Chapter 5
| Collection: | The Book of Job and 42 Paintings |
| Author: | Fr. Antonio Oteiza |
| Type: | Painting |
| Location: | Cataloguing Room |
| Characteristics: | Acrylic paint on cardboard |
| Artwork: |
Click to enlarge |
| Description: |
Call out and see if anyone answers you; which angel will you turn to? For resentment kills the fool, and passion brings death to the reckless. I have seen a fool take root, but suddenly his estate withered away. His children were beyond rescue, crushed without defence before the judges. The hungry devoured his harvest, the famished seized his possessions, and the thirsty swallowed up his wealth. Misery does not spring from the soil, nor does hardship grow from the earth: it is man who is born to hardship, just as sparks are born to fly upward. If I were you, I would turn to God and place my cause in his hands. He performs wonders beyond understanding, marvels without number: he sends rain upon the earth and waters the fields; he raises up the humble and gives safe refuge to the downcast; he frustrates the plans of the cunning so that their schemes come to nothing; he catches the crafty in their own traps and thwarts the intrigues of the deceitful. Thus, in broad daylight, they stumble into darkness; at noon they grope about as though it were night. In this way God saves the poor from the sharpened tongue and from the violent hand; he gives hope to the helpless and silences wickedness. Blessed is the man whom God corrects: do not reject the discipline of the Almighty, for he wounds and binds up the wound; he strikes, and his hand heals. From six dangers he will save you, and in the seventh no harm will touch you. In time of famine he will deliver you from death, and in battle from the sword. He will hide you from the scourge of the tongue, and when disaster comes, you will not be afraid. You will laugh at demons and famine; you will not fear wild beasts. You will make a covenant with the spirits of the field and live at peace with the wild animals. You will enjoy peace in your tent, and when you look over your estate, you will find nothing missing. You will see your descendants grow numerous and your offspring flourish like the grass of the field. You will go down to the grave free from infirmity, like a sheaf gathered in its season. All this we have examined, and it is true. Listen to it and take it to heart. |
