Job 21
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Respondens autem Job, dixit:
2 Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
Audite, quæso, sermones meos, et agite pœnitentiam.
3 Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
Sustinete me, et ego loquar: et post mea, si videbitur, verba, ridete.
4 As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari?
5 Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Attendite me et obstupescite, et superponite digitum ori vestro.
6 Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
Et ego, quando recordatus fuero, pertimesco, et concutit carnem meam tremor.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?
8 Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
Semen eorum permanet coram eis: propinquorum turba et nepotum in conspectu eorum.
9 Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
Domus eorum securæ sunt et pacatæ, et non est virga Dei super illos.
10 The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
Bos eorum concepit, et non abortivit: vacca peperit, et non est privata fœtu suo.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exultant lusibus.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
Tenent tympanum et citharam, et gaudent ad sonitum organi.
13 They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
Ducunt in bonis dies suos, et in puncto ad inferna descendunt. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
Qui dixerunt Deo: Recede a nobis, et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
Quis est Omnipotens, ut serviamus ei? et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum?
16 Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
Verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua, consilium impiorum longe sit a me.
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
Quoties lucerna impiorum extinguetur, et superveniet eis inundatio, et dolores dividet furoris sui?
18 Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
Erunt sicut paleæ ante faciem venti, et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit.
19 Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris, et cum reddiderit, tunc sciet.
20 His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
Videbunt oculi ejus interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.
21 For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se, et si numerus mensium ejus dimidietur?
22 Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
Numquid Deus docebit quispiam scientiam, qui excelsos judicat?
23 That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix:
24 His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
viscera ejus plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur:
25 While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
alius vero moritur in amaritudine animæ absque ullis opibus:
26 [And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
et tamen simul in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
Certe novi cogitationes vestras, et sententias contra me iniquas.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
Dicitis enim: Ubi est domus principis? et ubi tabernacula impiorum?
29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
Interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus, et hæc eadem illum intelligere cognoscetis:
30 That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
quia in diem perditionis servatur malus, et ad diem furoris ducetur.
31 [But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
Quis arguet coram eo viam ejus? et quæ fecit, quis reddet illi?
32 Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
Ipse ad sepulchra ducetur, et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit.
33 Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
Dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti, et post se omnem hominem trahet, et ante se innumerabiles.
34 How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati?
