d brass as rotten wood; and when he
raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid. Hast thou an arm like God?
and canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Deck thyself now with
excellency and dignity, and array thyself with honor and majesty. Pour
forth the overflowings of thy anger; and look upon every one that is
proud, and abase him. Look on every one that is proud, and bring him
low; and tread down the wicked where they stand, and hide them in the
dust together."

And Job called, so that his words sounded through the whirlwind's
curtains: "I know that Thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of
Thine can be restrained. Who is this that hideth counsel without
knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not;
things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Wherefore I abhor
myself, and repent in dust and ashes." And Job has learned this
salutary lesson, that no man can comprehend all the ways life leads,
nor need to. God is above the ways of life:

"He leads us on by paths we do not know;
Upward he leads us, though our steps be slow;
Though oft we faint and falter by the way;
Though clouds and darkness oft obscure the day,
And still He leads us on."

Job has learned to rest his case with God.

"My God knows best! Through all my days
This is my comfort and my rest;
My trust, my peace, my solemn praise,--
That God knows all, and God knows best.

My God knows best! That is my chart--
That thought to me is always blest:
It hallows and it soothes my heart;
For all is well, and God knows best.

My God knows best! Then tears may fall:
In his great heart I find my rest;
For he, my God, is over all;
And he is love, and he knows best."

God's argument is burned into Job's mind. How can man, who understands
not the visible things of daily recurrence, think to penetrate the
meaning of the moral universe, whose ways are hidden, like the caverns
of the seas? Not Job, nor any one of those who have spoken, has found
the clew to this maze. But Job is impregnable now in his trust in God,
as if he were in a fortress whose approaches were guarded by the angels
of heaven.

And God spake yet once more; and now a word of rebuke--not argument--to
the old men, who trembled near the tent of God's whirlwind: "My wrath
is kindled against you: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is
right, as my servant Job hath. My servant Job shall pr