Job 31
1 I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?
Pepigi fœdus cum oculis meis, ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine.
2 For what is God's reward from on high, or the heritage given by the Ruler of all from heaven?
Quam enim partem haberet in me Deus desuper, et hæreditatem Omnipotens de excelsis?
3 Is it not trouble for the sinner, and destruction for the evil-doers?
Numquid non perditio est iniquo, et alienatio operantibus injustitiam?
4 Does he not see my ways, and are not my steps all numbered?
Nonne ipse considerat vias meas, et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat?
5 If I have gone in false ways, or my foot has been quick in working deceit;
Si ambulavi in vanitate, et festinavit in dolo pes meus,
6 (Let me be measured in upright scales, and let God see my righteousness: )
appendat me in statera justa, et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam.
7 If my steps have been turned out of the way, or if my heart went after my eyes, or if the property of another is in my hands;
Si declinavit gressus meus de via, et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum, et si manibus meis adhæsit macula,
8 Let me put seed in the earth for another to have the fruit of it, and let my produce be uprooted.
seram, et alius comedat, et progenies mea eradicetur.
9 If my heart went after another man's wife, or if I was waiting secretly at my neighbour's door;
Si deceptum est cor meum super muliere, et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum,
10 Then let my wife give pleasure to another man and let others make use of her body.
scortum alterius sit uxor mea, et super illam incurventur alii.
11 For that would be a crime; it would be an act for which punishment would be measured out by the judges:
Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.
12 It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.
Ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans, et omnia eradicans genimina.
13 If I did wrong in the cause of my man-servant, or my woman-servant, when they went to law with me;
Si contempsi subire judicium cum servo meo et ancilla mea, cum disceptarent adversum me:
14 What then will I do when God comes as my judge? and what answer may I give to his questions?
quid enim faciam cum surrexerit ad judicandum Deus? et cum quæsierit, quid respondebo illi?
15 Did not God make him as well as me? did he not give us life in our mothers' bodies?
Numquid non in utero fecit me, qui et illum operatus est, et formavit me in vulva unus?
16 If I kept back the desire of the poor; if the widow's eye was looking for help to no purpose;
Si negavi quod volebant pauperibus, et oculos viduæ expectare feci;
17 If I kept my food for myself, and did not give some of it to the child with no father;
si comedi buccellam meam solus, et non comedit pupillus ex ea
18 (For I was cared for by God as by a father from my earliest days; he was my guide from the body of my mother; )
(quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio, et de utero matris meæ egressa est mecum);
19 If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him;
si despexi pereuntem, eo quod non habuerit indumentum, et absque operimento pauperem;
20 If his back did not give me a blessing, and the wool of my sheep did not make him warm;
si non benedixerunt mihi latera ejus, et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est;
21 If my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges;
si levavi super pupillum manum meam, etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem:
22 May my arm be pulled from my body, and be broken from its base.
humerus meus a junctura sua cadat, et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur.
23 For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.
Semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum, et pondus ejus ferre non potui.
24 If I made gold my hope, or if I ever said to the best gold, I have put my faith in you;
Si putavi aurum robur meum, et obrizo dixi: Fiducia mea;
25 If I was glad because my wealth was great, and because my hand had got together a great store;
si lætatus sum super multis divitiis meis, et quia plurima reperit manus mea;
26 If, when I saw the sun shining, and the moon moving on its bright way,
si vidi solem cum fulgeret, et lunam incedentem clare,
27 A secret feeling of worship came into my heart, and my hand gave kisses from my mouth;
et lætatum est in abscondito cor meum, et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo:
28 That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.
quæ est iniquitas maxima, et negatio contra Deum altissimum.
29 If I was glad at the trouble of my hater, and gave cries of joy when evil overtook him;
Si gavisus sum ad ruinam ejus qui me oderat, et exsultavi quod invenisset eum malum:
30 (For I did not let my mouth give way to sin, in putting a curse on his life; )
non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum, ut expeterem maledicens animam ejus.
31 If the men of my tent did not say, Who has not had full measure of his meat?
Si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei: Quis det de carnibus ejus, ut saturemur?
32 The traveller did not take his night's rest in the street, and my doors were open to anyone on a journey;
foris non mansit peregrinus: ostium meum viatori patuit.
33 If I kept my evil doings covered, and my sin in the secret of my breast,
Si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum, et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam;
34 For fear of the great body of people, or for fear that families might make sport of me, so that I kept quiet, and did not go out of my door;
si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam, et despectio propinquorum terruit me: et non magis tacui, nec egressus sum ostium.
35 If only God would give ear to me, and the Ruler of all would give me an answer! or if what he has against me had been put in writing!
Quis mihi tribuat auditorem, ut desiderium meum audiat Omnipotens, et librum scribat ipse qui judicat,
36 Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;
ut in humero meo portem illum, et circumdem illum quasi coronam mihi?
37 I would make clear the number of my steps, I would put it before him like a prince! The words of Job are ended.
Per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo illum, et quasi principi offeram eum.
38 If my land has made an outcry against me, or the ploughed earth has been in sorrow;
Si adversum me terra mea clamat, et cum ipsa sulci ejus deflent:
39 If I have taken its produce without payment, causing the death of its owners;
si fructus ejus comedi absque pecunia, et animam agricolarum ejus afflixi:
40 Then in place of grain let thorns come up, and in place of barley evil-smelling plants.
pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus, et pro hordeo spina. Finita sunt verba Job.
