Job 6
1 Respondens autem Job, dixit:
Then Job answered and said:
2 [Utinam appenderentur peccata mea quibus iram merui, et calamitas quam patior, in statera!
O that my grief were weighed thoroughly! That my calamities were put together in the balance!
3 Quasi arena maris hæc gravior appareret; unde et verba mea dolore sunt plena:
Surely they would be heavier than the sand of the sea; On this account were my words rash.
4 quia sagittæ Domini in me sunt, quarum indignatio ebibit spiritum meum; et terrores Domini militant contra me.
For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; Their poison drinketh up my spirit; The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
5 Numquid rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam? aut mugiet bos cum ante præsepe plenum steterit?
Doth the wild ass bray in the midst of grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 aut poterit comedi insulsum, quod non est sale conditum? aut potest aliquis gustare quod gustatum affert mortem?
Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 Quæ prius nolebat tangere anima mea, nunc, præ angustia, cibi mei sunt.
That which my soul abhorreth to touch Hath become my loathsome food.
8 Quis det ut veniat petitio mea, et quod expecto tribuat mihi Deus?
O that I might have my request, And that God would grant me that which I long for!
9 et qui cœpit, ipse me conterat; solvat manum suam, et succidat me?
That it would please God to destroy me; That he would let loose his hand, and make an end of me!
10 Et hæc mihi sit consolatio, ut affligens me dolore, non parcat, nec contradicam sermonibus Sancti.
Yet it should still be my consolation, Yea, in unsparing anguish I would exult, That I have not denied the commands of the Holy One.
11 Quæ est enim fortitudo mea, ut sustineam? aut quis finis meus, ut patienter agam?
What is my strength, that I should hope? And what mine end, that I should be patient?
12 Nec fortitudo lapidum fortitudo mea, nec caro mea ænea est.
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh brass?
13 Ecce non est auxilium mihi in me, et necessarii quoque mei recesserunt a me.
Alas, there is no help within me! Deliverance is driven from me!
14 Qui tollit ab amico suo misericordiam, timorem Domini derelinquit.
To the afflicted, kindness should be shown by a friend; Else he casteth off the fear of the Almighty.
15 Fratres mei præterierunt me, sicut torrens qui raptim transit in convallibus.
But my brethren are faithless like a brook; Like streams of the valley that pass away;
16 Qui timent pruinam, irruet super eos nix.
Which are turbid by reason of the ice, And the snow, which hideth itself in them.
17 Tempore quo fuerint dissipati, peribunt; et ut incaluerit, solventur de loco suo.
As soon as they flow forth, they vanish; When the heat cometh, they are dried up from their place.
18 Involutæ sunt semitæ gressuum eorum; ambulabunt in vacuum, et peribunt.
The caravans turn aside to them on their way; They go up into the desert, and perish.
19 Considerate semitas Thema, itinera Saba, et expectate paulisper.
The caravans of Tema look for them; The companies of Sheba expect to see them;
20 Confusi sunt, quia speravi: venerunt quoque usque ad me, et pudore cooperti sunt.
They are ashamed that they have relied on them; They come to their place, and are confounded.
21 Nunc venistis; et modo videntes plagam meam, timetis.
So ye also are nothing; Ye see a terror, and shrink back.
22 Numquid dixi: Afferte mihi, et de substantia vestra donate mihi?
Have I said, Bring me gifts? Or, Give a present for me out of your substance?
23 vel: Liberate me de manu hostis, et de manu robustorum eruite me?
Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? Or, Rescue me from the hand of the violent?
24 Docete me, et ego tacebo: et si quid forte ignoravi, instruite me.
Convince me, and I will hold my peace; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 Quare detraxistis sermonibus veritatis, cum e vobis nullus sit qui possit arguere me?
How powerful are the words of truth! But what do your reproaches prove?
26 Ad increpandum tantum eloquia concinnatis, et in ventum verba profertis.
Do ye mean to censure words? The words of a man in despair are but wind.
27 Super pupillum irruitis, et subvertere nitimini amicum vestrum.
Truly ye spread a net for the fatherless; Ye dig a pit for your friend.
28 Verumtamen quod cœpistis explete: præbete aurem, et videte an mentiar.
Look now upon me, I pray you; For to your very face can I speak falsehood?
29 Respondete, obsecro, absque contentione; et loquentes id quod justum est, judicate.
Return, I pray, and let there be no unfairness; Yea, return; —still is my cause righteous.
30 Et non invenietis in lingua mea iniquitatem, nec in faucibus meis stultitia personabit.]
Is there iniquity on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern what is sinful?
