Job 23
1 Respondens autem Job, ait:
Then Job answered,
2 [Nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus, et manus plagæ meæ aggravata est super gemitum meum.
“Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
3 Quis mihi tribuat ut cognoscam et inveniam illum, et veniam usque ad solium ejus?
Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
4 Ponam coram eo judicium, et os meum replebo increpationibus:
I would set my cause in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 ut sciam verba quæ mihi respondeat, et intelligam quid loquatur mihi.
I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.
6 Nolo multa fortitudine contendat mecum, nec magnitudinis suæ mole me premat.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.
7 Proponat æquitatem contra me, et perveniat ad victoriam judicium meum.
There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.
8 Si ad orientem iero, non apparet; si ad occidentem, non intelligam eum.
“If I go east, he is not there. If I go west, I can’t find him.
9 Si ad sinistram, quid agam? non apprehendam eum; si me vertam ad dexteram, non videbo illum.
He works to the north, but I can’t see him. He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of him.
10 Ipse vero scit viam meam, et probavit me quasi aurum quod per ignem transit.
But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I will come out like gold.
11 Vestigia ejus secutus est pes meus: viam ejus custodivi, et non declinavi ex ea.
My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned away.
12 A mandatis labiorum ejus non recessi, et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris ejus.
I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13 Ipse enim solus est, et nemo avertere potest cogitationem ejus: et anima ejus quodcumque voluit, hoc fecit.
But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.
14 Cum expleverit in me voluntatem suam, et alia multa similia præsto sunt ei.
For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.
15 Et idcirco a facie ejus turbatus sum, et considerans eum, timore sollicitor.
Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 Deus mollivit cor meum, et Omnipotens conturbavit me.
For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.
17 Non enim perii propter imminentes tenebras, nec faciem meam operuit caligo.]
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
