How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #4
'My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt;
my skin hardens, then breaks out again.' (NRSV 7:5)My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. (KJV 7:5)
First, gross. Second, this seems quite a punishment for the world's most righteous Israelite, doesn't it? He loses his family and his property, and he gets the world's worst case of acne. Not fun.
Quote #5
'Surely the light of the wicked is put out,
and the flame of their fire does not shine.
The light is dark in their tent,
and the lamp above them is put out.
Their strong steps are shortened,
and their own schemes throw them down.
For they are thrust into a net by their own feet,
and they walk into a pitfall.
A trap seizes them by the heel;
a snare lays hold of them.
A rope is hid for them in the ground,
a trap for them in the path.
Terrors frighten them on every side,
and chase them at their heels.
Their strength is consumed by hunger,
and calamity is ready for their stumbling.
By disease their skin is consumed,
the firstborn of Death consumes their limbs.
They are torn from the tent in which they trusted,
and are brought to the king of terrors.
In their tents nothing remains;
sulphur is scattered upon their habitations.' (NRSV 18:5-15)Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.
The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.
The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.
The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.
The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.
It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.
His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. (KJV 18:5-15)
Everyone experiences pain, but God is allowed to use it as a weapon against his enemies. Think carefully, though: isn't this exactly what God did to Job? Is there a difference?
Quote #6
'My skin turns black and falls from me,
and my bones burn with heat.
My lyre is turned to mourning,
and my pipe to the voice of those who weep.' (NRSV 30:30-31)My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep. (KJV 30:30-31)
Pain can be beautiful, it seems, and here it is wrapped up with metaphors of art. The writer was a writer, after all.