Job 31
1 A covenant, I solemnised for mine eyes, —How then could I gaze upon a virgin?
Pepigi fœdus cum oculis meis, ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine.
2 Or what would have been my portion of GOD from above? Or what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
Quam enim partem haberet in me Deus desuper, et hæreditatem Omnipotens de excelsis?
3 Is there not calamity, for the perverse? and misfortune, for the workers of iniquity?
Numquid non perditio est iniquo, et alienatio operantibus injustitiam?
4 Would, he, not see my ways? and of all my steps, take account?
Nonne ipse considerat vias meas, et cunctos gressus meos dinumerat?
5 Verily I walked not in falsity, nor did my foot haste unto deceit: —
Si ambulavi in vanitate, et festinavit in dolo pes meus,
6 Let him weigh me in balances of righteousness, —and let GOD take note of mine integrity!
appendat me in statera justa, et sciat Deus simplicitatem meam.
7 If my goings have swerved from the way, —and, after mine eyes, hath gone my heart, and, to my hands, hath adhered any stain,
Si declinavit gressus meus de via, et si secutum est oculos meos cor meum, et si manibus meis adhæsit macula,
8 Let me sow but, another, eat. And let, what I have springing up, be uprooted!
seram, et alius comedat, et progenies mea eradicetur.
9 If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman, or, by the door of my neighbour, I have lien in wait,
Si deceptum est cor meum super muliere, et si ad ostium amici mei insidiatus sum,
10 Let my wife, grind to another, and, over her, let others bend!
scortum alterius sit uxor mea, et super illam incurventur alii.
11 Surely that had been a shameful thing! and that an iniquity for the judges!
Hoc enim nefas est, et iniquitas maxima.
12 Surely, a fire, had that been, which, unto destruction, would have consumed, and, of all mine increase, had it torn up the root.
Ignis est usque ad perditionem devorans, et omnia eradicans genimina.
13 If I refused the right of my servant, or my handmaid, when they contended with me,
Si contempsi subire judicium cum servo meo et ancilla mea, cum disceptarent adversum me:
14 What then could I have done when GOD rose up? And, when he visited, what could I have answered him?
quid enim faciam cum surrexerit ad judicandum Deus? et cum quæsierit, quid respondebo illi?
15 Did not he who, in the womb, made me, make him? And is not he who formed us in the body one?
Numquid non in utero fecit me, qui et illum operatus est, et formavit me in vulva unus?
16 If I withheld—from pleasure—the poor, or, the eyes of the widow, I dimmed;
Si negavi quod volebant pauperibus, et oculos viduæ expectare feci;
17 Or, used to eat my morsel alone, so that the fatherless did not eat thereof;
si comedi buccellam meam solus, et non comedit pupillus ex ea
18 Surely, from my youth, he grew up to me, as to a father, and, from my birth, I acted as guide to her:
(quia ab infantia mea crevit mecum miseratio, et de utero matris meæ egressa est mecum);
19 If I saw one perishing for lack of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;
si despexi pereuntem, eo quod non habuerit indumentum, et absque operimento pauperem;
20 If his loins did not bless me, or if, with the fleece of my lambs, he did not warm himself;
si non benedixerunt mihi latera ejus, et de velleribus ovium mearum calefactus est;
21 If I shook—against the fatherless—my hand, when I saw, in the gate, his need of my help,
si levavi super pupillum manum meam, etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem:
22 Let, my shoulder, from the shoulder-blade, fall, and, my arm, from the upper bone, be broken;
humerus meus a junctura sua cadat, et brachium meum cum suis ossibus confringatur.
23 For, a dread unto me, was calamity from GOD, and, from his majesty, I could not escape.
Semper enim quasi tumentes super me fluctus timui Deum, et pondus ejus ferre non potui.
24 If I made gold my stay, and, to precious metal, said, My confidence!
Si putavi aurum robur meum, et obrizo dixi: Fiducia mea;
25 If I rejoiced because great was my substance, and, an abundance, my hand had discovered;
si lætatus sum super multis divitiis meis, et quia plurima reperit manus mea;
26 If I looked at the sun, when it flashed forth light, or at the moon, majestically marching along;
si vidi solem cum fulgeret, et lunam incedentem clare,
27 And befooled secretly was my heart, so that my hand kissed my mouth,
et lætatum est in abscondito cor meum, et osculatus sum manum meam ore meo:
28 That too, had been a judicial iniquity, For I should have been false to GOD, above.
quæ est iniquitas maxima, et negatio contra Deum altissimum.
29 If rejoiced in the misfortune of him that hated me, or exulted when calamity found him; —
Si gavisus sum ad ruinam ejus qui me oderat, et exsultavi quod invenisset eum malum:
30 Neither did I suffer my palate to sin, by asking, with a curse, for his life:
non enim dedi ad peccandum guttur meum, ut expeterem maledicens animam ejus.
31 If the men of my household have not said, Oh for some of his flesh—we cannot get filled,
Si non dixerunt viri tabernaculi mei: Quis det de carnibus ejus, ut saturemur?
32 Outside, the sojourner lodged not for the night, My doors—to the wayfarer, I threw open.
foris non mansit peregrinus: ostium meum viatori patuit.
33 If I covered, like Adam, my transgressions, by hiding in my bosom mine iniquity,
Si abscondi quasi homo peccatum meum, et celavi in sinu meo iniquitatem meam;
34 Then let me be made to tremble at a great throng, yea let, the contempt of families, terrify me, so that, keeping silence, I shall not go out of the door!
si expavi ad multitudinem nimiam, et despectio propinquorum terruit me: et non magis tacui, nec egressus sum ostium.
35 Oh that I had one to hear me, Lo! my crossmark, May, the Almighty, answer me! And would that, a book, mine opponent had written!
Quis mihi tribuat auditorem, ut desiderium meum audiat Omnipotens, et librum scribat ipse qui judicat,
36 Oh! would I not, upon my shoulder, lift it, or bind it as a crown upon me;
ut in humero meo portem illum, et circumdem illum quasi coronam mihi?
37 The number of my footsteps, I would declare to him, Like a noble, would I draw near to him.
Per singulos gradus meos pronuntiabo illum, et quasi principi offeram eum.
38 If, against me, my ground used to cry out, and, together, my ridges did weep;
Si adversum me terra mea clamat, et cum ipsa sulci ejus deflent:
39 If, the strength thereof, I used to eat, without payment, and, the soul of the holders thereof, I made groan;
si fructus ejus comedi absque pecunia, et animam agricolarum ejus afflixi:
40 Instead of wheat, let there come forth bramble, and, instead of barley, a bad-smelling weed! Ended are the words of Job.
pro frumento oriatur mihi tribulus, et pro hordeo spina. Finita sunt verba Job.
