Job 21
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
Then Job answered,
2 Audite quæso sermones meos, et agite pœnitentiam.
“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
3 Sustinete me, et ego loquar, et post mea, si videbitur, verba ridete.
Allow me, and I also will speak. After I have spoken, mock on.
4 Numquid contra hominem disputatio mea est, ut merito non debeam contristari?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why should not I be impatient?
5 Attendite me, et obstupescite, et superponite digitum ori vestro:
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
6 Et ego quando recordatus fuero, pertimesco, et concutit carnem meam tremor.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
7 Quare ergo impii vivunt, sublevati sunt, confortatique divitiis?
“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
8 Semen eorum permanet coram eis, propinquorum turba, et nepotum in conspectu eorum.
Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
9 Domus eorum securæ sunt et pacatæ, et non est virga Dei super illos.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Bos eorum concepit, et non abortivit: vacca peperit, et non est privata fœtu suo.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and do not miscarry.
11 Egrediuntur quasi greges parvuli eorum, et infantes eorum exultant lusibus.
They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
12 Tenent tympanum, et citharam, et gaudent ad sonitum organi.
They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol (Sheol h7585).
14 Qui dixerunt Deo: Recede a nobis, et scientiam viarum tuarum nolumus.
They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we do not want to know about your ways.
15 Quis est Omnipotens, ut serviamus ei? et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
16 Verumtamen quia non sunt in manu eorum bona sua, consilium impiorum longe sit a me.
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 Quoties lucerna impiorum extinguetur, et superveniet eis inundatio, et dolores dividet furoris sui?
“How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
18 Erunt sicut paleæ ante faciem venti, et sicut favilla quam turbo dispergit.
How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
19 Deus servabit filiis illius dolorem patris: et cum reddiderit, tunc sciet.
You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
20 Videbunt oculi eius interfectionem suam, et de furore Omnipotentis bibet.
Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Quid enim ad eum pertinet de domo sua post se? et si numerus mensium eius dimidietur?
For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Numquid Deus docebit quis piam scientiam, qui excelsos iudicat?
“Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
23 Iste moritur robustus et sanus, dives et felix.
One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 Viscera eius plena sunt adipe, et medullis ossa illius irrigantur:
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 Alius vero moritur in amaritudine animæ absque ullis opibus:
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
26 Et tamen simul in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
27 Certe novi cogitationes vestras, et sententias contra me iniquas.
“Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
28 Dicitis enim: Ubi est domus principis? et ubi tabernacula impiorum?
For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
29 Interrogate quem libet de viatoribus, et hæc eadem illum intelligere cognoscetis:
Have not you asked wayfaring men? Do not you know their evidences,
30 Quia in diem perditionis servatur malus, et ad diem furoris ducetur.
that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out to the day of wrath?
31 Quis arguet coram eo viam eius? et quæ fecit, quis reddet illi?
Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
32 Ipse ad sepulchra ducetur, et in congerie mortuorum vigilabit.
Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over the tomb.
33 Dulcis fuit glareis Cocyti, et post se omnem hominem trahet, et ante se innumerabiles.
The clods of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 Quomodo igitur consolamini me frustra, cum responsio vestra repugnare ostensa sit veritati?
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
