Jon Huer writes

THE SEDUCTION OF JOB: Twenty Years Later

A Dramatic Poem

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Satisfied with Job, God orders his wealth to be doubled. 

GOD:

Satan, my Satan, Job has borne his burden 
Although I refused to intervene with his agony. 

He burrowed his face for my grace and mercy, 

Not once blaming anyone but himself 

For the misery of his spirit and soul. 

He refused to defend himself with words; 

In deeds did he show true penance.

Job is perfect, upright and pious, 
And there is none like him on earth, still. 

Double his wealth through the king's office, 

And relieve him of his suffering with the tidings.

ELIHU TO JOB: 
Good news, my dear Job, the king reversed 

His earlier verdict and ordered your wealth doubled 

As a reward for your ordeal and pain. 

With the doubling of your sheep and cattle 

Your wealth will be second only to the king's, 

And with your honor and reputation intact, 

Who shall be more admired under the sun, 

Who more envied in men's hearts by the moonlight?

JOB: 
Praise be to the king's justice and generosity, 

For ending my pain and despair with greater fortunes. 

Praise be to God for instructing the king, 

To cease the sorrow of my days and terror of my nights, 

And with such wealth that only heaven can bestow.

My dear Elihu, reject the king's offer I must.
Save for modest provisions for my children and Zorah,

I shall open my treasury all to charity

Until there is none left to bolster a man's pride

And to debase a man's soul through haughtiness.

I shall be a man of prayer and penance,

Free from fancy clothes and households,

And far from the trappings of honor and reputation

As long as breath remains with my body.

What is righteousness if corruption is the answer;

What is salvation if temptation holds sway?

ELIHU:
O Job, why forsake and abandon a great gift

From the justice and generosity of the king,

To elevate your fame still higher

And to spread your name still wider.

Everywhere people shall ask:  "Who is Job,

And why is he so wealthy and wise?"

O Job, join us the mundane and mortal,

Enjoy your renown fame with double wealth,

And spread your name twice as wide.

JOB:
Why should genuine fame need wealth to sustain,

And true wisdom require a name to spread?

Without wealth I will be alone and naked

And people shall judge me as I am.

No, Elihu, God will not forsake me,

Nor shall I be abandoned by His angels.

Praise God Who puts His trust in me,

But I trust myself not.

ELIHU:
O Job, wise and pious, explain it to me.

JOB:
Wealth begets power, and power false honor.

God gives wealth, and man spoils it.

Was I not consumed in my possessions;

Did I not corrupt myself with my wealth;

Is a poor man ever made proud and haughty

By the false adulation and honor of the crowd?

I know the bitterness of poverty and dust

For my bread was once soaked in my tears.

But I know myself better, thanks to God.

My dear Elihu, in my torment I have seen Him,
In my sorrow did I touch His grace and mercy.

He was truer to me when all seemed lost,

And my heart was full of Him and His angels

When it was devoid of pride and haughtiness,

And the falsehood that wealth puffs up in a man.

My dear Elihu, wealth only destroys
All that a truly pious heart craves,

And double wealth only makes the road to God

Twice as far to travel as before.

I am going forward, for God is ahead;

Behind me is nothing but man's evil.

Why should I reverse my journey just undertaken

In the terror of my frightened soul,

With fear of God in the dawning of the day,

And on tears and sighs at the coming darkness?

ELIHU TO SELF:
O Job, you are a lion, strong and fearless,

Among the race of mice, weak and afraid.

We tremble before men more powerful than we,

And you walk before God, full of grace.

O Job, your high wisdom and mighty piety:

Noble in words and heroic in deeds,

Pure in thought and godly in action!

O Job, find your peace of mind,
No longer haunted by the ghost of your sorrow;

Embrace the God of your grace and mercy,

Who chose you for the burden of all men;

And lead us, the humble and troubled,

To the world of spirits, to see and understand,

And the land of souls, to pray and rest.

Farewell, Job, a man of truth and courage,
May you dwell among angels and saints!

 
 The Grave Personified  -- William Blake