< Job 11 >

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,
Respondens autem Sophar Naamathites, dixit:
2 “So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?
Numquid qui multa loquitur, non et audiet? aut vir verbosus iustificabitur?
3 Should all your babbling force people to keep quiet? When you mock, shouldn't someone make you feel ashamed?
Tibi soli tacebunt homines? et cum ceteros irriseris, a nullo confutaberis?
4 You said, ‘What I teach is the pure truth,’ and ‘in God's eyes I am clean.’
Dixisti enim: Purus est sermo meus, et mundus sum in conspectu tuo.
5 If only God would speak up and tell you directly,
Atque utinam Deus loqueretur tecum, et aperiret labia sua tibi,
6 because then he would explain to you the secrets of wisdom. True wisdom has many sides to it. God's treatment of you is far better than your guilt deserves.
Ut ostenderet tibi secreta sapientiæ, et quod multiplex esset lex eius, et intelligeres quod multo minora exigaris ab eo, quam meretur iniquitas tua.
7 Can you find out the mysteries of God? Can you discover all the wisdom of the Almighty?
Forsitan vestigia Dei comprehendes, et usque ad perfectum Omnipotentem reperies?
8 It is greater than the heavens—what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)
Excelsior cælo est, et quid facies? profundior inferno, et unde cognosces? (Sheol h7585)
9 It extends farther than the earth, and wider than the sea.
Longior terra mensura eius, et latior mari.
10 If God comes and imprisons someone, or assembles the court for judgment, who can stop him?
Si subverterit omnia, vel in unum coarctaverit, quis contradicet ei?
11 For God knows who are deceivers—when he sees someone sin, he pays attention to it.
Ipse enim novit hominum vanitatem, et videns iniquitatem, nonne considerat?
12 Stupid people will become wise when wild donkeys are born tame!
Vir vanus in superbiam erigitur, et tamquam pullum onagri se liberum natum putat.
13 But if you repent and spread out your hands to pray to him,
Tu autem firmasti cor tuum, et expandisti ad eum manus tuas.
14 if you get rid of your sins and don't let wickedness continue in your life,
Si iniquitatem, quæ est in manu tua, abstuleris a te, et non manserit in tabernaculo tuo iniustitia:
15 then you would be able to hold your head high in innocence, you will be firm and unafraid.
Tunc levare poteris faciem tuam absque macula, et eris stabilis, et non timebis.
16 You will forget your misery, remembering it only as water under the bridge.
Miseriæ quoque oblivisceris, et quasi aquarum quæ præterierunt recordaberis.
17 Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun; even darkness will be like the morning.
Et quasi meridianus fulgor consurget tibi ad vesperam: et cum te consumptum putaveris, orieris ut lucifer.
18 You will have confidence because there is hope; you will be protected and rest in safety.
Et habebis fiduciam, proposita tibi spe, et defossus securus dormies.
19 You will lie down to sleep with no one to frighten you, and many will come asking for your favor.
Requiesces, et non erit qui te exterreat: et deprecabuntur faciem tuam plurimi.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, they will not be able to escape, and their only hope is in death.”
Oculi autem impiorum deficient, et effugium peribit ab eis, et spes illorum abominatio animæ.

< Job 11 >