Bible Stories: Job (Chapter Xxxiii) Poem by Dr John Celes

Job, let me start my discourse then;
Do listen to my words- hearken!
The words all come spontaneously;
I’ll tell my mind most sincerely

The Lord’s spirit with love made me;
God’s breath keeps me alive truly;
You may refute my statements if
You draw up your arguments stiff.

Behold, I am made from like clay;
Let fear not ever you dismay;
You told that you were clean a slate,
And innocent, until this date!

You’re free from transgressions also
There is not guilt in things you do;
Yet, God invents charges on you,
And considers you as His foe!

He even puts your feet in stocks,
And watches you when you’re in docks;
Let me tell you that you aren’t just,
As God’s greater, and not from dust!

Why then complain against a God,
Who need not give account or nod?
God speaks just once or hardly twice,
But, man perceives not His words wise!

God speaks to men asleep at night,
In dreams and visions, not daylight;
He opens ears of men to warn
Of dangers of the morrow’s dawn.

Thus, man is kept off evil ways,
And pride has no place in his days;
From Eternal Pit, souls, God saves,
And men are withheld from their graves!

Or chastened man is by bed-pain,
And suffering that keeps him sane;
So that he abhors choicest foods,
Avoiding alluring sin-moods!

His wasted flesh can just be seen,
And bones turn weak and very lean;
His soul is drawn nearer the Pit,
As death strikes him before he’s fit!

If lucky still, an angel guides
Him rightly: in God, He abides;
God’s pity helps him escape hell;
In health and wealth, all seems quite well.

His flesh comes back as in childhood;
He prays to God and becomes good;
God favors him and he has joy
Like when he was just small a boy.

He tells others, ‘I did things wrong;
God punished me justly, quite long.
He spared my soul from Pit fiery,
And gave it grace to be wary! ’

Be attentive, O Job, right now;
Hearken to what is God’s great love;
Be silent while I teach wisdom;
You should not miss the Lord’s kingdom!