"'Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul?' * * *
"'For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet, yet trouble came.'
"So it has," said Job. "Nor I wasn't safe nor quiet neither, but I did trust the Lord 'ud keep me.
"'Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.'"
Job shook his head. "It don't seem to make me happy. Ain't I wrong there? Seems like as if I must be. I'll see how it goes on.
"'For He maketh sore and bindeth up. He woundeth and His hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles, yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.'
"'He shall deliver thee!'
"That's sayin' a deal," commented Job, falling into his usual habit. "Sure, there's a true promise. An' no evil shall touch me! No evil at all? Ain't it evil to be driven to the work'us? Why, no; not if 'tis His will. Don't the Lord know best? Don't all things work together for good, if I loves Him? Sure, there's no evil in that."
He was growing calmer now, though heavy-hearted still. The next verse that caught his eye struck to his conscience.
"'Know, therefore, that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.'
"An' that's true, too, though 'twas one o' Job's three friends as said it, an' they was none o' the wisest; but 'tis true. Who be I, a poor sinful old man, to dare to complain o' the Lord Almighty's dealin's with me?"
The next came very near his feelings, and caused a throbbing in his heart. * * *