted sun
Breaks through the clouds, and throws his golden rays
About the world, shall thy increasing days
Succeed in glory. Thou thyself shalt rise
Like that bright star, which last forsakes the skies,
For ever by thy steadfast hopes secur'd,
Intrenched, and with walls of brass immur'd,
Confirm'd against all storms. Soft sleep 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 anxiety of mind
Shall pine away, in sighs consume their breath,
Prevented in their hopes by sudden death. "
" Think'st thou by talking to be justified?
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 dye thy cheeks in blushes, for the scorn
Thou throw'st on us, till now with patience borne?
Hast thou not said to God, " My heart's upright,
My doctrine pure, I blameless in Thy sight?"
O that He would be pleased to reply,
And take the veil from thy hypocrisy!
Should He reveal His wisdom to thine eyes,
How wouldst thou thy integrity despise!
Acknowledging these punishments far less
Than thy offences, and His grace profess!
Canst thou into thy Maker's counsels dive?
Or to the knowledge of His thoughts arrive,
Higher than highest heav'ns, more deep than hell,
Longer than earth, more broad than seas that swell
Above their shores. Can man His footsteps trace?
Would He the course of nature change, the face
Of things invert, and all dissolve again
To their old chaos? who could God restrain?
He knows that man is vain, His eyes detect
Their secret crimes; and shall not He correct?
Thus fools grow wise, subdue their stubborn souls,
Though in their pride more rude than ass's foals.
If thou effect thy cure, reform thy ways:
Let penitence resolve to tears, and raise
Thy hands to heav'n; what rapine got, restore;
Nor let insidious vice approach thy door.
Then thou thy looks shalt raise from blemish clear,
Walk in full strength, and no disaster fear.
As winter torrents, tumbling from on high,
Waste with their speed, and leave their channels dry;
So shall the sense of former sorrows run
From thy remembrance. As the mounted sun
Breaks through the clouds, and throws his golden rays
About the world, shall thy increasing days
Succeed in glory. Thou thyself shalt rise
Like that bright star, which last forsakes the skies,
For ever by thy steadfast hopes secur'd,
Intrenched, and with walls of brass immur'd,
Confirm'd against all storms. Soft sleep 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 anxiety of mind
Shall pine away, in sighs consume their breath,
Prevented in their hopes by sudden death. "