Job 23

1 Respondens autem Iob, ait:

Then Job answered and said,

2 Nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus, et manus plagæ meæ aggravata est super gemitum meum.

Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

3 Quis mihi tribuat ut cognoscam et inveniam illum, et veniam usque ad solium eius?

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

4 Ponam coram eo iudicium, et os meum replebo increpationibus,

And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Ut sciam verba, quæ mihi respondeat, et intelligam quid loquatur mihi.

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

6 Nolo multa fortitudine contendat mecum, nec magnitudinis suæ mole me premat.

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

7 Proponat æquitatem contra me, et perveniat ad victoriam iudicium meum.

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

8 Si ad Orientem iero, non apparet: si ad Occidentem, non intelligam eum.

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

9 Si ad sinistram, quid agam? non apprehendam eum: si me vertam ad dexteram, non videbo illum.

When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

10 Ipse vero scit viam meam, et probavit me quasi aurum, quod per ignem transit:

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

11 Vestigia eius secutus est pes meus, viam eius custodivi, et non declinavi ex ea.

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

12 A mandatis labiorum eius non recessi, et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris eius.

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

13 Ipse enim solus est, et nemo avertere potest cogitationem eius: et anima eius quodcumque voluit, hoc fecit.

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

14 Cum expleverit in me voluntatem suam, et alia multa similia præsto sunt ei.

15 Et idcirco a facie eius turbatus sum, et considerans eum, timore sollicitor.

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 Deus mollivit cor meum, et Omnipotens conturbavit me.

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 Non enim perii propter imminentes tenebras, nec faciem meam operuit caligo.

For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.