Job 21
1 Then Job answered and said,
Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
2 “Listen carefully to my words, and let this be the comfort you offer to me.
Audite quaeso sermones meos, et agite poenitentiam.
3 Put up with me, and I also will speak; after I have spoken, mock on.
Sustinete me, et ego loquar, et post mea, si videbitur, verba ridete.
4 As for me, is my complaint to a person? Why should I not be impatient?
Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari?
5 Look at me and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Attendite me, et obstupescite, et superponite digitum ori vestro:
6 When I think about my sufferings, I am terrified, and trembling seizes my body.
Et ego quando recordatus fuero, pertimesco, et concutit carnem meam tremor.
7 Why do wicked people continue to live, become old, and grow mighty in power?
Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?
8 Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring are established before their eyes.
Semen eorum permanet coram eis, propinquorum turba, et nepotum in conspectu eorum.
9 Their houses are safe from fear; neither is the rod of God on them.
Domus eorum securae sunt et pacatae, et non est virga Dei super illos.
10 Their bull breeds; it does not fail to do so; their cow gives birth and does not lose her calf prematurely.
Bos eorum concepit, et non abortivit: vacca peperit, et non est privata foetu suo.
11 They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exultant lusibus.
12 They sing to the tambourine and harp and rejoice with the music of the flute.
Tenent tympanum, et citharam, et gaudent ad sonitum organi.
Ducunt in bonis dies suos, et in puncto ad inferna descendunt. (Sheol h7585)
14 They say to God, 'Depart from us for we do not wish any knowledge of your ways.
Qui dixerunt Deo: Recede a nobis, et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should worship him? What advantage would we get if we prayed to him?'
Quis est Omnipotens, ut serviamus ei? et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum?
16 See, is not their prosperity in their own hands? I have nothing to do with the advice of wicked people.
Verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua, consilium impiorum longe sit a me.
17 How often is it that the lamp of wicked people is put out, or that their calamity comes upon them? How often does it happen that God distributes sorrows to them in his anger?
Quoties lucerna impiorum extinguetur, et superveniet eis inundatio, et dolores dividet furoris sui?
18 How often is it that they become like stubble before the wind or like chaff that the storm carries away?
Erunt sicut paleae ante faciem venti, et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit.
19 You say, 'God lays up one's guilt for his children to pay.' Let him pay it himself, so that he might know his guilt.
Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris: et cum reddiderit, tunc sciet.
20 Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.
21 For what does he care about his family after him when the number of his months is cut off?
Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se? et si numerus mensium eius dimidietur?
22 Can anyone teach God knowledge since he judges even those who are high?
Numquid Deus docebit quispiam scientiam, qui excelsos iudicat?
23 One man dies in his full strength, being completely quiet and at ease.
Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix.
24 His body is full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moist.
Viscera eius plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur:
25 Another man dies in bitterness of soul, one who has never experienced anything good.
Alius vero moritur in amaritudine animae absque ullis opibus:
26 They lie down alike in the dust; the worms cover them both.
Et tamen simul in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos.
27 See, I know your thoughts, and the ways in which you wish to wrong me.
Certe novi cogitationes vestras, et sententias contra me iniquas.
28 For you say, 'Where now is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked man once lived?'
Dicitis enim: Ubi est domus principis? et ubi tabernacula impiorum?
29 Have you never asked traveling people? Do you not know the evidence they can tell,
Interrogate quemlibet de viatoribus, et haec eadem illum intelligere cognoscetis:
30 that the wicked man is kept from the day of calamity, and that he is led away from the day of wrath?
Quia in diem perditionis servatur malus, et ad diem furoris ducetur.
31 Who will condemn the wicked man's way to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done?
Quis arguet coram eo viam eius? et quae fecit, quis reddet illi?
32 Yet he will be borne to the grave; men will keep watch over his tomb.
Ipse ad sepulchra ducetur, et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit.
33 The clods of the valley will be sweet to him; all people will follow after him, as there were innumerable people before him.
Dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti, et post se omnem hominem trahet, et ante se innumerabiles.
34 How then do you comfort me with nonsense, since in your answers there is nothing but falsehood?”
Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati?
