< Job 33 >

1 Audi igitur Iob eloquia mea, et omnes sermones meos ausculta.
Why, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and listen to all my words.
2 Ecce aperui os meum, loquatur lingua mea in faucibus meis.
Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 Simplici corde meo sermones mei, et sententiam puram labia mea loquentur.
My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 Spiritus Dei fecit me, et spiraculum Omnipotentis vivificavit me.
The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 Si potes, responde mihi, et adversus faciem meam consiste.
If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up.
6 Ecce, et me sicut et te fecit Deus, et de eodem luto ego quoque formatus sum.
Behold, I am according to your wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Verumtamen miraculum meum non te terreat, et eloquentia mea non sit tibi gravis.
Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy on you.
8 Dixisti ergo in auribus meis, et vocem verborum tuorum audivi:
Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9 Mundus sum ego, et absque delicto: immaculatus, et non est iniquitas in me.
I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Quia querelas in me reperit, ideo arbitratus est me inimicum sibi.
Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,
11 Posuit in nervo pedes meos, custodivit omnes semitas meas.
He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.
12 Hoc est ergo, in quo non es iustificatus: respondebo tibi, quia maior sit Deus homine.
Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Adversus eum contendis quod non ad omnia verba responderit tibi?
Why do you strive against him? for he gives not account of any of his matters.
14 Semel loquitur Deus, et secundo idipsum non repetit.
For God speaks once, yes twice, yet man perceives it not.
15 Per somnium in visione nocturna, quando irruit sopor super homines, et dormiunt in lectulo:
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumberings on the bed;
16 Tunc aperit aures virorum, et erudiens eos instruit disciplina,
Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17 Ut avertat hominem ab his, quæ facit, et liberet eum de superbia:
That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 Eruens animam eius a corruptione: et vitam illius, ut non transeat in gladium.
He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 Increpat quoque per dolorem in lectulo, et omnia ossa eius marcescere facit.
He is chastened also with pain on his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 Abominabilis ei fit in vita sua panis, et animæ illius cibus ante desiderabilis.
So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 Tabescet caro eius, et ossa, quæ tecta fuerant, nudabuntur.
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Appropinquavit corruptioni anima eius, et vita illius mortiferis.
Yes, his soul draws near to the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 Si fuerit pro eo Angelus loquens, unus de millibus, ut annuntiet hominis æquitatem:
If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man his uprightness:
24 Miserebitur eius, et dicet: Libera eum, ut non descendat in corruptionem: inveni in quo ei propitier.
Then he is gracious to him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 Consumpta est caro eius a suppliciis, revertatur ad dies adolescentiæ suæ.
His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 Deprecabitur Deum, et placabilis ei erit: et videbit faciem eius in iubilo, et reddet homini iustitiam suam.
He shall pray to God, and he will be favorable to him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render to man his righteousness.
27 Respiciet homines, et dicet: Peccavi, et vere deliqui, et, ut eram dignus, non recepi.
He looks on men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 Liberavit animam suam ne pergeret in interitum, sed vivens lucem videret.
He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 Ecce, hæc omnia operatur Deus tribus vicibus per singulos:
See, all these things works God oftentimes with man,
30 Ut revocet animas eorum a corruptione, et illuminet luce viventium.
To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Attende Iob, et audi me: et tace, dum loquor.
Mark well, O Job, listen to me: hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 Si autem habes quod loquaris, responde mihi, loquere: volo enim, te apparere iustum.
If you have anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 Quod si non habes, audi me: tace, et docebo te sapientiam.
If not, listen to me: hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom.

< Job 33 >