The servants waited now to see what Job
would do, and how he might deal with
his God.
At last he rose, and took a knife,
and passed it like a razor over all
his silver head, and tore his shawl and
robe, and fell face down upon the ground,
and lay there till the dawn.
The servants knelt by him in fright, and
heard him whisper through the night, I came
with nothing from the womb, I go with
nothing to the tomb.
God gave me children freely, then he took
them to himself again.
At last I taste the bitter rot, my
wise and ever-blessed God.
And now, come, broken, to the cross, where
Christ embraced all human loss, and let us
bow before the throne of God, who gives
and takes His own, and promises whatever toll
He takes to satisfy our soul.
Come, learn the lesson of the rod, the
treasure that we have in God.
He is not poor nor much enticed, who
loses everything but Christ.