Job 6
1 Respondens autem Iob, dixit:
Then Job answered and said:
2 Utinam appenderentur peccata mea, quibus iram merui: et calamitas, quam patior, in statera.
Oh that my vexation were but weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances altogether!
3 Quasi arena maris hæc gravior appareret: unde et verba mea dolore sunt plena:
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.
4 Quia sagittæ Domini in me sunt, quarum indignatio ebibit spiritum meum, et terrores Domini militant contra me.
For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof my spirit drinketh up; the terrors of God do 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 when he hath 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 hath no savour be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?
7 Quæ prius nolebat tangere anima mea, nunc præ angustia, cibi mei sunt.
My soul refuseth to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.
8 Quis det ut veniat petitio mea: et quod expecto, tribuat mihi Deus?
Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 Et qui cœpit, ipse me conterat: solvat manum suam, et succidat me?
Even that it would please God to crush me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!
10 Et hæc mihi sit consolatio ut affligens me dolore, non parcat, nec contradicam sermonibus Sancti.
Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would exult in pain, though He spare not; for I have not denied the words 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 wait? and what is 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 of brass?
13 Ecce, non est auxilium mihi in me, et necessarii quoque mei recesserunt a me.
Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?
14 Qui tollit ab amico suo misericordiam, timorem Domini derelinquit.
To him that is ready to faint kindness is due from his friend, even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 Fratres mei præterierunt me, sicut torrens qui raptim transit in convallibus.
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,
16 Qui timent pruinam, irruet super eos nix.
Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself;
17 Tempore, quo fuerint dissipati, peribunt: et ut incaluerit, solventur de loco suo.
What time they wax warm, they vanish, when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 Involutæ sunt semitæ gressuum eorum: ambulabunt in vacuum, et peribunt.
The paths of their way do wind, they go up into the waste, and are lost.
19 Considerate semitas Thema, itinera Saba, et expectate paulisper.
The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them —
20 Confusi sunt, quia speravi: venerunt quoque usque ad me, et pudore cooperti sunt.
They were ashamed because they had hoped; they came thither, and were confounded.
21 Nunc venistis: et modo videntes plagam meam timetis.
For now ye are become His; ye see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Numquid dixi: Afferte mihi, et de substantia vestra donate mihi?
Did I say: 'Give unto me'? or: 'Offer a present for me of your substance'?
23 Vel, Liberate me de manu hostis, et de manu robustorum eruite me?
or: 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? or: 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors'?
24 Docete me, et ego tacebo: et siquid forte ignoravi, instruite me.
Teach me, and I will hold my peace; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 Quare detraxistis sermonibus veritatis, cum e vobis nullus sit qui possit arguere me?
How forcible are words of uprightness! But what doth your arguing argue?
26 Ad increpandum tantum eloquia concinnatis, et in ventum verba profertis.
Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?
27 Super pupillum irruitis, et subvertere nitimini amicum vestrum.
Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.
28 Verumtamen quod cœpistis explete: præbete aurem, et videte an mentiar.
Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.
29 Respondete obsecro absque contentione: et loquentes id quod iustum est, iudicate.
Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, return again, my cause is righteous.
30 Et non invenietis in lingua mea iniquitatem, nec in faucibus meis stultitia personabit.
Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?
