Classic Poem

O HOW they terrify my panting heart!
Ready to break my fivers, and depart.
Hark, how His thunder from their entrails breaks!
The voice of God when He in fury speaks,
Which rolls in globes of pitch below the skies,
To earth's extent His winged lightning flies,
Pursu'd by hideous fragors; though before
The flames descend, they in their breaches roar.
His far-resonnding voice reports His ire,
His indignation flows in streams of fire.
O who can apprehend His excellence,
Whose wonders pass the reach of human sense!
He gives the winter's snow her airy birth,
And bids her virgin fleeces clothe the earth.
Now He her face renews with fruitful show'rs,
Now cataracts upon her bosom pours,
Whose falling spouts the hands of labour tie,
When swains for shelter to their houses fly,
Yet on their former toil reflect their care;
Then savage beasts to their dark dens repair.
Loud tempests from the cloudy south break forth,
And cold out of the cloud-repelling north.
The fields with rigid frost grow stiff and gray;
The rivers solid, and forget their way.
Sad clouds with frequent tears themselves impair,
And those that shone with lightning fleet to air,
At His obey'd decree return again,
T' afflict the earth, or comfort it with rain.
Thus judgment and sweet mercy, which depend
Upon His beck, to men in clouds descend.
This hear, O Job; with silence fixed, stand;
Review the wonders of His mighty Hand.
Know'st thou how God collects the muster'd clouds?
How in their darkness He His lightning shrouds?
How by Him balanc'd in the weightless air?
Canst thou the wisdom of His works declare?
Or know'st thou how thy garments warmer grow,
When dropping southern gales begin to blow?
Wert thou then present when His Hands display'd
The firmament, of liquid crystal made?
If so, instruct what we to God should say,
Who in so dark a night have lost our way.
What can we urge that is to Him unknown,
Or who contend and not be overthrown?
Who on the sun can gaze with constant eyes,
When purging winds from vapours clear the skies,
And northern gales his shining face unfold?
Much less the Majesty of God behold.
O how inscrutable! His equity
Twins with His pow'r. Will He the just destroy?
For this to be ador'd; yet cannot find
Among the sons of men a prudent mind. "