And Job can not recognize the doctrine of a special providence; he says:
"22. This is one thing" (therefore I said it). "He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
"23. If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
"24. The earth is given into the hands of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if it be not him, who is it then?" (Douay ver.)
That is to say, God has given up the earth to the power of Satan (as appears by chapter i); good and bad perish together; and the evil one laughs as the scourge (the comet) slays suddenly the innocent ones; the very judges who should have enforced justice are dead, and
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their faces covered with dust and ashes. And if God has not done this terrible deed, who has done it?
And Job rebels against such a state of things
"34. Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me.
"35. Then I would speak to him and not fear him but it is not so with me."