"Word for word."
"Then I think that is—not right—wicked," said Ilya.
The church servant drew down his bushy brows till they shaded his eyes, his beard moved up and down, and he spoke clearly in a dull, strange voice:
"The boldness of the man who seeks the Truth is not sinful, for it springs from divine prompting."
Ilya shuddered. The speaker sighed deeply, and went on, slowly and distinctly:
"'The Truth itself bids a man seek Me! For Truth is God, and it is written: It is a great glory to follow the Lord.'"
The man's face, covered with thick hair, inspired Ilya with shyness and respect. There was in it something strong, sublime. His brows went up again, he looked at the ceiling, and his big beard moved again:
"Read him, Jakov, from the Book of Job, the beginning of the tenth chapter."
Jakov turned over the leaves quickly, and read, in a low, trembling voice:
"'My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say unto God, do not condemn me: Show me wherefore thou contendest with me. Is it good unto Thee that Thou shouldest oppress; that Thou shouldest despise the work of Thine hands?'"